Use of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists among individuals on basal insulin requiring treatment intensification

As Type 2 diabetes progresses, treatment is intensified with additional therapies in an effort to manage hyperglycaemia effectively and therefore avoid complications. When greater efficacy is required, options for injectable treatments include glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and insulin, which may be added on to oral glucose‐lowering treatments. Among individuals receiving long‐acting basal insulin as their first injectable treatment, ~40−60% are unable to achieve or maintain their target HbA(1c) goals. For these people, treatment intensification options are relatively limited and include the addition of short‐acting prandial insulin or a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist. Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists vary in their effects, with short‐ and long‐acting agents having a greater impact on postprandial and fasting hyperglycaemia, respectively. Studies comparing treatment intensification options have found both glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and prandial insulin to be effective in reducing HbA(1c) concentrations; however, recipients of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists lost weight and had a greater frequency of gastrointestinal adverse events, whereas those receiving prandial insulin gained weight and had a greater incidence of hypoglycaemia. In addition to the separate administration of a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist and basal insulin, fixed‐ratio combinations of a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist and basal insulin offer a single administration for both treatments but have less flexibility in dose titration than treatment with their individual components. For individuals who require treatment intensification beyond basal insulin, use of these various options allows physicians to target the individual needs of their patients for the achievement of optimal long‐term glycaemic control.