Efficacy and Safety of Dulaglutide in Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Endocrinology Clinics of Islamabad, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to ascertain the efficacy and safety of once weekly Dulaglutide among patients with Type 2 diabetes of Pakistani origin. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted at the Endocrinology Clinics of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad and Umar Diabetes and Foot Care Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan during the period from July 2020 to December 2020. Dulaglutide at the dose of 1.5 mg once weekly was initiated in patients with BMI >28 and suboptimal glucose control in the background of Type 2 Diabetes who were also taking one or more of oral anti-diabetic and/or insulin therapy. RESULTS: Mean age of patient cohort (n = 148) was 49.51 years (SD +/- 12.15) with 53.5% (n = 85) having type 2 diabetes for a duration of over 10 years. Mean weight was 93.2 kg at baseline with end of study mean weight being 90.7 kg. Mean HbA1c at baseline was 9.2%, which improved to 8.05% at the end of study. The main side-effects were nausea in 32%, vomiting in 8%, and diarrhea in 7% with 19% discontinuation rate due to cost and side-effects. CONCLUSION: Dulaglutide as a therapy demonstrated favorable HbA1c and weight reduction in obese type 2 diabetes patients of Pakistani origin.