Hormonal
Tirzepatide enables a significant proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes to achieve normoglycemia (HbA1c < 5.7%) without clinically significant hypoglycemia, particularly when not combined with insulin or sulfonylureas.
Tirzepatide can help many patients with type 2 diabetes achieve normal blood sugar levels (HbA1c < 5.7%) without the high risk of dangerous low blood sugar episodes, especially if they are not taking insulin or sulfonylureas. This is a significant advantage over some other diabetes medications. Patients should still monitor their blood sugar as advised by their healthcare provider, but the risk of hypoglycemia is much lower with tirzepatide alone.
In the SURPASS program, up to 23–62% of participants achieved normoglycemia (HbA1c < 5.7%), vs. participants treated with semaglutide 1 mg (20%), insulin degludec (5%), and insulin glargine (3%). Normoglycemia was achieved without clinically significant hypoglycemia in 93.6–100% patients when tirzepatide was not combined with insulin (SURPASS 1–4) and in 85.9% patients when tirzepatide was added to insulin (SURPASS-5).
Why this rating
Based on phase 3 SURPASS clinical trial program data.
Source
Use of Tirzepatide in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Scientific Evidence and Practical Aspects
Luis Alberto Vázquez et al. · Diabetes Therapy · 2024
DOI 10.1007/s13300-024-01587-6
More from this paper
- Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, produces clinically significant weight loss (mean 6.2–12.9 kg) and glycemic control (HbA1c reduction -1.87 to -2.59%) in adults with type 2 diabetes, with efficacy increasing with dose up to 15 mg weekly.Strong
- Tirzepatide improves cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, lipid profiles, and liver fat content, in patients with type 2 diabetes, without increasing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.Good
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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