Researchers at the University of Exeter, funded by the Medical Research Council, Wellcome and NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre, and supported by Diabetes UK, have developed an innovative way of identifying the most effective glucose-lowering drugs for a person with type 2 diabetes.
The new tool was created to tackle the challenge of which drug to choose after metformin. It was developed and tested using data from one million people with type 2 diabetes in the UK, linking GP and hospital records, with its accuracy verified with data from clinical trials.
Modelling showed that starting people on the drug recommended by the new tool could lead to marked reductions in blood glucose levels (HbA1c) at one year, of around 5mmol/mol on average. Importantly, these improvements in blood glucose levels could approximately double the time until people need to start taking further diabetes medications. The tool’s use was also predicted to lower risks of developing serious long-term diabetes complications including heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease.
By predicting which drug will lead to the largest reduction in blood glucose levels, the easy-to-use tool could pave the way for better health for millions, at the push of a button.
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