Better response to the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in young adults with type 2 diabetes

Mathematical Models of the Effect of Glucagon on Glycemia in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Dapagliflozin

Context

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors lower blood glucose levels by promoting urinary glucose excretion, but their overall effects on hormonal and metabolic status remain unclear.

Objective

We here investigated the roles of insulin and glucagon in the regulation of glycemia in individuals treated with an SGLT2 inhibitor using mathematical model analysis.

Methods

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in 68 individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin. Data previously obtained from such tests in 120 subjects with various levels of glucose tolerance and not treated with an SGLT2 inhibitor were examined as a control. Mathematical models of the feedback loops connecting glucose and insulin (GI model) or glucose, insulin, and glucagon (GIG model) were generated.

Results

Analysis with the GI model revealed that the disposition index/clearance, which is defined as the product of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion divided by the square of insulin clearance and represents the glucose-handling ability of insulin, was significantly correlated with glycemia in subjects not taking an SGLT2 inhibitor but not in those taking dapagliflozin. Analysis with the GIG model revealed that a metric defined as the product of glucagon sensitivity and glucagon secretion divided by glucagon clearance (designated production index/clearance) was significantly correlated with blood glucose level in subjects treated with dapagliflozin.

Conclusion

Treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor alters the relation between insulin effect and blood glucose concentration, and glucagon effect may account for variation in glycemia among individuals treated with such drugs.

The use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and the incidence of uveitis in type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study

Introduction

To survey the potential correlation between the application of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the incidence of uveitis in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Material and methods

A retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) was conducted. The T2DM patients using SGLT2 inhibitors and those taking other anti-diabetic medications were assigned to the SGLT2 group and the control group, respectively, with a 1 : 2 ratio via the propensity score-matching (PSM) method. The major outcome in this study is the development of uveitis according to the diagnostic codes. The Cox proportional hazard regression was adopted to yield the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) between the groups.

Results

There were 147 and 371 new uveitis episodes in the SGLT2 and control groups after the follow-up period up to 5 years. The incidence of uveitis in the SGLT2 group (aHR = 0.736, 95% CI: 0.602-0.899, p = 0.0007) was significantly lower than that in the control group after adjusting for the effect of all the confounders. In the subgroup analyses, the SGLT2 inhibitors showed a higher correlation with low uveitis incidence in T2DM patients aged under 50 than T2DM individuals aged over 50 years (p = 0.0012), while the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on the incidence of anterior and posterior uveitis development was similar (p = 0.7993).

Conclusions

The use of SGLT2 inhibitors could be an independent protective factor for uveitis development in T2DM population.

Efficacy and safety of enavogliflozin vs. dapagliflozin as add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on renal function: a pooled analysis of two randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

We assessed the efficacy and safety of enavogliflozin (0.3 mg), a newly developed SGLT-2 inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on kidney function via pooled analysis of two 24-week, randomized, double-blind phase III trials.

METHODS

Data from 470 patients were included (enavogliflozin: 0.3 mg/day, n = 235; dapagliflozin: 10 mg/day, n = 235). The subjects were classified by mildly reduced (60 ≤ eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 247) or normal eGFR (≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 223).

RESULTS

In the mildly reduced eGFR group, enavogliflozin significantly reduced the adjusted mean change of HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose levels at week 24 compared to dapagliflozin (- 0.94% vs. -0.77%, P = 0.0196). Enavogliflozin exhibited a more pronounced glucose-lowering effect by HbA1c when combined with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors than that observed in their absence. Enavogliflozin showed potent blood glucose-lowering effects regardless of renal function. Conversely, dapagliflozin showed a significant decrease in the glucose-lowering efficacy as the renal function decreased. Enavogliflozin showed a higher urinary glucose excretion rate in both groups. The homeostatic model assessment showed that enavogliflozin markedly decreased the insulin resistance. The blood pressure, weight loss, or homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function values did not differ significantly between enavogliflozin and dapagliflozin. Adverse events were similar between both drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

The glucose-lowering efficacy of enavogliflozin is superior to that of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild renal function impairment; this is attributed to its potent urinary glucose excretion-promoting ability. The emergence of new and potent SGLT-2 inhibitors is considered an attractive option for patients with inadequate glycemic control and decreased renal function.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable (pooled analysis).

Effect of Insulin on Proximal Tubules Handling of Glucose: A Systematic Review

Renal proximal tubules reabsorb glucose from the glomerular filtrate and release it back into the circulation. Modulation of glomerular filtration and renal glucose disposal are some of the insulin actions, but little is known about a possible insulin effect on tubular glucose reabsorption. This review is aimed at synthesizing the current knowledge about insulin action on glucose handling by proximal tubules. Method. A systematic article selection from Medline (PubMed) and Embase between 2008 and 2019. 180 selected articles were clustered into topics (renal insulin handling, proximal tubule glucose transport, renal gluconeogenesis, and renal insulin resistance). Summary of Results. Insulin upregulates its renal uptake and degradation, and there is probably a renal site-specific insulin action and resistance; studies in diabetic animal models suggest that insulin increases renal SGLT2 protein content; in vivo human studies on glucose transport are few, and results of glucose transporter protein and mRNA contents are conflicting in human kidney biopsies; maximum renal glucose reabsorptive capacity is higher in diabetic patients than in healthy subjects; glucose stimulates SGLT1, SGLT2, and GLUT2 in renal cell cultures while insulin raises SGLT2 protein availability and activity and seems to directly inhibit the SGLT1 activity despite it activating this transporter indirectly. Besides, insulin regulates SGLT2 inhibitor bioavailability, inhibits renal gluconeogenesis, and interferes with Na+K+ATPase activity impacting on glucose transport. Conclusion. Available data points to an important insulin participation in renal glucose handling, including tubular glucose transport, but human studies with reproducible and comparable method are still needed.

A Lower Baseline Urinary Glucose Excretion Predicts a Better Response to the Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor

We aimed to identify the clinical variables associated with a better glucose-lowering response to the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor ipragliflozin in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We especially focused on urinary glucose excretion (UGE). This was a single-arm multicenter prospective study. A total of 92 people with T2DM aged 20 to 70 years with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels ≥7.0% and ≤9.5% were enrolled. Ipragliflozin (50 mg) was added to the background therapy for these people for 12 weeks. After 3 months treatment with ipragliflozin, the mean HbA1c levels were decreased from 7.6% to 6.9% and 62.0% of the people reached the HbA1c target of less than 7.0% (P<0.001). In addition, body weight, blood pressure, and lipid parameters were improved after ipragliflozin treatment (all P<0.001). The baseline HbA1c (r=0.66, P<0.001) and morning spot urine glucose to creatinine ratio (r=-0.30, P=0.001) were independently associated with the HbA1c reduction. Ipragliflozin treatment for 12 weeks improves glycemic control and other metabolic parameters. A higher HbA1c and lower UGE at baseline predicts a better glucose-lowering efficacy of ipragliflozin.

Characteristics of Dapagliflozin Responders: A Longitudinal, Prospective, Nationwide Dapagliflozin Surveillance Study in Korea

INTRODUCTION

Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, such as dapagliflozin, have demonstrated favorable effects in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, there are limited reports in the literature regarding the glucose-lowering effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in actual clinical settings.

METHODS

The post-marketing surveillance data from a longitudinal prospective study of 2007 patients with T2D who were prescribed dapagliflozin (10 mg/day) were analyzed (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02252224).

RESULTS

After 12 weeks of dapagliflozin treatment, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) from 8.1 ± 1.3% to 7.5 ± 1.2% and from 28.1 ± 4.4 to 27.6 ± 4.2 kg/m², respectively. Both body weight and HbA1c were reduced in 67.7% of patients, and HbA1c was lowered in 75.1%. Younger age, male sex, shorter diabetes duration, higher baseline HbA1c and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and having dapagliflozin as add-on therapy were associated with stronger HbA1c reductions after dapagliflozin use (all P < 0.05). Moreover, subgroup analysis of eGFR of subjects with renal hyperfiltration (eGFR ≥ 120 ml/min/1.73 m²) showed the largest reduction in glucose level (% change, - 9.5; 95% CI - 6.8 to - 12.3 for HbA1c; P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that recent T2D diagnosis and higher HbA1c at baseline in patients who received an add-on regimen of dapagliflozin were statistically significantly associated with a dapagliflozin response (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin provides benefits for glycemic control and body weight. Patients in a relatively early stage of the course of diabetes with renal hyperfiltration might be more suitable for and gain maximal benefit from dapagliflozin treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02252224.

FUNDING

AstraZeneca.

Characteristics and Impact Factors of Renal Threshold for Glucose Excretion in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are newly developed but promising medicine for type 2 diabetes. However, patients with a different renal threshold for glucose excretion (RT(G)) may have a different reaction to this medicine. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of RT(G) and its impact factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The clinical and laboratory data of 36 healthy individuals and 168 in-hospital patients with T2DM were collected and analyzed, RT(G) was calculated using blood glucose (BG) measured by dynamic BG monitoring, urinary glucose excretion (UGE) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The characteristics of RT(G) were investigated. The risk factors for high RT(G) were analyzed using non-conditional logistic regression analysis. Our results found that RT(G) of the T2DM group was higher than that of the healthy individuals (P < 0.05); and 22.22% from the healthy individuals group but 58.33% from the T2DM group had high RT(G). Age, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were independently associated with high RT(G) (P < 0.05). Further stratified analysis revealed that RT(G) in T2DM patients increased with age, duration of diabetes, and BMI. In conclusion, RT(G) is increased in patients with T2DM, especially in those with longer diabetic duration, higher BMI, and those who are older. Therefore, these patients may be more sensitive to SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Renal threshold for glucose reabsorption predicts diabetes improvement by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor therapy

In the present study we examined the efficacy of sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on improvement of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in comparison with the renal threshold for glucose reabsorption in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients visited the hospital once a month for a regular follow‐up examination with the determination of blood glucose and HbA1c levels, and urinary glucose concentration from spot urine samples. Patient samples were compared before and after ipragliflozin administration. We defined the renal threshold for glucose reabsorption as the lowest blood glucose level that correlated with the first detectable appearance of urine glucose. These data showed a significant negative correlation between improvement of HbA1c level and renal threshold for glucose reabsorption in patients treated with the sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor. These findings show that patients who have a higher renal threshold for glucose reabsorption can be expected to more effectively respond to sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor therapy in terms of lowering HbA1c levels.