A multifaceted medicine

Almost 10% of adults around the world live with diabetes, every fifth person over the age of 60 suffers from diabetes mainly type 2. Patients have twice the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and about 40% have kidney problems.

In Canada, a clinical trial of the drug Dulaglutide was conducted, which, in addition to treating type 2 diabetes, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and kidney problems in middle-aged and older people. The study, which lasted 5.4 years, involved 9900 people from 24 countries, more than 46% of participants were women, less than a third of participants had heart problems in the past.

Over the entire observation period, the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes in people taking Dulaglutide decreased by 12% compared to those taking placebo. In addition, during the same period, the drug reduced the development of kidney diseases by 15%. A similar effect was observed in people of both sexes, regardless of whether they had heart problems before or not.

Dulaglutide is an agonist of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors and regulates the pancreas in such a way that in response to an increase in sugar, the right amount of insulin is released, slowing bowel emptying after eating and reducing weight and appetite. To achieve the desired effect, the drug should be administered once a week.

The drug was well tolerated, moderately reduced weight, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure, and also increased heart rate. 47% of the subjects had diarrhea and constipation compared to those who took a placebo (34%).

Article by Hertzel C Gerstein et al. Dulaglutide and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes: an exploratory analysis of the REWIND randomized, placebo-controlled trial published in The Lancet.

Elena Panasyuk, portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru / based on the materials of McMaster University: Large international study finds diabetes drug cuts cardiovascular and kidney problems.