New Diabetes Drug Victoza Better Than Byetta?

Victoza for Diabetes: Better Than Byetta?

New Diabetes Drug Victoza Beats Byetta in Study

June 8, 2009 -- A new diabetes drug -- to be called Victoza if approved -- works better than Byetta, a head-to-head clinical trial shows.

Byetta is the first of the class of type 2 diabetes drugs called GLP-1 analogs. The drug takes advantage of the body's own signaling system to increase insulin output in response to meals.

Byetta is a popular drug, and it's helped many patients. But liraglutide -- soon to be called Victoza if approved by the FDA -- works better, says Lawrence Blonde, MD, director of the diabetes clinical research unit at Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans.

"Our direct comparison study shows patients who took liraglutide once a day had a greater reduction in [average blood sugar levels] at the end of the 26-week study than did [Byetta] twice a day," Blonde tells WebMD. "Obviously, once-a-day injections would be preferred by many patients because of the convenience -- and it is not tied to meals. Liraglutide can be taken any time as long as you take it the same time each day."

Blonde and colleagues reported the results of the study -- funded by Victoza maker Novo Nordisk -- at this week's meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in New Orleans. The study also appears in the June 8 advance online issue of The Lancet.

The study's main focus was how well liraglutide and Byetta lowered A1c, a measure of blood-sugar control over time. The ADA recommends that patients keep their A1c level below 7%. At the start of the study, which enrolled 464 patients with poor blood-sugar control despite standard treatment with metformin and/or a sulfonylurea, study participants' average A1c level was 8.2%.

Byetta helped patients lower their A1c by 0.79%; 43% of patients were able to get their A1c under 7%.

But patients on liraglutide had a 1.12% drop in A1c -- and 54% got their A1c under 7%.

Byetta makes many patients feel nauseous, although this side effect gets better over time. Nausea is also a side effect of liraglutide, but patients got over it much more quickly.

"By week six the proportion of patients with nausea in the liraglutide group was below 10%, whereas it took patients on [Byetta] 22 weeks to reach that value," Blonde says.

Patients on liraglutide had about half as many episodes of too-low blood sugar as those on Byetta. And patients on liraglutide lost a little more weight (7.1 pounds) than patients on Byetta (6.28 pounds), although the difference was not statistically significant.

The findings convince Christophe E.M. DeBlock, MD, and Luc F. Van Gaal, MD, PhD, of the University of Antwerp, Belgium, who reviewed the study for The Lancet.

"Liraglutide provides greater improvements in glycemic control and is better tolerated than [Byetta]," they write. "This novel GLP-1 analog might be a good option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes."

Answer:

Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia).

If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.

People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.

However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.

Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.