In Clinical

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

Men and women in the UK with diabetes are about 12 and eight times respectively more likely to develop moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD; stages 3b-5) than those without diabetes.

Now a study presented at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting suggests that once-daily liraglutide improves glycaemic control without undermining kidney function in adults with type 2 diabetes and moderate CKD.

Researchers treated 277 adults with type 2 diabetes and stage 3 CKD with liraglutide 1.8mg or placebo added to the patient’s existing oral antidiabetic treatment, insulin or both.

After 26 weeks, patients treated with liraglutide showed significantly greater reductions in mean HbA1c than placebo (1.05 and 0.38 per cent respectively), were more likely to achieve HbA1c <7 per cent (52.8 and 19.5 per cent respectively) and showed significantly greater weight loss (2.41kg and 1.09kg respectively).

Liraglutide did not worsen renal function compared to placebo. However, study sponsors Novo Nordisk note that “there is limited experience with liraglutide in patients with mild, moderate and severe renal impairment, including end-stage renal disease. Liraglutide should be used with caution in this group.”

• People with diabetes “are four times more likely to get vital annual checks if they live in the best performing area in England (Stafford and Surrounds Clinical Commissioning Group) than if they live in the worst”, according to Diabetes UK.

In the worse performing area (mid-Essex), just 18.5 per cent of people get the eight annual checks that are recommended by NICE. In 27 areas in England, fewer than half of people with diabetes receive the checks, the charity said.