Doctors hopeful over ‘paradigm shift’ in treating diabetes

Leading endocrinologists from Mumbai, in the backdrop of EMPA-REG, a global study presented at American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently said that it could result in a paradigm shift in effective diabetes management. As 70 per cent of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 30 per cent of kidney disease cases are found in type 2 diabetes patients in Mumbai, the medical experts suggested that usage of the drug empagliflozin could bring in revolutionary change in patient care as the drug is said to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation for heart failure by a considerable margin.

Medical experts have been pointing out that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has reached epidemic proportions in many countries, especially India. Endocrinologists from Mumbai have highlighted an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

According to the established studies, kidney diseases affect about 50 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes. Studies also say people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop CVD than people without diabetes due to factors such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure and obesity.

Talking about the medical trial on more than 7,000 patients from 42 countries which included close to 163 enrolled from Indian patients with type 2 diabetes and established CVD, Dr Shashank Joshi, a leading endocrinologist, said, “As per the results of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, empagliflozin reduces the risk of cardiovascular death by 38 per cent and hospitalisation for heart failure by 35 per cent in people with high risk type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the risk for new-onset or worsening kidney disease by 39 per cent versus placebo when added to standard of care in people with type 2 diabetes with established cardiovascular disease.” The trials also proved 55 per cent reduction in the initiation of kidney replacement therapy such as dialysis and 44 per cent reduction in doubling of creatinine, which is a chemical waste molecule usually filtered by the kidneys from the blood.

Indian diabetics are often diagnosed late and also have cardiovascular and renal complications, which need effective early screening and treatment strategies. In this light, experts, who are delighted with the results , said tthe new standard of care in effective diabetes management can add a holistic approach towards patient care.