Diabetes drug costs. Simeon Taylor discusses the issue of rising costs in dabetes treatment. From 2005-2007 to 2015-2017 it increased by 240% (more patients and more expensive drugs). Costs are mainly due to new molecules and new insulins, remaining stable metformin and other older drug costs. Apart from that, this commentary does not consider the impact of recent mandatory GLP-RA or SGLT2-i prescription in case of ACVD, HF or CKD. I keep the last sentence: "If the U.S. wishes to promote health care equity and social justice, major changes need to be implemented". Original here
Pisa Covid Study. Copelli and many others present us data from 271 hospitalized covid patients in Italy. Hyperglycemia at admission was strong mortality predictor although, paradoxically, patients from 5th quintile of hyperglycemia survived more thant those from 4th quintile. This results do not mean, needless to say, that hyperglycemia treatment reduce mortality. Let's be serious. Original here.
Albiglutide replace bolus in half of type 2 diabetes on basal-bolus patients. Julio Rosenstock (has this man time to see patients?) presents us a 1:1 randomized, 26-week, open-label trial of almost 800 type 2 patients on basal-bolus, leaving basal insulin and trying to replace bolus with the poor sister of GLP-RAs, albigutide. Only 54% could do it, the remaining had to continue with them. Not surprisingly, albi group reduced weight a bit, but had more gut discomfort. Nothing new. Here the original.
