Type 2 Diabetes: Weight & Early Control
Early control of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is achievable and can lead to long-term benefits. New treatment approaches can be a solution
T2D can progress for years before patients are diagnosed. According to the latest ADA-EASD Consensus Report, a proactive approach to achieving HbA1c targets early is important for long-term outcomes, and weight management is central from the beginning for comprehensive T2D care in people with T2D and excess weight1,2
Meet Rahul
Rahul’s hypothetical treatment journey will be used to help us see the potential benefits of an early treatment approach that addresses more than HbA1c alone.
At Diagnosis
Rahul is a 42-year-old man diagnosed with T2D during his visit to your clinic.
| Clinical Workup | Result |
|---|---|
| HbA1c | 7.8 % |
| BMI | 29 kg/m2 |
| Waist Circumference | 102 cm (40.2 in) |
| Waist-to-hip Ratio | 0.97 |
| Blood Pressure | 131/79 mm Hg |
| HDL | 54.1 mg/dL |
| LDL | 108.3 mg/dL |
| Total Cholesterol | 216.6 mg/dL |
| Triglycerides | 434 mg/dL |
| Blood Sugar | 190 mg/dL |
Rahul is concerned about his weight and progressing T2D. What does his clinical workup tell us about his T2D?
There could be multiple defects driving his T2DM progression, and if his hyperglycemia is not treated to goal, his risk of developing irreversible complications such as diabetic neuropathy, chronic kidney disease, or cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is increased.1,3,4
Davies MJ, Aroda VR, Collins BS, et al. Management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes, 2022. A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetes Care. 2022;45(11):2753-2786. doi:10.2337/dci22-0034
Kendall DM, Cuddihy RM, Bergenstal RM. Clinical application of incretin-based therapy: therapeutic potential, patient selection and clinical use. Am J Med. 2009;122(6 suppl): S37-S50. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.03.015
Schwartz SS, Epstein S, Corkey BE, et al. The time is right for a new classification system for diabetes: rationale and implications of the β-cell-centric classification schema. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(2):179-186. doi:10.2337/dc15-1585
UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group. Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33). Lancet. 1998;352(9131):837-853. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07019-6