achieve or maintain the A1C target
over 3 months, add a second oral
agent, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, or
basal insulin. A
c A patient-centered approach
should be used to guide choice
of pharmacological agents. Considerations
include efficacy,
cost, potential side effects, weight,
comorbidities, hypoglycemia risk,
and patient preferences. E
c Due to the progressive nature of
type 2 diabetes, insulin therapy is
eventually indicated for many patients
with type 2 diabetes. B
An updated American Diabetes Association/European
Association for the
Study of Diabetes position statement
(15) evaluated the data and developed
recommendations, including advantages
and disadvantages, for antihyperglycemic
agents for type 2 diabetic
patients. A patient-centered approach
is stressed, including patient preferences,
cost and potential side effects
of each class, effects on body weight,
and hypoglycemia risk. Lifestyle modifi-
cations that improve health (see Section
4. Foundations of Care) should be emphasized
along with any pharmacological
therapy.
Initial Therapy
Most patients should begin with lifestyle
changes (lifestyle counseling,
weight-loss education, exercise, etc.).
When lifestyle efforts alone have not
achieved or maintained glycemic goals,
metformin monotherapy should be
added at, or soon after, diagnosis, unless
there are contraindications or intolerance.
Metformin has a long-standing
evidence base for efficacy and safety, is
inexpensive, and may reduce risk of cardiovascular
events (16). In patients with
metformin intolerance or contraindications,
consider an initial drug from other
classes depicted in Fig. 7.1 under “Dual
therapy” and proceed accordingly.
Combination Therapy
Although there are numerous trials
comparing dual therapy with metformin
alone, few directly compare drugs as
add-on therapy. A comparative effectiveness
meta-analysis (17) suggests
that overall each new class of noninsulin
agents added to initial therapy lowers