weight loss and cardiovascular prevention of patients with type 2 diabetes the two big benefits of glp 1 analogues with glycaemic control

-Studies on analogues of GLP-1 currently in development show a profile of possible cardiovascular benefit, with effects such as decreased blood pressure, vascular inflammation or markers of arteriosclerosis

Oviedo, June 2012.- weight loss and the possible decrease in cardiovascular risk are, in addition to glycaemic control, the two great benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes of GLP-1 as the liraglutida similar drugs.

Thus expressed it by Dr. Arturo Rolla, Professor of clinical medicine at Harvard Uni-housing, and Dr. Enrique Caballero, Director of the Latin initiative of the Centre of Joslin Diabetes at the same University, during his participation in a symposium moderated by Dr. Manel Puig, head of Endocrino-logía and nutrition service at the hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, within the framework of the fifty-fourth Congress of the Spanish society of Endocrinology and nutrition.

Liraglutida, marketed in Spain by the health care company Novo Nordisk with the name of Victoza, is an analogue of GLP-1, a natural hormone that secretes the intestine and whose function is to regulate the levels of glucose in the body. Unlike other anti-diabetic drugs, does not require ade-cuación time or dose adjustment, since it is administered once a day of mane-independent ra meals.

Regard to the diabesidad ”, that is to say, the combination of diabetes and overweight, said Dr. Rolla which obesity is increasing worldwide with alarming speed, and behind it, type 2 diabetes. Even worse is that this phenomenon is occurring in increasingly younger people, with which to be soon exposed to the increase of sugar in blood, will have serious chronic complications when they barely reach the 30 years ”.

Spain, 14% of the adult population suffers from diabetes, 90-95% of type 2. Likewise, 28% of Spanish adults is obesity, i.e. a BMI above 30, which carries a much higher risk of pa-thank diabetes for persons with one lower index. Experts relate obesity with genetic reasons both diets abound-tes in fat and sedentary, still life – pointed Dr. Rolla – a direct relationship between the number of hours in front of the TV or monitor is computer or video game and body weight, particularly among children and adolescents ”.

Returning to the diabesidad ”, Professor of clinical medicine at Harvard University has concluded that for years, have sacrificed the weight to control the glucemias. We must accept that the prevention of obesity is a very important therapeutic goal in patients with diabetes and that, therefore, in all treatment that is prescribed, it must monitor weight and as objective that this does not increase and, if possible, that diminishes. GLP-1 analogues have these characteristics and, therefore, must be considera-dos much earlier in the line of treatments for type 2 diabetes ”.

Potential direct and indirect benefits in cardiovascular prevention

Overweight patients with diabetes increases the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of deaths in these patients in Spain are caused by cardiovascular problems and that 70% of the people who come to the consultation of the cardiologists have diabetes or prediabetes.

In this regard, the Director of the Latin initiative of the Centre of Joslin Diabetes has stated that given that obesity is a risk factor cardiovascular for people with diabetes, the fact that a drug will contribute to weight loss has as a consequence that contributes also, indirecta-mente, to the prevention of the risk ”.

Dr. Knight has referred also to the studies currently in development around the potential direct benefits of liraglutida in the prevention of cardio-vascular, regardless of weight loss: all the markers rela-genres with cardiovascular risks in these studies point to its reduction. They are being observed, for example, reductions in diastolic and systolic blood pressure and vascular inflammation markers of arteriovenous-sclerosis, that, taken together, represent a profile of cardiovas-cular benefit ”.

About Novo Nordisk

Based in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global health company 89 years of innovation and leadership in the treatment of diabetes. The company also holds a leadership position in other areas such as hemophilia, hormone of growth and hormone replacement therapy.