[Sequential treatment with insulin glargine and metformin, and exenatide in a patient with newly diagnosed type-2 diabetes].
HISTORY AND ADMISSIONS FINDINGS: A 54-year-old man was admitted to hospital for treatment of a newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. He had polydipsia and polyuria and had lost 11 kg in weight over four weeks. Further diagnoses were visceral obesity and arterial hypertension.


METHODS
Laboratory tests revealed highly elevated blood glucose parameters (HbA1c 14,9 %, fasting glucose 280 mg/dl, maximal postprandial glucose 430 mg/dl and 320 mg/dl before the meal) and triglyceride (2219 mg/dl).


METHODS
The patient was initially treated with a combination of insulin glargine and metformin. After a few days exenatide was added, as the patient wanted to be able to go without insulin. He was given a structured diabetes education and motivated to have five to six hours' of physical activity and a low glycemic diet. After a few days normal glucose levels had been achieved. After one month the insulin treatment was discontinued. The continuing treatment with metformin, 1000 mg twice daily, and exenatide, 5 mg twice daily, prolonged remission of beta-cell dysfunction and maintained normal blood glucose levels for seven months. After reduction of the metformin dosage (500 mg twice daily) and discontinuance of exenatide as well as a reduction of his physical activity (because of joint pain) for six months, the glucose control worsened. When exenatide was administered again, good control of postprandial blood glucose, but not of fasting glucose was achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
Initial combination treatment with insulin glargine, metformin and exenatide may be beneficial in a subgroup of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, markedly elevated blood glucose and free fatty acid levels (glucolipotoxicity). This should be further investigated in randomized controlled trials.
Kress
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Medizinische Klinik I, Vinzentius-Krankenhaus, Landau, Germany. dr.kress@gmx.net
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000077270:Exenatide; D015444:Exercise; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D014688:Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D000077270:Exenatide; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008687:Metformin; D010455:Peptides; D014688:Venoms; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human