title: Expert consensus on the use of liraglutide in the treatment of diabetes in internal medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a disease of epidemic proportions. In the adult Spanish population, prevalence of DM2 is nearly 14%, which makes its monitoring and treatment imperative. Liraglutide has achieved relevance due to its efficacy and safety in DM treatment. The aim of this study is to gather expert opinion on diabetes to assess the current role of liraglutide in DM2.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was performed by 57 internal medicine specialists using the Delphi method. The questionnaire had 56 items regarding liraglutide in DM treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consensus was reached in 71.4% of items. Panelists stated agreement regarding liraglutide suitability in the treatment of patients with DM2, high cardiovascular risk, and with pathologies related to obesity, highlighting its role in weight loss, low risk of hypoglycemia, and improvement of vascular risks. Moreover, consensus was not reached regarding the suitability of liraglutide in patients with special situations, mainly due to minimal experience caused by the small number of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to its safety and hypoglycemic efficacy, liraglutide is an excellent choice for DM treatment in combination with other drugs. Its effects on the reduction of weight and other cardiovascular risk factors, make it an optimal treatment, especially in overweight or obese patients.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calvo Gómez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez-Huelgas
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lima Ruiz
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masmiquel Comas
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michán Doña
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zapatero Gaviria
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000069450:Liraglutide