title: Effects on α- and β-cell function of sequentially adding empagliflozin and linagliptin to therapy in people with type 2 diabetes previously receiving metformin: An exploratory mechanistic study.
abstract: To investigate the effect of sequential treatment escalation with empagliflozin and linagliptin on laboratory markers of α- and β-cell function in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) insufficiently controlled on metformin monotherapy.
  
  
  
  A total of 44 people with T2DM received 25 mg empagliflozin for a duration of 1 month in an open-label fashion (treatment period 1 [TP1]). Thereafter, they were randomized to a double-blind add-on therapy with linagliptin 5 mg or placebo (treatment period 2 [TP2]) for 1 additional month. α- and β-cell function was assessed using a standardized liquid meal test and an intravenous (i.v.) glucose challenge. Efficacy measures comprised the areas under the curve for glucose, insulin, proinsulin and glucagon after the liquid meal test and the assessment of fast and late-phase insulin release after an i.v. glucose load with a subsequent hyperglycaemic clamp.
  
  
  
  Empagliflozin reduced fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels, associated with a significant reduction in postprandial insulin levels and an improvement in the conversion rate of proinsulin (TP1). The addition of linagliptin during TP2 further improved postprandial glucose levels, probably as a result of a marked reduction in postprandial glucagon concentrations (TP2). The insulin response to an i.v. glucose load increased during treatment with empagliflozin (TP1), and further improved after the addition of linagliptin (TP2).
  
  
  
  After metformin failure, sequential treatment escalation with empagliflozin and linagliptin is an attractive treatment option because of the additive effects on postprandial glucose control, probably mediated by complementary effects on α- and β-cell function.
authors.affiliation: Profil, Neuss, Germany.|1st Medical Department, Endocrinology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forst
authors.affiliation: Profil, Neuss, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: Profil, Neuss, Germany.
authors.forename: Grit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Profil, Neuss, Germany.
authors.forename: Annelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: 1st Medical Department, Endocrinology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: MLM Medical Laboratories, Moenchengladbach, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voswinkel
authors.affiliation: Profil, Neuss, Germany.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heise
authors.affiliation: Profil, Neuss, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kapitza
authors.affiliation: Profil, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Leona
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Plum-Mörschel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D050416:Glucagon-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D005960:Glucosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D000069476:Linagliptin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000187:drug effects; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005960:Glucosides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D000069476:Linagliptin; D005934:Glucagon; D011384:Proinsulin; C570240:empagliflozin
keywords: 
  DPP-4 inhibition; 
  SGLT-2 inhibition; α-cell function; β-cell function