title: Intensifying Treatment Beyond Monotherapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Where Do Newer Therapies Fit?
abstract: Guidelines for a standard second diabetes medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have yet to be established. The rapid increase in the number of newer therapies available makes the choice more difficult. Thus, we reviewed clinical trial evidence evaluating newer therapies available for treatment intensification beyond monotherapy.
  
  
  
  Head-to-head studies comparing newer therapies versus traditional (i.e., sulfonylurea) approaches consistently find lower incidence of hypoglycemia and weight gain with newer therapies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors demonstrate high glycemic efficacy, while merits of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors include their tolerability. Secondary effects (weight loss, cardiovascular outcomes, renal function) are of growing interest with newer therapies. Choices for treatment intensification in T2DM diabetes are numerous. Understanding the comparative evidence of newer treatment choices, as provided in this review, may help guide clinical decision making.
authors.affiliation: MedStar Health Research Institute, 6525 Belcrest Road, Suite #700, Hyattsville, MD, 20782, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: MedStar Health Research Institute, 6525 Belcrest Road, Suite #700, Hyattsville, MD, 20782, USA.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: MedStar Health Research Institute, 6525 Belcrest Road, Suite #700, Hyattsville, MD, 20782, USA.
authors.forename: Adline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghazi
authors.affiliation: MedStar Health Research Institute, 6525 Belcrest Road, Suite #700, Hyattsville, MD, 20782, USA. vanita.aroda@medstar.net.|Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA. vanita.aroda@medstar.net.
authors.forename: Vanita R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Aroda
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051297:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D000097789:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
chemical_list: D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C089180:SLC5A2 protein, human; D051297:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2; D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000097789:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
keywords: DPP-4 inhibitors; GLP-1 receptor agonists; Intensification after monotherapy; SGLT-2 inhibitors; Type 2 diabetes