Liraglutide, a new drug used to treat type 2 diabetes has been linked to enhance blood glucose control, weight loss, and even lowering blood pressure all with just a once-daily injection.  A study led by Dr. Alan Garber of Baylor College of Medicine of 746 patients with early stages of type 3 diabetes concluded these findings.  Patients received a once-daily injection of either 1.2 mg or 1.8mg of the drug or a once daily oral tablet of Amaryl, which is an often used oral anti-diabetic drug.  In addition patients who received the injections of Liraglutide were given placebo pills and those given Amaryl pills were administered placebo injections.

Prior to treatment the patients’ long-term blood sugar control scores were recorded and ranged from 7-11%.  After receiving the one year long treatment the scores of the patients receiving the 1.8mg injection of Liraglutide had dropped by 1.14% and the scores of those taking the 1.2mg of Liraglutide dropped by 0.84%.  The scores of those taking Amaryl had dropped by 0.51%.

The study concluded that 51% of patients receiving the higher dose of Liraglutide had achieved the American Diabetes Association target levels of less than 7.0% and 43% or patients receiving the lower dose of Liraglutide reached the ADA target levels.  However, only 28% of patients receiving the Amaryl reached the ADA target levels.  During the first 16 weeks of the trial, those receiving Liraglutide experienced weight loss, which was maintained after one year, while most of the patients receiving Amaryl gained weight.

One main side effect of Liraglutide is nausea.  This reaction caused 6 of the patients to drop out of the study due to vomiting.  Those that experienced nausea for more than 7 days lost 7.1 lbs on the 1.2mg dosage of Liraglutide and those receiving the 1.8mg dosage lost 7.5 lbs.  Patients who had nausea for less than 7 days lost about 4.1 lbs on the 1.2mg dosage and about 5lbs on the 1.8mg dosage.  However, those on Amaryl gained about 2.7lbs.  In addition those on Liraglutide experienced a decrease in their blood pressure and those on Amaryl patients did not.