It is no secret that weight loss can greatly assist in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, a recent study shows that a specific drug, liraglutide, used at a certain dosage (once daily doses of 1.2 or 1.8 mg) can yield weight loss for patients.
A study conducted at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom examined 846 overweight subjects who were given either a 3.0mg dosage of liraglutide, a 1.8mg dosage of liraglutide, or a placebo, over a 56 week span. Average weight loss for participants was 6.0 percent (14.1 lbs.) with liraglutide (3.0-mg dose); 4.7 percent (11 lbs.) with liraglutide (1.8-mg dose); and 2.0 percent (4.8 lbs.) with placebo. Weight loss of 5 percent or greater occurred in 54.3 percent with liraglutide (3.0 mg) and 40.4 percent with liraglutide (1.8 mg) vs. 21.4 percent with placebo.
While further studies need to be conducted to confirm liraglutide’s efficacy, the medication may be something providers want to consider for prescribing purposes for type 2 patients who need to lose weight.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study specifically designed to investigate the efficacy of liraglutide for weight management in patients with type 2 diabetes and also the first study to investigate liraglutide at the higher 3.0mp dose in a population with type 2 diabetes,” the study’s authors surmised.
Source: The JAMA Network Journal
