Management of Hyperglycemia in
Type 2 Diabetes, 2015:
A Patient-Centered Approach
Update to a Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association (ADA)
and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)
Inzucchi SE, Bergenstal RB, Buse JB, Diamant M, Ferrannini E,
Nauck M, Peters AL, Tsapas A, Wender R, Matthews DR
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140–149
Diabetologia 2015;58:429–442
Figure 1. Modulation of the
intensiveness of glucose
lowering therapy in T2DM
Approach to the management
of hyperglycemia
HbA1c
more
stringent
7%
less
stringent
PATIENT / DISEASE FEATURES
Risks potentially associated
with hypoglycemia and
other drug adverse effects
Disease duration
Life expectancy
low
high
newly diagnosed
long-standing
Usually not
modifiable
long
short
Important comorbidities
Established vascular
complications
Patient attitude and
expected treatment efforts
Resources and support
system
absent
few / mild
severe
absent
few / mild
severe
highly motivated, adherent,
excellent self-care capacities
Readily available
less motivated, non-adherent,
poor self-care capacities
Potentially
modifiable
limited
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149; Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Oral Class
Biguanides
Mechanism
• Activates AMPkinase (?other)
•  Hepatic glucose
production
Advantages
• Extensive experience
• No hypoglycemia
• Weight neutral
• ?  CVD
Sulfonylureas • Closes KATP channels • Extensive experience
•  Insulin secretion
•  Microvascular risk
Disadvantages
• Gastrointestinal
Low
• Lactic acidosis (rare)
• B-12 deficiency
• Contraindications
• Hypoglycemia
•  Weight
• Low durability
• ? Blunts ischemic
preconditioning
Meglitinides
• Closes KATP channels •  Postprandial glucose • Hypoglycemia
• Dosing flexibility
•  Insulin secretion
•  Weight
• ? Blunts ischemic
preconditioning
• Dosing frequency
TZDs
• PPAR-g activator
•  Insulin sensitivity
• No hypoglycemia
• Durability
•  TGs (pio)
•  HDL-C
• ?  CVD events (pio)
Table 1. Properties of anti-hyperglycemic agents
Cost
•  Weight
• Edema/heart failure
• Bone fractures
•  LDL-C (rosi)
• ?  MI (rosi)
Low
Mod.
Low
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149;
Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Oral Class
Mechanism
a-Glucosidase • Inhibits a-glucosidase
inhibitors
• Slows carbohydrate
digestion / absorption
Advantages
Disadvantages Cost
• No hypoglycemia
• Nonsystemic
•  Postprandial glucose
• ?  CVD events
• Gastrointestinal
• Dosing frequency
• Modest  A1c
Mod.
DPP-4
inhibitors
• Inhibits DPP-4
• Increases incretin
(GLP-1, GIP) levels
• No hypoglycemia
• Well tolerated
• Angioedema /
urticaria
• ? Pancreatitis
• ?  Heart failure
High
Bile acid
sequestrants
• Bind bile acids
• ?  Hepatic glucose
production
• No hypoglycemia
•  LDL-C
• Gastrointestinal
• Modest  A1c
• Dosing frequency
High
Dopamine-2
agonists
• Activates DA receptor
• Alters hypothalamic
control of metabolism
•  insulin sensitivity
• No hypoglyemia
• ?  CVD events
• Modest  A1c
• Dizziness, fatigue
• Nausea
• Rhinitis
High
SGLT2
inhibitors
• Inhibits SGLT2 in
proximal nephron
• Increases glucosuria
• Weight
• No hypoglycemia
•  BP
• Effective at all stages
• GU infections
High
• Polyuria
• Volume depletion
•  LDL-C
• Cr (transient)
Table 1. Properties of anti-hyperglycemic agents
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149;
Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Injectabl
e
Class
Mechanism
Advantages
Disadvantages
Cost
Amylin
mimetics
• Activates amylin
receptor
•  glucagon
•  gastric emptying
•  satiety
• Gastrointestinal
•  Weight
•  Postprandial glucose • Modest  A1c
• Injectable
• Hypo if insulin dose
not reduced
• Dosing frequency
• Training requirements
GLP-1
receptor
agonists
• Activates GLP-1 R
•  Insulin,  glucagon
•  gastric emptying
•  satiety
•  Weight
• No hypoglycemia
•  Postprandial glucose
•  Some CV risk factors
• Gastrointestinal
High
• ? Pancreatitis
•  Heart rate
• Medullary ca (rodents)
• Injectable
• Training requirements
Insulin
• Activates insulin
receptor
• Myriad
• Universally effective
• Unlimited efficacy
•  Microvascular risk
• Hypoglycemia
• Weight gain
• ? Mitogenicity
• Injectable
• Patient reluctance
• Training requirements
Table 1. Properties of anti-hyperglycemic agents
High
Variable
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149;
Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Healthy eating, weight control, increased physical activity & diabetes education
Monotherapy
Metformin
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
high
low risk
neutral/loss
GI / lactic acidosis
low
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of monotherapy, proceed to 2-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
Metformin
Sulfonylurea
Thiazolidinedione
DPP-4
inhibitor
high
moderate risk
gain
hypoglycemia
low
high
low risk
gain
edema, HF, fxs
low
intermediate
low risk
neutral
rare
high
+
Dual
therapy†
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
+
Metformin
Metformin
+
Metformin
+
+
Metformin
+
SGLT2
inhibitor
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
Insulin (basal)
intermediate
low risk
loss
GU, dehydration
high
high
low risk
loss
GI
high
highest
high risk
gain
hypoglycemia
variable
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of dual therapy, proceed to 3-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
+
Triple
therapy
Sulfonylurea
+
Metformin
+
Thiazolidinedione
+
TZD
Metformin
Metformin
+
+
DPP-4
Inhibitor
SGLT-2
Inhibitor
+
+
SU
SU
Metformin
+
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
+
SU
Metformin
+
Insulin (basal)
+
TZD
SU
or
DPP-4-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
DPP-4-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
Insulin§
or
SGLT2-i
or
Insulin§
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
or GLP-1-RA
Insulin§
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of triple therapy and patient (1) on oral combination, move to injectables, (2) on GLP-1 RA, add
basal insulin, or (3) on optimally titrated basal insulin, add GLP-1-RA or mealtime insulin. In refractory patients consider adding TZD or SGL T2-i:
Metformin
FigureCombination
2. Anti-hyperglycemic therapy
Basal Insulin +
injectable
‡
therapy
in T2DM:
General recommendations
+
Mealtime Insulin or
GLP-1-RA
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149; Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Healthy eating, weight control, increased physical activity & diabetes education
Monotherapy
Metformin
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
high
low risk
neutral/loss
GI / lactic acidosis
low
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of monotherapy, proceed to 2-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
Metformin
Sulfonylurea
Thiazolidinedione
DPP-4
inhibitor
high
moderate risk
gain
hypoglycemia
low
high
low risk
gain
edema, HF, fxs
low
intermediate
low risk
neutral
rare
high
+
Dual
therapy†
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
+
Metformin
Metformin
+
Metformin
+
+
Metformin
+
SGLT2
inhibitor
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
Insulin (basal)
intermediate
low risk
loss
GU, dehydration
high
high
low risk
loss
GI
high
highest
high risk
gain
hypoglycemia
variable
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of dual therapy, proceed to 3-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
+
Triple
therapy
Sulfonylurea
+
Metformin
+
Thiazolidinedione
+
TZD
Metformin
Metformin
+
+
DPP-4
Inhibitor
SGLT-2
Inhibitor
+
+
SU
SU
Metformin
+
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
+
SU
Metformin
+
Insulin (basal)
+
TZD
SU
or
DPP-4-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
DPP-4-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
Insulin§
or
SGLT2-i
or
Insulin§
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
or GLP-1-RA
Insulin§
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of triple therapy and patient (1) on oral combination, move to injectables, (2) on GLP-1 RA, add
basal insulin, or (3) on optimally titrated basal insulin, add GLP-1-RA or mealtime insulin. In refractory patients consider adding TZD or SGL T2-i:
Metformin
FigureCombination
2. Anti-hyperglycemic therapy
Basal Insulin +
injectable
‡
therapy
in T2DM:
General recommendations
+
Mealtime Insulin or
GLP-1-RA
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149; Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Healthy eating, weight control, increased physical activity & diabetes education
Monotherapy
Metformin
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
high
low risk
neutral/loss
GI / lactic acidosis
low
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of monotherapy, proceed to 2-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
Metformin
Sulfonylurea
Thiazolidinedione
DPP-4
inhibitor
high
moderate risk
gain
hypoglycemia
low
high
low risk
gain
edema, HF, fxs
low
intermediate
low risk
neutral
rare
high
+
Dual
therapy†
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
+
Metformin
Metformin
+
Metformin
+
+
Metformin
+
SGLT2
inhibitor
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
Insulin (basal)
intermediate
low risk
loss
GU, dehydration
high
high
low risk
loss
GI
high
highest
high risk
gain
hypoglycemia
variable
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of dual therapy, proceed to 3-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
+
Triple
therapy
Sulfonylurea
+
Metformin
+
Thiazolidinedione
+
TZD
Metformin
Metformin
+
+
DPP-4
Inhibitor
SGLT-2
Inhibitor
+
+
SU
SU
Metformin
+
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
+
SU
Metformin
+
Insulin (basal)
+
TZD
SU
or
DPP-4-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
DPP-4-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
Insulin§
or
SGLT2-i
or
Insulin§
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
or GLP-1-RA
Insulin§
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of triple therapy and patient (1) on oral combination, move to injectables, (2) on GLP-1 RA, add
basal insulin, or (3) on optimally titrated basal insulin, add GLP-1-RA or mealtime insulin. In refractory patients consider adding TZD or SGL T2-i:
Metformin
FigureCombination
2. Anti-hyperglycemic therapy
Basal Insulin +
injectable
‡
therapy
in T2DM:
General recommendations
+
Mealtime Insulin or
GLP-1-RA
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149; Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Healthy eating, weight control, increased physical activity & diabetes education
Monotherapy
Metformin
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
high
low risk
neutral/loss
GI / lactic acidosis
low
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of monotherapy, proceed to 2-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
Metformin
Sulfonylurea
Thiazolidinedione
DPP-4
inhibitor
high
moderate risk
gain
hypoglycemia
low
high
low risk
gain
edema, HF, fxs
low
intermediate
low risk
neutral
rare
high
+
Dual
therapy†
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
+
Metformin
Metformin
+
Metformin
+
+
Metformin
+
SGLT2
inhibitor
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
Insulin (basal)
intermediate
low risk
loss
GU, dehydration
high
high
low risk
loss
GI
high
highest
high risk
gain
hypoglycemia
variable
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of dual therapy, proceed to 3-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
+
Triple
therapy
Sulfonylurea
+
Metformin
+
Thiazolidinedione
+
Metformin
Metformin
+
+
DPP-4
Inhibitor
SGLT-2
Inhibitor
+
TZD
+
SU
SU
Metformin
+
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
+
SU
Metformin
+
Insulin (basal)
+
TZD
SU
or
DPP-4-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
DPP-4-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
Insulin§
or
SGLT2-i
or
Insulin§
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
or GLP-1-RA
Insulin§
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of triple therapy and patient (1) on oral combination, move to injectables, (2) on GLP-1 RA, add
basal insulin, or (3) on optimally titrated basal insulin, add GLP-1-RA or mealtime insulin. In refractory patients consider adding TZD or SGL T2-i:
Metformin
Combination
injectable
therapy‡
+
Basal Insulin +
Mealtime Insulin or
GLP-1-RA
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149; Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Healthy eating, weight control, increased physical activity & diabetes education
Monotherapy
Metformin
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
Me ormin
intolerance or
contraindica on
high
low risk
neutral/loss
GI / lactic acidosis
low
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of monotherapy, proceed to 2-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
Metformin
Sulfonylurea
Thiazolidinedione
DPP-4
inhibitor
high
moderate risk
gain
hypoglycemia
low
high
low risk
gain
edema, HF, fxs
low
intermediate
low risk
neutral
rare
high
+
Dual
therapy†
HbA1c
≥9%
Efficacy*
Hypo risk
Weight
Side effects
Costs
+
Metformin
Metformin
+
Metformin
+
+
Metformin
+
SGLT2
inhibitor
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
Insulin (basal)
intermediate
low risk
loss
GU, dehydration
high
high
low risk
loss
GI
high
highest
high risk
gain
hypoglycemia
variable
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of dual therapy, proceed to 3-drug combination (order not meant to denote
any specific preference - choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
Metformin
+
Triple
therapy
Sulfonylurea
+
Metformin
+
Thiazolidinedione
+
(catabolic features,
BG ≥300-350 mg/dl,
HbA1c ≥10-12%)
Metformin
+
+
DPP-4
Inhibitor
SGLT-2
Inhibitor
+
TZD
Uncontrolled
hyperglycemia
Metformin
+
SU
SU
Metformin
+
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
+
SU
Metformin
+
Insulin (basal)
+
TZD
SU
or
DPP-4-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
TZD
or
DPP-4-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
SGLT2-i
or
DPP-4-i
or
Insulin§
or
SGLT2-i
or
Insulin§
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
Insulin§
or GLP-1-RA
or
or GLP-1-RA
Insulin§
If HbA1c target not achieved after ~3 months of triple therapy and patient (1) on oral combination, move to injectables, (2) on GLP-1 RA, add
basal insulin, or (3) on optimally titrated basal insulin, add GLP-1-RA or mealtime insulin. In refractory patients consider adding TZD or SGL T2-i:
Metformin
Combination
injectable
therapy‡
+
Basal Insulin +
Mealtime Insulin or
GLP-1-RA
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140-149; Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
#
Figure 3. Injections
Approach
1
to starting
& adjusting
insulin in
T2DM
2
3+
Complexity
Basal Insulin
(usually with metformin +/other non-insulin agent)
low
• Start: 10U/day or 0.1-0.2 U/kg/day
• Adjust: 10-15% or 2-4 U once-twice weekly to
reach FBG target.
• For hypo: Determine & address cause;
é dose by 4 units or 10-20%.
Add 1 rapid insulin* injections
before largest meal
If not
controlled after
FBG target is reached
(or if dose > 0.5 U/kg/day),
treat PPG excursions with
meal-time insulin.
(Consider initial
GLP-1-RA
trial.)
Change to
premixed insulin* twice daily
• Start: 4U, 0.1 U/kg, or 10% basal dose. If
A1c<8%, consider é basal by same amount.
• Start: Divide current basal dose into 2/3 AM,
1/3 PM or 1/2 AM, 1/2 PM.
• Adjust: é dose by 1-2 U or 10-15% oncetwice weekly until SMBG target reached.
• Adjust: é dose by 1-2 U or 10-15% oncetwice weekly until SMBG target reached.
• For hypo: Determine and address cause;
é corresponding dose by 2-4 U or 10-20%.
• For hypo: Determine and address cause;
é corresponding dose by 2-4 U or 10-20%.
If not
controlled,
consider basalbolus.
Add ≥2 rapid insulin* injections
before meals ('basal-bolus’†)
If not
controlled,
consider basalbolus.
• Start: 4U, 0.1 U/kg, or 10% basal dose/meal.‡ If
A1c<8%, consider é basal by same amount.
• Adjust: é dose by 1-2 U or 10-15% once-twice
weekly to achieve SMBG target.
• For hypo: Determine and address cause;
é corresponding dose by 2-4 U or 10-20%.
Diabetes Care 2015;38:140
Diabetologia 2015;58:429-442
Flexibility
more flexible
less flexible
mod.
high