Discover why the surprising exclusion of Geriatrics, a critical medical subspecialty, from a major medical residents survey raises important questions about the future of eldercare.
– by Klaus
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Impact of Glucose-Lowering Medications on Health-Related Quality of Life in Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study (GRADE).
Cherrington et al., Diabetes Care 2024
DOI: 10.2337/dc23-1648
Ho-ho-ho! Gather ’round, my jolly friends, for I have a tale that’s not about elves or reindeer, but about something just as important—health and happiness for those with type 2 diabetes, a condition that’s naughtier than being on the naughty list!
In a land not so far away, a group of wise wizards from the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study (GRADE) set out on a quest. They rounded up 5,047 participants, all recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with an average age of 57 years, and a sprinkle of metformin in their stockings.
These participants were randomly given one of four magical glucose-lowering potions to take alongside their metformin—glargine, glimepiride, liraglutide, or sitagliptin. The wizards wanted to see which potion would bring the most cheer to the participants’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), measured by the Quality of Well-being Scale (QWB-SA) and the SF-36 physical and mental component summary scales.
Now, let’s jingle all the way to the findings! It turns out, none of the potions put a damper on the participants’ HRQoL. The scores were like milk and cookies—no significant differences among the treatment groups. However, liraglutide showed a bit of Christmas magic, as it improved physical scores in the first year, especially for those with a bit more ‘padding’—if you catch my drift. It seems that losing weight with liraglutide was like finding a hidden present under the tree, accounting for half of the improvement!
But, as with the fleeting joy of Christmas morning, the improvement was not seen in the second and third years. It was a reminder that sometimes the best gifts are those that last but a moment.
So, in the end, adding liraglutide to metformin was like adding a star atop the Christmas tree—it made things a bit brighter, but only for a short while. And the greatest joy was found by those who started with a little more ‘holiday weight.’
And with that, my dear friends, let’s not forget the true spirit of this season—caring for each other and sharing the gift of health. May your days be merry and bright, and may all your blood sugar levels be just right! 🎅🎄