Relative contribution of basal and postprandial hyperglycaemia stratified by HbA1c categories before and after treatment intensification with dulaglutide

AIM: To assess the effect of dulaglutide on the relative contribution of basal hyperglycaemia (BHG) and postprandial hyperglycaemia (PPHG) to overall hyperglycaemia across HbA1c categories in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Data from five phase 3 studies (N = 673) were pooled to assess the change in relative contributions of BHG and PPHG to overall hyperglycaemia across different HbA1c categories after 6 months of treatment intensification with dulaglutide 1.5 mg as monotherapy or with 1 or 2 oral medication(s) in patients with type 2 diabetes. BHG and PPHG were calculated using the area under the curve (AUC) of 7-point self-monitored plasma glucose concentration profiles. As a secondary objective, relative contribution of BHG and PPHG for dulaglutide versus liraglutide, exenatide BID and insulin glargine was assessed by individual studies at 6 months. RESULTS: In pooled data, after 6 months of treatment intensification with dulaglutide 1.5 mg, there was a significant reduction from baseline in overall hyperglycaemia (AUCoverall ) [(mean ± SE) -466.31 ± 18.32 mg*h/dL (P < 0.001)], BHG (AUCbasal ) [(mean ± SE) -371.46 ± 16.36 mg*h/dL (P < 0.001)] and PPHG (AUCpostprandial ) [(mean ± SE) -94.84 ± 7.97 mg*h/dL (P < 0.001)]. At baseline, relative contributions of BHG increased and PPHG decreased with increasing HbA1c levels. This pattern was maintained at 6 months, even as overall glycaemia improved with decreasing HbA1c values. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes, dulaglutide reduces HbA1c by lowering both basal and postprandial hyperglycaemia across various HbA1c levels.