Comparison of Exenatide and Metformin Monotherapy in OverweightObese Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract EN

Aims.

The present study assessed the therapeutic effect of exenatide and metformin as the initial therapy on overweight/obese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods.

The prospective, nonrandomized, interventional study enrolled a total of 230 overweight or obese patients with newly diagnosed T2D who were administrated exenatide or metformin hydrochloride for 12 weeks.

Results.

224/230 patients, including 106 in the exenatide group and 118 in the metformin group, completed the 12-week treatment.

Both exenatide and metformin significantly decreased the HbA1c levels in overweight/obese patients with newly diagnosed T2D (all P<0.05).

The reduction in HbA1c and the proportion of patients with HbA1c < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) were higher in the exenatide group than in the metformin group (all P<0.05).

The exenatide treatment caused a greater decline in the body weight and BMI as compared to the metformin treatment (all P<0.01).

The exenatide treatment (β = 0.41, P<0.01) and baseline HbA1c level (β = −0.84, P<0.01) were independent influencing factors for the decrease in HbA1c level.

Conclusions.

For an initial therapy in overweight/obese patients with newly diagnosed T2D, exenatide causes a better glycemic control than metformin.

This trial is registered with NCT03297879.