OBJECTIVES: The real-world effectiveness of insulin degludec/liraglutide was demonstrated in EXTRA, a European, multicentre, retrospective chart review involving several baseline (BL) treatment regimens. This analysis examined changes in dosing behaviours and outcomes after IDegLira initiation in patients receiving separate injections of basal insulin and GLP-1RA therapy at BL.

METHODS: Data at BL (most recent measurement recorded in 6 months before IDegLira initiation) and follow-up (6 months ± 45 days after IDegLira initiation) from adults (N=89) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were receiving separate basal insulin/GLP-1RA injections ± oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) were included. Analysis was performed for types of basal insulin/GLP-1RA received by >5% of patients (basal insulin, N=83; GLP-1RA, N=86; both used by >5% population [overall], N=81).

RESULTS: At BL, basal insulins detemir, glargine 100 units/mL and degludec were used by 40%, 28% and 26% of patients, with liraglutide, exenatide and exenatide extended release being used by 83%, 9%, and 6% of patients, respectively. Mean daily basal insulin dose was higher at follow-up, as IDegLira, compared with BL, when administered separately, across all insulins; overall, mean (standard deviation [SD]) dose was 33.7 U (18.0) at baseline and 38.2 U (14.2) at follow-up. Mean daily GLP-1RA was lower at follow-up vs. BL with liraglutide and exenatide; overall, mean (SD) dose was 1.3 (0.7) and 1.1 (0.4) defined daily dose at baseline and follow-up, respectively. At follow-up, mean (SD) change from BL was –0.7% (1.2) for HbA (p<0.0001, N=81) and 0.3 kg (3.9) for body weight (p=0.5780, N=48).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving basal insulin + GLP-1RA ± OADs, switching to IDegLira in clinical practice results in a 13% overall increase in daily insulin component dose (+4.5 U), a 15% overall reduction in daily GLP-1RA component dose (–0.2 defined daily dose) and a significant decrease in HbA and no change in weight after 6 months.