GLP-1 drugs help control prediabetes better than current standard medicine
NVO•In a review of medical records for more than 256,000 adults with prediabetes and obesity, GLP-1 users had better three-year outcomes than metformin users, including a 31% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Separate studies to be presented at an American Heart Association meeting examined hormone therapy and cannabis use in relation to cardiovascular health.
1. GLP-1 study findings
Researchers reviewed records for more than 256,000 adults with prediabetes and obesity; about half were taking GLP-1 drugs and the rest metformin. Over three years, GLP-1 users had a 50% higher chance of returning to normal blood sugar, a 31% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 41% lower risk of death from any cause. They also had fewer recorded heart attacks, strokes, heart failure cases and cases of atrial fibrillation. The findings are observational, and a study leader said metformin remains a safe, inexpensive first-line treatment.
2. Other heart health studies
A study of 52,330 women ages 45 to 59 found similar rates of heart attack, stroke or other heart disease among those taking hormone replacement therapy and a comparison group: 4.4% and 4.6%, respectively. In a survey of nearly half a million U.S. adults, cannabis use was associated with higher reported cardiovascular disease, with stroke showing the strongest link. Researchers said the observational findings do not establish that cannabis use caused heart disease.
