The 60th edition of the annual European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference, held in Madrid from 9 to 13 September, brought together global experts to share findings in diabetes research. From revelations in treatment options to the likelihood of inheriting type 1 diabetes, the presentations at EASD 2024 will shape the future of diabetes management and help improve outcomes for people living with the condition.
Semaglutide reduces CVD risks while improving kidney function
Benefits of semaglutide for people with type 2 diabetes include the prevention of major cardiac events (MACE) such as death in adults with overweight/obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Findings presented at EASD2024 show that semaglutide also works very effectively in people with impaired kidney function. This study supports the theory that improving kidney function also reduces the risk of CVD. Participants with impaired kidney function treated with semaglutide showed a 31% reduction in MACE and a 33% lower risk of MACE or death from any cause. Learn more.
Who really benefits from SGLT2 inhibitors?
New research challenges current American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, recommending a broader use of SGLT2 inhibitors for kidney protection in people with type 2 diabetes. Outcomes suggest a more nuanced approach, with only certain high-risk groups receiving SGLT2 inhibitor treatment, while others with preserved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) receive treatment on a case-by-case basis. In a UK study integrating data from 134,420 adults with type 2 diabetes, Dr Thijs Jansz and colleagues from the University of Exeter uncovered a surprising finding: nearly half of those currently recommended for SGLT2 inhibitors (46%) may not benefit from them. Learn more.
The relationship between asthma and type 2 diabetes
Following a systematic review of 17 million individuals aged between 50 and 70, researchers identified a bidirectional causation between asthma and type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes were 83% more likely to develop asthma than those without the condition. While those with asthma were 28% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those without asthma, with the asthma severity, rather than duration, increasing the risk of diabetes. This suggests that the two conditions may have some of the same underlying causes or other factors. In clinical practice settings, these findings imply a need for greater awareness among people with type 2 diabetes or asthma and their healthcare providers. Learn more.
Once-weekly insulin promising for type 2 diabetes, but risks for type 1
New insulins, such as once weekly, can reduce the need for injections for many people with type 2 diabetes. Outcomes from clinical trials — QWINT global phase 3 clinical trial programme for efsitora alfa, that enrolled over 4000 adults with type 2 or type 1 diabetes across five trials; QWINT-2 in insulin-naive adults with type 2 diabetes, and QWINT-5 in adults with type 1 diabetes — show that once-weekly basal insulin analog efsitora alfa performs the same as once-daily insulin in people with type 2 diabetes. However, for those with type 1 diabetes, there is an increased risk of hypoglycaemia. Although these results are promising, there remains a real-world gap. Healthcare professionals will need to upskill their knowledge of insulin delivery and monitoring of the switch to a new agent. Learn more.
Mothers are half as likely to pass type 1 diabetes to their children
By analysing data from five cohort studies involving 11,475 individuals aged 0-88 years with type 1 diabetes, researchers found that people with type 1 diabetes were 50% more likely to have a father with the condition than a mother. This remained constant even in those with a family history of the condition. They also found that children, regardless of their age, were at lower risk of developing the condition only if the mother had type 1 diabetes during pregnancy. These findings could help develop new ways to prevent type 1 diabetes, such as treatments that mimic some of the protective elements from mothers. Learn more.
