Drugs in Context Endocrinology welcomes a broad range of article types including original research, study protocols and review articles.
In line with the principle of providing context for healthcare professionals (HCPs) to properly inform and improve disease management in real world medicine, we especially encourage the submission of articles that provide context for trials of drug interventions in order to motivate improvements in disease management by HCPs practising medicine in the front line.
Original Research
Management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often requires intervention with oral and injectable therapies. Across National Health Service (NHS) England, injectable therapies may be initiated in secondary, intermediate or primary care. This original research set out to understand resource utilization, the pathways of care, clinical outcomes, and experience of patients with T2DM
initiated on injectable therapies.
Review
Although several treatment options are available to reduce hyperglycemia, only about half of individuals with diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) achieve recommended glycemic targets. New agents that reduce blood glucose concentrations by novel mechanisms and have acceptable safety profiles are needed to improve glycemic control and reduce complications. This article reviews the evidence from clinical trials and suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors are a promising new treatment option for T2DM.
Review
Type 2 diabetes is increasing in prevalence worldwide, and hyperglycemia is often poorly controlled despite a number of therapeutic options.
Unlike previously available agents, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors offer an insulin-independent mechanism for improving blood glucose levels, since they promote urinary glucose excretion by inhibiting glucose reabsorption in the kidney.
In this article, the author discusses empagliflozin and based on available data, it appears that this drug may be a useful option in a range of patients; however, clinical decisions will be better informed by the results of ongoing studies, in particular, a large cardiovascular outcome study (EMPA-REG OUTCOME™).
Case Report
In this article the author discusses the implications for clinical practice of the results of a recent Phase III trial. He concludes that initial combination of linagliptin plus metformin which was found to be weight neutral, well tolerated and associated with a low frequency of hypoglycaemia, may have advantages for a large proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly those with a relatively high HbA1c at diagnosis.
Case Report
In this article the author argues that in type 2 diabetes, an approach that emphasizes diet and exercise and features a treatment regimen tailored to the needs of the individual to reach glycemic targets is warranted in most patients and provides microvascular and cardiovascular benefit, provided that hypoglycemia is avoided.