Julie Foote, MD Christopher Reising, MD Michael Twomey, MD Amber Kirtley-Perez PA-C Sara Heiner, PharmD
So, what should you do?
To help guide us through the weight of these
complex medical decisions we empaneled Dr.
Foote, MD in Endocrinology, Dr. Reising, MD in
Bariatric Surgery, Amber Kirtley-Perez, PA-C in
Wellness, and Sara Heiner, Pharm-D to help.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Diabetic care is inherently individual, and the right
class of medication will depend on many factors.
We still recommend starting with metformin. In
order to maximize the tolerance of this drug,
consider extended-release forms to reduce GI
upset and have them take it with their largest
meal. The most improvement in A1c occurs from
0 – 1000mg so any amount the patient can take
helps! Always consider ways you can restart or
increase metformin use. In patients on insulin, but
without current metformin, restarting therapy can
reduce insulin use by 7-20U per day! This could be
a cost savings of $1,200 per year while reducing
weight gain and insulin resistance.
Be careful of duplicate therapy! We still see patients
on both a DPP-4i and a GLP-1. These are easy to
identify in your practice by simply focusing on
reduced use of the DPP-4i class entirely. Most
would benefit more from a cardioprotective
standpoint by shifting to an SGLT2i for a similar
cost & A1c reduction.
Avoid adding on any diabetic medication if the
patient has a well-controlled A1c < 7. The risk of
side eects and polypharmacy is real, and the
benefit is less clear in these scenarios. The major
exception to this rule is patients with both diabetes
and established heart disease. Data is clear that
adding on an SGLT2i will reduce the risk of
cardiovascular hospitalization and they are
separately indicated in cardiovascular disease.
Afterwards, it really is a patient and physician
discussion. Consider co-morbid diseases and identify
if the patient will benefit greater from an SGLT2i vs
GLP1. From a quality standpoint, both classes are
superior in comparison to the older sulfonylureas
or thiazolidinediones. However, it is unrealistic to
expect all patients to be able to tolerate or aord
these medications and there is still room for use
of older medications classes. Most of the time,
your patients would benefit from both SGLT2i and
GLP1’s prior to adding insulin. If cost becomes a
concern, there are income programs provided by
the drug manufacturer that may help. Reach out
to a CHW or pharmacist through an EPIC referral
to help. Remember, you may be burdened by
multiple prescription rejections after dealing with
prior authorizations, drug shortages, and sticker
shock. In the end, the best medication is the one
your patient can take. Being honest about the total
cost of care will ensure both you and the patient
are realistic about medication adherence.
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