Drugs to Fight Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Obesity and diabetes are strongly linked. Obesity heightens the risk of type 2 diabetes. In fact,  according to The Obesity Society, 'the single best predictor of type 2 diabetes is overweight or obesity.' Further, according to the society, “Almost 90% of people living with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity.” Therefore, it is incumbent on us to find ways to reduce obesity and, thus, the risk of type II diabetes. Identifying treatment methods that target obesity as well as type 2 diabetes is an important undertaking.

Among treatment methods that address obesity and type 2 diabetes are medications that might be used in novel ways for treatment approaches. One medication used to treat type 2 diabetes is Dapaglialozin. The medication was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb, and given FDA approval in January of 2014.

Exenatide is another medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is developed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals. It was given FDA approval in 2005. One study has shown that “Dapaglifloozin + exenatide dual therapy produced sustain reduction in body weight, prediabetes, and SBP [systolic blood pressure] over 52 weeks…” So this combination drug may be useful in treating obesity and preventing type 2 diabetes.

Another medication that may be helpful in the treatment of obesity and diabetes is lorcaserin. Lorcaserin was given FDA approval in 2012. It was approved to treat obesity. But the drug may be helpful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as obesity. Researchers in one study concluded that “lorcaserin may have beneficial effects on glycemic control with or without weight loss.”

So drugs already in use may be used in combinations to enhance the treatment of both diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Using existing drugs in combination or in novel protocols may provide new pathways to the reduction of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obesity medicine specialists should be at the forefront of this approach to the treatment obesity and type 2 diabetes.

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