Striving for early effective glycaemic and weight management in type 2 diabetes: A narrative review.

Despite the recognition by key guidelines that achieving early glycaemic control has important benefits in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and that addressing excess adiposity is one of the central components of comprehensive person-centred T2D care, a substantial proportion of individuals with T2D do not meet their metabolic treatment goals. Prior treatment paradigms were limited by important treatment-associated risks such as hypoglycaemia and body weight gain. Therefore, a more conservative, sequential approach to treatment was typically utilized. One potential consequence of this approach has been a missed opportunity to achieve a 'legacy effect', where early treatment to reach glycaemic targets is associated with enduring long-term benefits in T2D. Additionally, while previous treatment approaches have addressed core defects in T2D, including insulin resistance and β-cell function decline, they have been unable to address one of the underlying causal abnormalities-excess adiposity. Here, we review currently available evidence for the beneficial long-term effects of early glycaemic control and management of body weight in people with T2D and discuss potential next steps.

Duke Scholars

Author Jennifer Brigitte Green Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition