After researchers controlled for a reduction in the insulin dose patients required during sitagliptin therapy, the DPP-4 inhibitor was associated with a significant mean 0.27% decrease in HbA1c. Also, the 2-hour postprandial glucose area under the curve was 479 mg/dL less while patients were on sitagliptin than with placebo. Mean blood glucose was 10.9 mg/dL less, and patients on sitagliptin spent a mean of 0.43 hours more in the target blood glucose range of 80-140 mg/dL.
The investigators have just completed a much larger and longer randomized clinical trial of sitagliptin with measurement of GLP-1 and glucagon in patients with type 1 diabetes. Those data are now being analyzed.
Dr. Edelman disclosed that he serves on the advisory boards of Merck, which markets sitagliptin, and Daiichi Sankyo, which markets colesevelam.