New Pharmacologic Agents for Diabetes Treatment

Therapeutic options for diabetes management have expanded dramatically in the last five years. While there continues to be consensus that lifestyle modification aimed at 5-7% weight loss and metformin are the appropriate first line therapies for type 2 diabetes, there are many options for intensification of diabetes management. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) have released recent guidelines that prioritize use of the newer classes of medications.1,2 There are a number of considerations in selecting medications, including risk of hypoglycemia, effect on body weight, adverse event profile, renal function, and cost/insurance coverage. The objective of this article is to discuss mechanism, efficacy, and safety for each new class of medications. We conclude with a quick reference for the use of these medications in primary and specialty care, based on their various attributes and patient and provider preferences.