Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026
05:54
Quantification of Diabetes-induced Adherent Leukocytes in Retinal Vasculature
Published on: January 24, 2025
645
Semaglutide and diabetic retinopathy: an OHDSI network study
Cindy Xinji Cai1,2, Akihiko Nishimura3, Sally Baxter4,5
1Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA ccai6@jhmi.edu.
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
|November 5, 2025
Summary
Semaglutide use in type 2 diabetes did not increase risks for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) or treatment-requiring diabetic macular edema (DME). Patients with type 2 diabetes should maintain regular eye exams, especially when starting new diabetes medications.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Semaglutide, a GLP-1RA, is used for type 2 diabetes (T2D).
- Concerns exist regarding semaglutide's association with diabetic retinopathy (DR) complications.
- This study investigated semaglutide's link to proliferative DR (PDR) and treatment-requiring DR/diabetic macular edema (DME).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between semaglutide and PDR.
- To assess the association between semaglutide and treatment-requiring DR/DME.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study across 14 databases (claims and EHRs).
- Included adults with T2D on semaglutide, other GLP-1RAs, or non-GLP-1RA medications.
- Used propensity score-adjusted Cox models and meta-analysis to compare risks.
Main Results:
- Semaglutide showed similar PDR risk compared to dulaglutide, empagliflozin, and sitagliptin; lower risk than glipizide.
- Semaglutide demonstrated similar treatment-requiring DR/DME risk compared to empagliflozin.
- Semaglutide showed lower risk for treatment-requiring DR/DME compared to dulaglutide, sitagliptin, and glipizide.
Conclusions:
- No increased risk of PDR or treatment-requiring DR/DME was found when comparing semaglutide to other GLP-1RAs or non-GLP-1RAs.
- Close eye care follow-up is crucial for T2D patients, especially when initiating new antihyperglycemic therapies.
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