brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(7):472-473

Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations

Key Points for Practice

• Metformin should be the first medication prescribed for diabetes when an oral agent is required.

• Combination treatment is superior to metformin alone for decreasing A1C levels, weight, and blood pressure.

• Medications should be selected based on benefits, possible harms, and cost.

From the AFP Editors

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which occurs in up to 95% of persons with diabetes, is typically managed with lifestyle modifications (e.g., diet, exercise) and medication (e.g., oral drugs). When weight loss or lifestyle modifications are initially unsuccessful, medication is often prescribed. The American College of Physicians (ACP) previously released guidelines in 2012 regarding the effectiveness and safety of oral pharmacologic treatment for type 2 diabetes; however, new evidence has emerged and new drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For this reason, the ACP has released updated guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes with oral medication.

Recommendations

If glycemic control needs to be improved with medication in persons with type 2 diabetes, metformin should be prescribed because it can efficiently lower glycemic levels, is linked to losing weight and fewer occurrences of hypoglycemia, and is generally less expensive than other options. It is contraindicated in persons with decreased tissue perfusion, hemodynamic instability, advanced liver disease, alcohol abuse, acute unstable congestive heart failure, and conditions that can result in lactic acidosis.

Because combination treatment has been shown to be superior to metformin alone for decreasing A1C levels, weight, and blood pressure, adding a sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, or sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor can be considered when additional oral treatment is being discussed. The choice of drug should be based on a conversation with the patient about benefits, possible harms, and cost (Table 1).

Comparative efficacy vs. other combinations with metformin (quality of evidence)Comparative harms vs. other combinations with metformin/class adverse effects and FDA warningsAgentsFair price for a 60-day supply*Adverse effects
Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylurea plus metformin favored for weight vs. TZD plus metformin (moderate)Higher risk for hypoglycemia than with metformin combinations with TZD, DPP-4 inhibitor, or SGLT-2 inhibitorGlipizide (Glucotrol), 5 mg$9Diarrhea, gas, jitteriness, dizziness, uncontrollable shaking, red or itchy skin, rash, hives, and blisters
Glimepiride (Amaryl), 4 mg$14Dizziness and nausea
Glyburide, 5 mg$13Nausea and upper abdominal fullness
Glyburide (micronized, 6 mg)$10Nausea and upper abdominal fullness
TZDs
TZD plus metformin favored for short-term CVD mortality (rosiglitazone [Avandia] only) (low) and A1C vs. DPP-4 inhibitor plus metformin (moderate)TZDs increase risk for congestive heart failurePioglitazone (Actos), 30 mg$30Headache; muscle, arm, or leg pain; sore throat; and gas
May also be associated with increased risk for fracture or bladder cancerRosiglitazone, 2 mg$174Headache, runny nose and other cold symptoms, sore throat, and back pain
DPP-4 inhibitors
DPP-4 inhibitor plus metformin favored for long-term all-cause mortality, long-term CVD mortality, and CVD morbidity vs. sulfonylurea plus metformin (low)FDA warns that sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), and alogliptin (Nesina) may be associated with potentially severe and disabling joint painAlogliptin, 25 mg$346Headache, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and joint pain
DPP-4 inhibitor plus metformin favored for short-term CVD morbidity vs. pioglitazone plus metformin (low)Linagliptin, 5 mg$728Headache and joint pain
DPP-4 inhibitor plus metformin favored for weight vs. sulfonylurea plus metformin (high) or TZD plus metformin (moderate)Saxagliptin, 5 mg$746Sore throat, headache, and joint pain
Sitagliptin, 100 mg$830Stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea, and joint pain
SGLT-2 inhibitors
SGLT-2 inhibitor plus metformin favored for CVD mortality (low), A1C (moderate), weight (high), systolic blood pressure (high), and heart rate (moderate) vs. sulfonylurea plus metforminHigher risk for genital mycotic infection than metformin alone or metformin combined with sulfonylurea or DPP-4 inhibitorCanagliflozin, 300 mg$888Excessive urination, including at night; increased thirst; constipation; and dry mouth
SGLT-2 inhibitor plus metformin favored for weight and systolic blood pressure (moderate) vs. DPP-4 inhibitor plus metforminFDA warns that canagliflozin (Invokana) may be associated with increased risk of bone fracture and decreased bone mineral densityDapagliflozin (Farxiga), 10 mg$896Excessive urination, including at night, and increased thirst
Empagliflozin (Jardiance), 25 mg$832Excessive urination, including at night, and increased thirst

Sulfonylureas have the lowest cost but are associated with a greater risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain. SGLT-2 inhibitors are preferred to sulfonylureas and DPP-4 inhibitors based on their lesser effects on systolic blood pressure and weight, they are also preferred to sulfonylureas based on cardiovascular mortality, A1C, and heart rate. DPP-4 inhibitors are preferred over sulfonylureas with regard to long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, as well as cardiovascular morbidity, and over sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones with regard to weight gain.

It should be noted that combination therapy is associated with more adverse effects vs. treatment with metformin alone. Each drug has its own associated adverse effects, including increased risk of gastrointestinal issues with metformin, hypoglycemia with sulfonylureas, heart failure with thiazolidinediones, and genital mycotic infection with SGLT-2 inhibitors. Saxagliptin (Onglyza) and alogliptin (Nesina), both DPP-4 inhibitors, are associated with a greater risk of heart failure, especially in those who already have heart or kidney disease.

Guideline source: American College of Physicians

Evidence rating system used? Yes

Literature search described? Yes

Guideline developed by participants without relevant financial ties to industry? No

Published source:Ann Intern Med. February 21, 2017;166(4):279–290

LISA HAUK, AFP Senior Associate Editor

Coverage of guidelines from other organizations does not imply endorsement by AFP or the AAFP.

This series is coordinated by Michael J. Arnold, MD, Assistant Medical Editor.

A collection of Practice Guidelines published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/practguide.

Continue Reading


More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.