What next when metformin isn't enough for type 2 diabetes?

The "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes" guidelines published in 2015 by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) state that metformin is the preferred initial pharmacotherapy for managing type 2 diabetes.¹ Metformin, a biguanide, enhances insulin sensitivity in muscle and fat tissue and inhibits hepatic glucose production. Advantages of metformin include the longstanding research supporting its efficacy and safety, an expected decrease in the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 1% to 1.5%, low cost, minimal hypoglycemic risk, and potential reductions in cardiovascular (CV) events due to decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.^1,2

To minimize adverse gastrointestinal effects, start metformin at 500 mg once or twice a day and titrate upward every one to 2 weeks to the target dose.³ To help guide dosing decisions, use the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) instead of the serum creatinine (SCr) level, because the SCr can translate into a variable range of eGFRs (TABLE 1).^4,5

What if metformin alone isn't enough?

CASE › Richard C, age 50, has type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. He takes metformin 1 g twice a day for his diabetes. After 3 months on this regimen, his HbA1c is 8.8%. How would you manage Mr. C's diabetes going forward?

If metformin at a maximum tolerated dose does not achieve the HbA1c target after 3 months, add a second oral agent (a sulfonylurea [SU], thiazolidinedione [TZD], dipeptidyl peptidase 4 [DPP-4] inhibitor, or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 [SGLT2] inhibitor), a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, or a basal insulin (TABLE 2).¹

Factors that will affect the choice of the second agent include patient preference, cost, potential adverse effects, impact on weight, efficacy, and risk of hypoglycemia.

Based on cost, familiarity, and longstanding safety data, you decide to give Mr. C an SU, while cautioning him about hypoglycemia.

CASE › Mr. C has now been taking metformin and an SU at maximum doses for 2 years and continues with lifestyle modifications. Though his HbA1c level dropped after adding the SU, over 2 years it has crept up to 8.6% and his mean blood glucose is 186 mg/dL. What are your treatment options now?

If the target HbA1c level is not achieved on dual therapy, consider triple therapy combinations (TABLE 3).¹

In Mr. C's case, a third oral agent could be added, but DPP-4 and SGLT2 are unlikely to get his HbA1c below 7%. TZD may get his HbA1c into the desired range but is associated with adverse effects such as heart failure, edema, and weight gain. Mr. C agrees instead to start a basal insulin in conjunction with metformin. You could continue the SU, but you decide to stop it because the additive effect of these medications increases the risk of hypoglycemia.

CASE › Six months later Mr. C is taking metformin and insulin glargine, a basal insulin, adjusted to a fasting blood glucose of 80 to 130 mg/dL. His HbA1c is still above target at 8.4%, and the mean postprandial blood glucose is 232 mg/dL.

Mr. C is still above target for HbA1c and for postprandial blood glucose (goal: <180 mg/dL), so he needs pharmacotherapy that targets postprandial glucose elevations.¹ His fasting blood glucose readings are at goal, so increasing his insulin glargine is not recommended because it could cause hypoglycemia. An oral agent other than SU could be added, but none is potent enough to lower the HbA1c to goal (TABLE 2).¹ There are 3 other options:

• add a mealtime bolus of insulin
• add a GLP-1 receptor agonist
• switch to premixed (biphasic) insulin.