Top stories in endocrinology: Low-carb diets benefit patients with type 2 diabetes, oral insulin effective in phase 2b trial

A presentation at ObesityWeek that identified multiple benefits from a low-carbohydrate diet in patients with type 2 diabetes — including weight loss, lower HbA1c, and reduced insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk — was the top story in endocrinology last week.

Another top story included results from a phase 2b trial that found an oral formulation of insulin — Oramed Pharmaceuticals’ ORMD-0801 — demonstrated safety and efficacy in adults.

Multiple type 2 diabetes benefits achievable through low-carb diets

Adults with type 2 diabetes can experience multiple diabetes-specific benefits beyond weight loss by undertaking a low-carbohydrate diet, although potential risks must be addressed, according to a speaker at ObesityWeek. Read more.

Oral insulin demonstrates safety, efficacy in phase 2b trial

Adults with type 2 diabetes assigned an oral formulation of human insulin achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in HbA1c compared with those assigned placebo, according to a press release from Oramed Pharmaceuticals. Read more.

Diabetes more effectively treated with immediate sitagliptin, metformin combination therapy

Insulin is needed less frequently and HbA1c is lowered more robustly when adults with type 2 diabetes do not delay combination therapy but begin treatment by taking sitagliptin and metformin together, according to findings published in Diabetic Medicine. Read more.

FDA advisory committee rejects recommending approval of lower dose empagliflozin for type 1 diabetes

The Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA voted 14-2 against recommending approval of a supplemental new drug application for the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin 2.5 mg as an oral medication adjunct to insulin therapy for adults with type 1 diabetes. Committee members cited uncertainty regarding the adjudication of diabetic ketoacidosis and a lack of adequate data to support evidence for safety and efficacy. Read more.

Oral blood cancer drug may worsen cardiometabolic health

An oral chemotherapy treatment used to treat myeloproliferative neoplasms is associated with substantial weight gain and increased systolic blood pressure, according to findings from a real-world analysis published in Scientific Reports. Read more.