Efficacy and Safety of Injectable Dulaglutide 1.5 mg among Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Clinics at King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes, characterized by varying degrees of insulin resistance and diminishing beta-cell function, which increases the risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications. Dulaglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that is administered once weekly and approved for treating adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It can be used as a monotherapy or in addition to oral hypoglycemic or insulin therapy. Aim: This study aims to provide information contributing to assessing the efficacy and safety of weekly 1.5 mg dulaglutide therapy in Saudi adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A retrospective single-arm cohort study using a purposive sample to recruit type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on dulaglutide from endocrine and diabetic outpatient clinics in King Saud Medical City (N = 205). Data were collected from participants’ medical profiles and through the phone using interview questionnaires. Results: Most participants were female and married; approximately 33% had had diabetes for more than 20 years, 41.4% of the sample had third-class obesity, and more than half had used dulaglutide for the last 1 to 2 years. With therapy, weight, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c, and fasting blood sugar were significantly improved after 6 and 12 months from baseline. The main side effects reported were nausea (52%) and fatigue (28%). Conclusion:Dulaglutide is a safe and effective therapy that demonstrated favorable glycemic control and weight reduction in obese type 2 diabetes patients of Saudi origin.