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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Renal Pharmacology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1362242
This article is part of the Research Topic Diabetic Kidney Disease: Routes to drug development, pharmacology and underlying molecular mechanisms, Volume II View all articles

Improving Glycemic Control: Transitioning from Dulaglutide to Tirzepatide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Undergoing Hemodialysis

Provisionally accepted
Emiko Otsuka Emiko Otsuka 1,2Mineaki Kitamura Mineaki Kitamura 1,2*Satoshi Funakoshi Satoshi Funakoshi 2Hiroshi Mukae Hiroshi Mukae 1Tomoya Nishino Tomoya Nishino 1
  • 1 Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
  • 2 Other, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Tirzepatide—a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist—is used to treat type 2 diabetes. However, the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide in patients undergoing hemodialysis remain unclear. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective study of patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing hemodialysis who were transitioned from dulaglutide to tirzepatide. We continuously monitored glucose levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis before and after switching from dulaglutide to tirzepatide. Results: Fourteen patients (mean age: 61.9 ± 9.9 years, male: female=11:3) were included in this study. After switching to tirzepatide, time in range increased to 50.8% from 42.7% (p=0.02), time above range decreased to 37.8% from 48.4% (p=0.02), and mean glucose levels decreased to 137.4 mg/dL from 156.6 mg/dL (p=0.006). In contrast, there was no significant difference in time below range before and after tirzepatide administration (11.3% and 8.9%) (p=0.75). Three patients experienced dyspepsia (21.4%), and one patient experienced nausea (7.1 %); however, no critical adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Transitioning from dulaglutide to tirzepatide improved glycemic control without increasing hypoglycemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis for type 2 diabetes.

    Keywords: tirzepatide, Dulaglutide, hemodialysis, end-stage renal disease, type 2 diabetes, Continuous glucose monitoring

    Received: 27 Dec 2023; Accepted: 06 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Otsuka, Kitamura, Funakoshi, Mukae and Nishino. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Mineaki Kitamura, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Nagasaki, Japan

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.