Introduction and Objectives: SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) lower the plasma glucose concentration in T1DM patients. However, they cause an increase in plasma ketone concentration and risk of ketoacidosis. The aim of the present study is to examine whether pioglitazone amplifies the decrease in HbA1c and prevents the increase in plasma ketone concentration caused by dapagliflozin in T1DM patients.
Methods: After a 4-week run in period, 60 T1DM patients received dapagliflozin 10 mg for 12 weeks. At week 16 patients were randomized to receive in double blind fashion pioglitazone (45 mg) or matching placebo for an additional 16 weeks.
Results: T1DM patients were 42±3 years of age, 30% female, BMI=26.8±0.7, HbA1c=8.5±0.2%, insulin dose= 63±4 units, and eGFR=114±6 ml/min. Dapagliflozin caused -0.63±0.18%, and -0.56±0.11% decrease from baseline in HbA1c at week 16 in subjects receiving pioglitazone and placebo, respectively (both p<0.001). At week 32, the decrease from baseline in HbA1c was -0.86±0.3 and -0.44±0.17 in subjects receiving pioglitazone and placebo, respectively. Thus, the HbA1c was -0.42±0.12 lower in subjects receiving pioglitazone versus placebo (p<0.05). Plasma ketone concentration increased above baseline by 0.12±0.03 mM and 0.14±0.03 mM at week 16 in subjects receiving pioglitazone and placebo, respectively (both p<0.05). At week 32 plasma ketone concentration remained elevated above baseline in subjects receiving placebo (0.15±0.03 mM, p<0.05), and decreased below baseline (-0.06±0.02mM, p<0.05) in subjects receiving pioglitazone. Thus, the difference in plasma ketone concentration between subjects receiving pioglitazone and placebo at week 32 was -0.19±0.3, p<0.001.
Conclusion: Addition of pioglitazone to SGLT2i in T1DM patients amplifies the decrease in HbA1c and prevents the increase in plasma ketone caused by SGLT2i, allowing long-term cardiovascular and renal outcome studies to be carried out safely in T1DM patients.
M. Abdul-Ghani: None. G. Baskoy: None. A. Nakhleh: None. S. Abdelgani: None. F. Al-Mulla: None. M. Abu-farha: None. F. Alajmi: Consultant; Novo Nordisk. Research Support; Novo Nordisk. Speaker's Bureau; Novo Nordisk. T. Alessa: None. R.A. DeFronzo: Advisory Panel; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Aardvark, Renalytix, Corcept Therapeutics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Research Support; Boehringer-Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, 89bio, Inc., Amgen Inc., Medality, Corcept Therapeutics. Speaker's Bureau; AstraZeneca, Corcept Therapeutics, Renalytix. N. Shehadeh: Research Support; Abbott. Advisory Panel; AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Boehringer-Ingelheim. Research Support; Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The study was funded by JDRF grant to MAG. Astrazeneca provided dapagliflozin.
