Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist or Bolus Insulin With Optimized Basal Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Mealtime insulin is commonly added to manage hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes when basal insulin is insufficient. However, this complex regimen is associated with weight gain and hypoglycemia. This study compared the efficacy and safety of exenatide twice daily or mealtime insulin lispro in patients inadequately controlled by insulin glargine and metformin despite up-titration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this 30-week, open-label, multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial with 12 weeks prior insulin optimization, 627 patients with insufficient postoptimization glycated hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) were randomized to exenatide (10–20 µg/day) or thrice-daily mealtime lispro titrated to premeal glucose of 5.6–6.0 mmol/L, both added to insulin glargine (mean 61 units/day at randomization) and metformin (mean 2,000 mg/day). RESULTS Randomization HbA 1c and fasting glucose (FG) were 8.3% (67 mmol/mol) and 7.1 mmol/L for exenatide and 8.2% (66 mmol/mol) and 7.1 mmol/L for lispro. At 30 weeks postrandomization, mean HbA 1c changes were noninferior for exenatide compared with lispro (–1.13 and –1.10%, respectively); treatment differences were –0.04 (95% CI –0.18, 0.11) in per-protocol ( n = 510) and –0.03 (95% CI –0.16, 0.11) in intent-to-treat ( n = 627) populations. FG was lower with exenatide than lispro (6.5 vs. 7.2 mmol/L; P = 0.002). Weight decreased with exenatide and increased with lispro (−2.5 vs. +2.1 kg; P CONCLUSIONS Adding exenatide to titrated glargine with metformin resulted in similar glycemic control as adding lispro and was well tolerated. These findings support exenatide as a noninsulin addition for patients failing basal insulin.