What next after basal insulin? Treatment intensification with lixisenatide in A sian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Highlights This article addresses the unmet needs of the A sian population with type 2 diabetes. This review details the research into the use of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 ( GLP‐1 ) receptor agonists in general, and lixisenatide in particular, in the A sian population. The review also examines the importance of treatment intensification in patients who fail to achieve glycemic control with basal insulin. Mean (± SEM ) plasma glucose profiles at baseline and W eek 8 following initiation of treatment with lixisenatide or liraglutide in patients receiving insulin glargine with or without metformin (modified intent‐to‐treat population). The hyperglycemia threshold is based on I nternational D iabetes F ederation 2011 guidelines. 60 Statistical tests compared treatment arms at each time point at W eek 8. * P  < 0.05 for lixisenatide 20 μg versus liraglutide 1.2 mg; † P  < 0.05 for lixisenatide 20 μg versus liraglutide 1.8 mg; ‡ P  < 0.05 for liraglutide 1.2 and 1.8 mg versus lixisenatide 20 μg; § P  < 0.05 for liraglutide 1.8 mg versus lixisenatide 20 μg. The x ‐axis labels show the time after injection of the study agent; for example, T1H30 means 1 h and 30 min after injection. (Reproduced with permission of the A merican D iabetes A ssociation from M eier et al. 61 ).