Every 6 seconds a person dies from diabetes.²

Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic, progressive condition that can severely damage the human body. Each year, 5 million deaths are linked directly to diabetes-related causes.² Despite the availability of multiple classes of oral glucose-lowering medication, insulin, and other injectables, such as GLP-1 mimetics and insulin analogues, many patients often fail to achieve or maintain control of their diabetes over time, raising their risk of serious complications.³

Long-term complications of diabetes include:¹ 

• An increased incidence of stroke and heart attack
• Diabetic kidney disease leading to renal failure with potential risk for dialysis
• Retinopathy with potential loss of vision
• Peripheral neuropathy with the risk of foot ulcers, and foot and leg amputations
• Autonomic neuropathy causing gastrointestinal, genitourinary and cardiovascular symptoms and sexual dysfunction

The management of Type 2 Diabetes

The overall objective of Type 2 Diabetes management is to achieve and maintain blood glucose control, and reduce the risk of long-term complications. It nearly always begins with diet and exercise, aimed at helping to reduce a patient’s bodyweight and control blood sugar. However, because the condition gets worse over time, additional treatments will be required to control blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and fats (lipids) in the blood like cholesterol and triglycerides.

Not achieving control with diabetes treatment over time can damage the kidney’s filtering systems and is a leading cause of kidney (renal) failure. About one third of all people with diabetes will eventually develop long-term, impaired kidney function⁴ which itself carries a greater risk of diabetes-related death and complications. For this reason, kidney function should be seen as a key aspect of Type 2 Diabetes treatment, ideally being considered at diagnosis and taken into account when deciding treatment options.