Expert opinion on glimepiride, pioglitazone, and metformin fixed-dose combination in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients: The results of One Pride study

Abstract

Objective: The present "One Pride study" questionnaire-based survey aims to assess professional opinions on the use of glimepiride + metformin + pioglitazone (GMP) fixed-dose combination (FDC) for the efficient management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to get opinions on the usage of GMP FDC from specialists across India. Twenty questions in the survey aimed to elicit thoughts from specialists on whether they would advise T2DM patients to use the GMP FDC. Results: The majority (60.3%) of the 941 participants reported that GMP was their preferred FDC therapy for type T2DM. After receiving GMP treatment, about 42% reported a drop in fasting blood glucose of 31 to 50 mg/dl. In addition to achieving ideal glycemic control, 45.86% of the responders stated that the GMP therapy helped lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels increased while triglycerides (TG) levels decreased, according to 33.01% and 19.75% of the respondents. The common side effects reported by the experts were weight gain, gastrointestinal disturbances, hypoglycemia, pedal edema/overall bloating, bone marrow edema (BME) pain, edema, fluid retention, headache/dizziness, and swelling of feet. Conclusion: According to expert opinion, using FDC to treat T2DM may help in achieving ideal glycemic control, lowering LDL cholesterol levels, controlling weight, and lowering fasting insulin levels. Experts notably advise GMP combination treatment as a successful strategy for controlling glucose levels in T2DM patients and also for lowering the risk of cardiovascular problems. However, more investigation is required to assess the security, efficiency, and acceptability of different combinations and dose schedules of triple treatment in diabetic patients.