Real-World Results of Insulin/Liraglutide Combination in Colombian Diabetes Patients
Switching to insulin degludec/liraglutide combination in Colombia reduced HbA1c by 1.3% and weight by 1 kg over 26 weeks with no severe hypoglycemia.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
After approximately 26 weeks on IDegLira:
- HbA1c decreased by 1.3% (from 9.1% to 7.8%, p < 0.0001)
- Body weight decreased by 1 kg (from 76.1 to 75.1 kg, p < 0.0001)
- No severe hypoglycemic events observed
- Mean final IDegLira dose: 21.3 units
These results were achieved in patients who had previously been on basal insulin (with or without oral diabetes drugs) and were not reaching their blood sugar targets. The combination provided better control with modest weight loss rather than the weight gain typically seen with intensified insulin therapy.
Key Numbers
- 175 patients across 10 centers in Colombia
- Baseline HbA1c: 9.1%
- Final HbA1c: 7.8% (reduction: 1.3%, p < 0.0001)
- Baseline weight: 76.1 kg
- Final weight: 75.1 kg (reduction: 1.0 kg, p < 0.0001)
- Mean final dose: 21.3 units/day
- Severe hypoglycemia: 0 events
How They Did This
SPIRIT was a non-interventional, single-arm, retrospective chart review conducted at 10 clinical centers across Colombia. Data were collected from medical records of 175 patients with type 2 diabetes who had been switched from basal insulin (± oral antidiabetics) to IDegLira at least 26 ± 6 weeks before data collection. Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05324462).
Why This Research Matters
In Latin America, many diabetes patients on basal insulin do not reach their blood sugar targets. Adding a GLP-1 drug through a fixed-ratio combination simplifies treatment (one injection instead of two) and adds weight loss benefit. Real-world data from the region confirms that IDegLira works outside clinical trial conditions in this population.
The Bigger Picture
In Latin America, many diabetes patients on basal insulin don't reach blood sugar targets. A fixed combination that adds GLP-1 effects without extra injections simplifies treatment and may improve adherence.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective, single-arm design with no control group. Without a comparator, the improvement could partly reflect attention effects or concomitant lifestyle changes. The 26-week follow-up is relatively short. Only 175 patients were included. Colombia-specific healthcare factors may limit generalizability. The study relied on medical records, which may have incomplete data.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would results differ with longer follow-up?
- ?How does this compare to adding a separate GLP-1 injection?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- HbA1c 9.1% → 7.8% Average blood sugar control improved by 1.3 percentage points after switching to IDegLira, bringing patients much closer to treatment targets
- Evidence Grade:
- Rated moderate: real-world retrospective study with no control group, but provides practical data from an underrepresented Latin American population.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024. First real-world data from Colombia for this fixed-ratio insulin/GLP-1 combination.
- Original Title:
- SPIRIT: Assessing Clinical Parameters Associated with Using IDegLira in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in a Real-World Setting in Colombia.
- Published In:
- Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders, 15(7), 1535-1545 (2024)
- Authors:
- Ramírez-Rincón, Alex, Henao-Carrillo, Diana, Omeara, Miguel, Oliveros, Julio, Assaf, José, Ordóñez, Jaime E, Prasad, Preethy, Alzate, María Alejandra
- Database ID:
- RPEP-09119
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IDegLira?
A single daily injection combining insulin degludec (long-acting insulin) and liraglutide (a GLP-1 drug) in a fixed ratio, simplifying treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Does this combination cause weight gain?
No — unlike insulin alone, which typically causes weight gain, the IDegLira combination actually led to 1 kg weight loss on average due to liraglutide's appetite-reducing effect.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-09119APA
Ramírez-Rincón, Alex; Henao-Carrillo, Diana; Omeara, Miguel; Oliveros, Julio; Assaf, José; Ordóñez, Jaime E; Prasad, Preethy; Alzate, María Alejandra. (2024). SPIRIT: Assessing Clinical Parameters Associated with Using IDegLira in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in a Real-World Setting in Colombia.. Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders, 15(7), 1535-1545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-024-01593-8
MLA
Ramírez-Rincón, Alex, et al. "SPIRIT: Assessing Clinical Parameters Associated with Using IDegLira in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in a Real-World Setting in Colombia.." Diabetes therapy : research, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-024-01593-8
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "SPIRIT: Assessing Clinical Parameters Associated with Using ..." RPEP-09119. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/ramirez-rincon-2024-spirit-assessing-clinical-parameters
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.