A research team from the Cleveland Clinic has recently conducted the first study evaluating the separate real-world effects of weight loss and blood sugar control on clinical outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes who are being treated with antidiabetic medications, specifically GLP-1RAs, which includes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

The study discovered that for every 1% decrease in BMI, there was a 4% decrease in cardiovascular risk, irrespective of changes in blood sugar levels. Additionally, effective control of blood sugar, regardless of weight change, was associated with a reduced risk of chronic kidney disease. These findings are significant from a clinical standpoint and underscore the importance of addressing both glycemic control and obesity in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

The retrospective findings, which were published in Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, used de-identified electronic health record-derived data from over 1,300 patients with type 2 diabetes who were evaluated at Cleveland Clinic.