OBJECTIVEThis study assessed the efficacy and safety of canagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, as add-on to insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis 18-week, double-blind, phase 2 study randomized 351 patients (HbA 1c 7.0-9.0% [53-75 mmol/mol]) on multiple daily insulin injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion to canagliflozin 100 or 300 mg or placebo. The primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving at week 18 both HbA 1c reduction from baseline of ‡0.4% ( ‡4.4 mmol/mol) and no increase in body weight. Other end points included changes in HbA 1c , body weight, and insulin dose, as well as hypoglycemia incidence. Safety was assessed by adverse event (AE) reports.
RESULTSMore patients had both HbA 1c reduction ‡0.4% and no increase in body weight with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg versus placebo at week 18 (36.9%, 41.4%, 14.5%, respectively; P < 0.001). Both canagliflozin doses provided reductions in HbA 1c , body weight, and insulin dose versus placebo over 18 weeks. The incidence of hypoglycemia was similar across groups; severe hypoglycemia rates were low (1.7-6.8%). Overall incidence of AEs was 55.6%, 67.5%, and 54.7% with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg and placebo; discontinuation rates were low (0.9-1.3%). Increased incidence of ketone-related AEs (5.1%, 9.4%, 0%), including the specific AE of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (4.3%, 6.0%, 0%), was seen with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg versus placebo.
CONCLUSIONSCanagliflozin provided reductions in HbA 1c , body weight, and insulin dose with no increase in hypoglycemia, but increased rates of ketone-related AEs, including DKA, in adults with type 1 diabetes inadequately controlled with insulin.Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive destruction of pancreatic b-cells, resulting in loss of endogenous insulin production and hyperglycemia (1). Consequently, treatment of type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes is associated with increased morbidity and mortality related to microvascular and macrovascular