SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
REVIEW
VOLUME 7 NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010
73
hypoglycaemic episodes was nocturnal. No major hypoglycaemic
events were reported in the glargine or placebo groups. The increase
in major hypoglycaemic events with liraglutide was ascribed to the
combination of a sulfonylurea with a GLP-1 analogue, which has
been shown to increase the risk of hypoglycaemia.
Nausea occurred in 14 patients in the liraglutide group,
decreasing after one to three weeks, while four patients withdrew
from the study within two weeks due to a gastrointestinal adverse
event. No case of pancreatitis was reported.
Although calcitonin levels increased significantly after 26 weeks
in both the liraglutide and insulin glargine-treated groups of
patients, the estimated mean calcitonin level at 26 weeks was still
within the normal range. Antibodies to liraglutide were present in
10% of patients but did not appear to alter the glucose-lowering
effect.
Overall, the LEAD trials have demonstrated the anti-
hyperglycaemic efficacy of liraglutide injections at a dosage of 1.2
or 1.8 mg daily in monotherapy and in combination with up to two
oral anti-diabetic medications. Additionally, liraglutide added to
metformin and sulphonylureas produced significant improvement
in glycaemic control and body weight compared with insulin
glargine. As with all anti-diabetic medications, hypoglycaemic
events can and do occur.
Longer-term outcome trials and post-marketing surveillance will
guide clinicians as to how to maximise the advantages of the GLP-1
agonists in the regimen of care of type 2 diabetic patients.
References
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subjects with type 2 diabetes (LEAD-1 SU).
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Agersø H, Jensen LB, Elbrønd B, Rolan P, Zdravkovic M. The pharmacokinetics,
2.
pharmakodynamics, safety and tolerability of NN2211, a new long-acting GLP-1
derivative, in healthy men.
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Rosenkranz B. GLP-1 agonists: a novel treatment for South African diabetic
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Nauck M, Mitha IH, Frid A,
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et al
. Efficacy and safety comparison of liraglutide.
glimeperide, and placebo, all in combination with metformin, in type 2 diabetes.
The LEAD (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes)-2 study.
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in patients with type 2 diabetes (LEAD-4 Met+TZD).
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Jacobsen LV, Hindsberger C, Robson R, Zdravkovic M. Pharmakokinetics of
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Davies M, Storms F, Shutler S, Bianchi-Biscay M, Gomis R, for the AT-LANTUS
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Eating for Sustained Energy 4:
Gabi Steenkamp and Liesbet Delport
G
abi Steenkamp and Liesbet Delport,
both registered dieticians, have recently
released
Eating for Sustained Energy 4
, pub-
lished by Tafelberg.
Gabi Steenkamp has been in private prac-
tice for over 30 years, specialising in the nutri-
tional management of diabetes and colon
dysfunction. Gabi is at present the voluntary
consulting dietician for the Diabetes Associa-
tion of South Africa (Diabetes SA).
She has presented many lectures and work-
shops on various nutrition-related topics, and
has also published articles in many journals and
magazines. Her involvement in the food indus-
try as a nutrition and food-labelling consultant
gives her a unique insight into South African
foods and food products. She has written eight
books together with several other dietitians.
Liesbet Delport is a founder member of the
Glycaemic Index Foundation of South Africa
(GIFSA) and a partner in a successful private
practice in Nelspruit. She has co-authored
seven nutrition-related books and has writ-
ten articles on various aspects of nutrition for
magazines and scientific journals.
Eating for Sustained Energy 4
is the fourth
in a series of low-GI and low-fat recipe books
for the whole family. It is filled with modern
and traditional everyday and party fare that is
quick and easy to prepare as well as being full
of good nutrition. It was written in response
to a genuine need among Gabi and Liesbet’s
patients for a practical, easy way to use slow-
release (low-GI) carbohydrates in everyday
meals.
The glycaemic index (Gl) is a physiological
measure of how a carbohydrate food affects
blood glucose levels. It is a solid nutritional
tool that works best to regulate blood glucose
levels, resulting in sustained energy all day
long. The more Liesbet and Gabi applied it, the
more they realised its beneficial impact in their
patients’ lives.
Not only does using the GI markedly
improve blood glucose control in those with
diabetes, it also curtails hunger in slimmers,
combats fatigue, helps children with concen-
tration problems, enhances sports perform-
ance, and combats high blood pressure and
longstanding excessive weight. In short, eve-
rybody should know how to use the GI as a
means of attaining optimum health, which can
lead to an energetic lifestyle.
To win a copy of
Eating for Sustained
Energy 4
in English or Afrikaans, e-mail Wendy
on
with your name,
language preference, speciality and postal
address by 1 August 2010.
GIVEAWAY
