Glucose triad: Key to diabetes control

MANILA, Philippines – For some people, the word “triad” brings to mind images of an organized and formidable group. According to Webster, the word triad simply means a “group of three.”

During a glucose triad media briefing held recently at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Hotel, the need to control the glucose triad in the Philippines was underscored.

It was emphasized that optimum glycemic control could be achieved with the “Extra Help” triad comprised of AstraZeneca, with its new DPP-4 inhibitor saxagliptin, which can provide consistent and comprehensive glycemic control, in partnership with the medical community and cooperation of patients in adhering to their treatment regimen.

In the management of type-2 diabetes, the glucose triad is important because it helps doctors and their patients determine if they are achieving optimum glucose control.

The glucose triad is a set of measures critical in managing and controlling type-2 diabetes. The Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and Postprandial Glucose (PPG) markers form the glucose triad.

Poor control of these three key parameters can lead to multiple diabetes complications such as kidney failure, heart attack and stroke, among others.

Most anti-diabetic medications in the market focus on controlling glucose levels at the fasting pre-meal glucose stage. However, as the disease progresses, a patient’s glucose level cannot be measured and controlled at fasting pre-meal glucose levels alone.

The spike in blood glucose levels after meals (postprandial glucose levels) also needs to be monitored and controlled. Consistently keeping postprandial glucose levels in control is difficult and usually poses a challenge.

As the disease continues to progress further, a measure of average blood glucose over two to three months is monitored, commonly known as the HbA1C level. Innovative drugs are necessary to comprehensively control the glucose triad. In the management of type-2 diabetes, controlling all three components of the glucose triad is the optimal goal of all doctors. 

Clinical studies show that saxagliptin can help achieve consistent and comprehensive blood sugar (glycemic) control by providing significant beneficial effects on the glucose triad.

A product of research-based biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, saxagliptin belongs to a novel class of oral anti-diabetic drugs called DPP-4 inhibitors.

DPP-4 is an enzyme that inactivates the natural hormones in the body called incretins, which decrease elevated blood sugar (glucose) by increasing the body’s utilization of sugar, mainly through increasing insulin production in the pancreas, and by reducing the liver’s production of glucose.