Role of Bile Acid Sequestrants in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

From: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/Supplement_2/S244.full

Clinical studies have demonstrated that colesevelam provides significant glycemic and lipid benefits in adults with type 2 diabetes. Colesevelam may be beneficial for patients with prediabetes by providing both lipid and glycemic benefits in this high-risk population. The addition of colesevelam to stable metformin-, sulfonylurea-, or insulin-based regimens resulted in significant reductions in HbA1c and LDL cholesterol. The dual glucose- and lipid-lowering effect of colesevelam makes it a beneficial drug to add to existing treatment, since it may help patients achieve both glycemic and lipid goals. Colesevelam was well tolerated when used throughout the type 2 diabetes continuum in combination with various antidiabetes treatments, had a low incidence of hypoglycemia, and was not associated with weight gain. Importantly, the data from the studies with colesevelam highlight its efficacy in a “real-world” setting, since colesevelam was added to existing treatment without washout of prior antidiabetes therapies. In conclusion, BASs represent a novel treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes, unique in their ability to modulate multiple cardiovascular risk factors. BASs can be added to existing antidiabetes and lipid-lowering therapies throughout the lifecycle of type 2 diabetes, both early and late in the disease, to further manage hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia.