11
NEWS
The Exeter 5-drug
T2D model
New tool predicts best T2D drug for greatest
reduction in blood glucose levels.
A
new calculator matches
people to the optimum
diabetes drug available.
The simple-looking but
ground-breaking new tool accurately
predicts the most effective Type 2
diabetes (T2D) drug treatment for any
particular individual, offering major
reductions in blood glucose levels
and risk of diabetes complications.
Research has revealed that maybe
only as few as 18% of people with
Type 2 diabetes in the UK have
been treated with the most suitable
glucose-lowering drug for them
personally. This innovative tool could
be a significant advance in T2D care.
Millions of people with T2D could
receive better treatment thanks to a
new, simple low-cost tool, according
to ground-breaking research
announced at the Diabetes UK
Professional Conference 2025 held
end February 2025, and published
concurrently in the Lancet.
Researchers at the University
of Exeter, funded by the Medical
Research Council, Wellcome and
NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research
Centre, and supported by Diabetes
UK, have developed an innovative
way of identifying the most effective
glucose-lowering drugs for people
with T2D. By predicting which drug
will lead to the greatest reduction in
blood glucose levels, the easy-to-use
tool could pave the way for better
health for millions, literally at the
push of a button.
Reducing the risk
Careful management of blood
glucose levels is essential for
reducing the risk of serious diabetes
complications. However, keeping
blood glucose levels in a safe range
can be challenging, as anyone with
any form of diabetes well knows.
In England alone, more than
3m people with T2D use glucoselowering
drugs to manage their
condition. While metformin is the
most commonly prescribed first
treatment, five other major types of
glucose-lowering drugs are available.
However, their effectiveness varies
widely from person to person and it
has not been possible to determine
the best glucose-lowering treatment
for each patient - at least, until