THE ESSENTIAL
- 20 to 30% of diabetic adults are not diagnosed according to Inserm.
- The incidence of type 2 diabetes is highest between the ages of 75 and 79, with 20% of men and 14% of women being treated for this disease.
“We have been warned of severe supply tensions on the class of GLP-1 analogues, due to an increase in global demand“, explains theNational Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM).
Supply tensions over GLP-1 analogues
GLP-1 analogues are a family of injectable drugs used in the treatment of diabetes. They come in the form of pre-filled pens, for the patient to inject the drug solution into.
“The drugs concerned in France are: Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide)continues the press release. They are indicated in the treatment of insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, in addition to diet and physical activity”.
In France, 90% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes, according to theNational Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) which specifies that: “the reference treatment for type 2 diabetes, the one that must be started before any other, is the modification of lifestyle habits, including: weight loss when necessary, regular physical activity, a balanced diet. These measures may be sufficient to control blood sugar”. Then come the anti-diabetic drugs.
Difficulties in accessing treatments that will have no impact on patients
Faced with these supply tensions, the ANSM issues recommendations. For patients first: “you should not change your treatment without medical advice. Speak to your doctor who will prescribe a suitable alternative if necessary”. Practitioners, on the other hand, are advised not to change the prescription if the patient has been taking this drug for a long time or if he specifically needs it. On the other hand, if it is a question of prevention, “it is recommended to favor the use of another class of anti-diabetic, according to the patient’s profile“.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops after age 40 and is diagnosed at an average age close to 65. This is due to the improper use of insulin by the body’s cells. On the other hand, type 1 diabetes comes from an absence of insulin secretion by the pancreas and is present from childhood or adolescence. But whether it is one or the other, this disease characterized by too high blood sugar levels, hyperglycemia. In France, nearly four million people were identified as diabetic by the‘Health Insurance in 2019.