In 2019, nearly 9% of adults in India had diabetes, with many more affected by prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which can progress to diabetes. Over 90% of these cases are type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), characterized by insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction. The increasing prevalence of T2DM poses a major health burden in India.

      Semaglutide has proven effective for patients whose blood glucose is not well-controlled with other treatments like metformin, sulfonylureas, and insulin. It has demonstrated significant reductions in HbA1c and body weight, outperforming other medications in its class without new safety concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of oral semaglutide in adult T2DM patients.

      This retrospective, multicenter, open-label study was conducted across 10 sites in India over 30 weeks. The study included adult T2DM patients who were not adequately controlled on current treatments. Semaglutide was initiated by the treating physician, starting at 3 mg daily and increasing to a maximum dose of 14 mg. Eligibility criteria included adults with T2DM, uncontrolled on existing therapy, and an HbA1c above 6.5%. Patients with HbA1c below 6.5% or hypersensitivity to semaglutide were excluded.

      Out of 414 patients screened, 340 were eligible, and 176 provided data for the full study duration. The average age of participants was 48.11 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1. The study confirmed that oral semaglutide is an effective treatment for T2DM, particularly for weight management. However, the proportion of patients reaching the ADA-recommended HbA1c target was lower than expected, suggesting a need for further investigation into more individualized treatment strategies.