Patient characteristics, drug adherence patterns, and hypoglycemia costs for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus newly initiated on exenatide or insulin glargine

Abstract

This study provides the first real-world observational comparison of type 2 diabetes patients newly initiated on exenatide or insulin glargine. Exenatide patients had a lower comorbidity burden, better drug adherence, and a lower rate of hypoglycemic events with associated costs. Retrospective database analyses examine medical care utilization in large populations using a relatively inexpensive and expedient approach. However, data are only representative of a commercial health-care plan with limited information on multiple variables usually collected during clinical trials.