Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Diabetes. Jun 15, 2012; 3(6): 118-122
Published online Jun 15, 2012. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v3.i6.118
Sitagliptin counteracts seasonal fluctuation of glycemic control
Tomohiro Matsuhashi, Motoaki Sano, Keiichi Fukuda, Shun Kohsaka, Yoshihiko Suzuki
Tomohiro Matsuhashi, Motoaki Sano, Keiichi Fukuda, Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Shun Kohsaka, Division of Cardiovascular Inflammation, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Yoshihiko Suzuki, HDC Atlas Clinic, Tokyo 102-0082, Japan
Author contributions: Matsuhashi T and Sano M conceived and designed the study, performed the analysis and interpretation of data and wrote the manuscript; Fukuda K and Kohsaka S collected the data and gave administrative support; Suzuki Y gave a critical revision of the article; all authors approved the version of the manuscript to be published.
Correspondence to: Motoaki Sano, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. msano@a8.keio.jp
Telephone: +81-3-53633874 Fax: +81-3-53633875
Received: January 6, 2012
Revised: May 11, 2012
Accepted: June 10, 2012
Published online: June 15, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To assess the effect of sitagliptin therapy on seasonal fluctuation of glycemic control in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS: Participating patients (age: 29-80 years) had been treated with conventional oral antidiabetic agents and/or diet and exercise therapy for over 6 mo. From December 2009, 35 patients were additionally prescribed oral sitagliptin starting from 50 mg once daily, while 19 patients taking α-glucosidase inhibitors were switched to sitagliptin. Twenty-four patients who refused sitagliptin formed the control group. Changes of mean monthly hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) during the “winter holiday season” were compared between groups using Student’s t-test (2008-2009 vs 2009-2010). Statistical significance was accepted at P < 0.05. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess whether sitagliptin use was associated with deterioration or improvement of glycemic control.

RESULTS: Both add-on sitagliptin and switching from α-glucosidase inhibitors to sitagliptin prevented the seasonal deterioration of glycemic control and tended to improve HbA1c. Multivariate analysis revealed that both adding and switching to sitagliptin were negatively correlated with deterioration of glycemic control. In 44 patients who continued sitagliptin therapy for another year, elevation of HbA1c was suppressed without adverse effects.

CONCLUSION: Sitagliptin is a suitable oral agent for preventing deterioration of glycemic control during the winter holiday season.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors, Sitagliptin, Seasonal variation, Hemoglobin A1c