Semaglutide may lower risk of serious complications in high-risk diabetes

• A new study suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, are associated with better overall outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD), compared with metformin.
• Those taking GLP-1 medications also required fewer procedures to restore blood flow to blocked leg arteries, suggesting the drugs may help slow the progression of PAD.
• The greatest benefits were seen in people with severe PAD, including chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and in those living with obesity, indicating these high-risk groups may benefit the most.
• However, the study was observational, iso t cannot prove that GLP-1 medications directly cause these improvements, and further trials are necessary to confirm the findings.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) describes narrowed arteries reducing blood flow to the limbs, most commonly the legs. PAD often results from a buildup of fatty deposits. Those with PAD may experience leg pain while walking, slow-healing wounds, or, in severe cases, chronic limb-threatening ischemia. This is a condition in which blood flow becomes so restricted that tissue damage or amputation may occur.

PAD is particularly common among people with type 2 diabetes, with research suggesting those living with diabetes have a more than two-fold increased prevalence of PAD compared with the general population.

Both conditions increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and poor circulation, and those with both may have up to 5 times higher risk of lower extremity amputation and a higher probability of mortality at a younger age.

A treatment plan for PAD will typically involve lifestyle changes and medications designed to reduce PAD symptoms, decrease the risk of major health problems, and lower the risk of losing a limb.

Now, new research suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which are commonly prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and support weight loss, may offer benefits beyond blood sugar control, particularly for those with severe PAD.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), found that the greatest benefits were seen in people living with type 2 diabetes who also had advanced PAD, or were also living with obesity. However, more studies are necessary to confirm the findings.