Introduction
The fixed-dose combination insulin glargine / lixisenatide (trade name: Suliqua) has been approved in Germany since January 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. It is used in addition to metformin if metformin alone or in combination with other medications does not provide adequate control of blood sugar levels.
As of March 2020, insulin glargine / lixisenatide has also been approved for use in people who take a flozin (SGLT-2 inhibitor) in addition to metformin. Flozins cause more sugar to leave the body in urine, lowering blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affects many parts of the body. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces enough insulin at first, but the body’s cells gradually lose the ability to absorb and use the insulin. If the blood sugar levels can't be lowered enough through a change in diet and exercise habits, blood-sugar-lowering medication is used.
The fixed-dose combination insulin glargine / lixisenatide helps to prevent strong fluctuations in blood sugar levels and the unpleasant effects of high and low blood sugar. It can also help to prevent the complications that may develop if blood sugar levels are too high.