Durability of Combination Therapy With Exenatide/Pioglitazone/Metformin vs. Conventional Therapy in New Onset T2DM

Subjects will be randomized (using a table of random numbers) to receive, in open label fashion, one of the following treatment regimens: (i) Group I will be started on pioglitazone (15 mg/day) plus metformin (1000 mg/day) with the supper meal and exenatide (5 mcg s.c. bid 30 min before breakfast and supper) and up-titrated to 45 pioglitazone plus 2000 metformin and 10 mcg s.c. bid exenatide to achieve HbA1c <6.0%; (II) Group II will be started on metformin, 1000 mg with breakfast and 1000 mg with supper, glyburide and basal insulin will be added and up titrated to achieve HbA1c <6.0% The study team will compare the efficacy of two therapeutic regimens: (i) triple therapy (pioglitazone, metformin, exenatide) at the time of diagnosis of T2DM versus (ii) stepwise therapy starting with metformin and subsequent addition of sulfonylurea and basal insulin (i.e., the "standard" approach) in achieving this goal. The first intervention is based on the novel concept of initiating therapy at the time of diagnosis with combination therapy using agents that correct specific pathophysiologic defects that are characteristic of T2DM (insulin resistance and beta cell failure). The second intervention is based upon stepwise addition of antidiabetic agents to reduce the HbA1C according to the current ADA therapeutic recommendation.

Inclusion criteria

• subjects with type 2 diabetes diagnosed during the past 2 years,
• above 18 years of age,
• drug naive, or have been on metformin less than 3 months

Exclusion criteria

• subjects with type 1 diabetes or GAD positive subjects or subjects with long standing diabetes (>2 years) or subjects who are not drug naive or have been on metformin more than 3 months.