Efficacy, Safety, and Treatment Satisfaction of Once-Weekly Tirzepatide in Obese Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive metabolic disease, often compounded by obesity, that leads to serious long-term health complications. While traditional antidiabetic medications help manage blood sugar, many patients continue to struggle with uncontrolled diabetes and excess weight. Newer therapies, such as dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists like Tirzepatide, have demonstrated significant efficacy in lowering blood glucose (HbA1c) and body weight in global clinical trials. However, real-world data regarding its efficacy, safety, and patient-reported satisfaction in South Asian populations, particularly in Pakistan, remains limited. This 6-month, quasi-experimental interventional study aims to compare the clinical outcomes and patient-reported satisfaction of once-weekly subcutaneous Tirzepatide (combined with standard oral antidiabetic therapy) versus standard therapy alone in obese patients with Type 2 Diabetes. A total of 52 eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1 will receive standard oral antidiabetic treatment, while Group 2 will receive once-weekly Tirzepatide with dose escalation (starting at 2.5 mg monthly, increasing to 5 mg, and maintaining at 7.5 mg) alongside standard treatment. Primary evaluations will measure changes in HbA1c and body weight from baseline to 6 months. Secondary objectives include monitoring the frequency and severity of gastrointestinal side effects fortnightly and evaluating patient treatment satisfaction at 6 months using the validated Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ).