Prevalence of Adverse Events and Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Novel Antidiabetic Medications

Introduction: Novel antidiabetic medications are employed to manage glycemic control and mitigate the long-term complications of type 2 diabetes.This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of adverse events, including hypoglycemia, associated with these novel antidiabetic agents in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 157 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the Endocrinology Clinic at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia, during the summer of 2024.A convenience sampling method was employed to recruit participants.Data on demographics, the incidence of hypoglycemia, and reported adverse drug reactions were collected from all eligible patients through a structured interview.Subsequently, patients were stratified into three treatment groups based on the specific novel antidiabetic medication they received.Results: In patients receiving sitagliptin, the most prevalent adverse events included arthralgia and rheumatic problems (26.31%),dermatological manifestations (36.84%), and allergic reactions (21.06%).Nausea (52.94%) and abdominal pain (17.65%) were the most frequent adverse events observed in patients treated with liraglutide.Polydipsia (28.72%), weakness and lethargy (26.6%), and dry mucous membranes (27.66%) were commonly reported in patients receiving empagliflozin.Hypoglycemia was observed predominantly in male patients aged 51-55 years receiving sitagliptin. Conclusions:The findings of this study demonstrate a low incidence of hypoglycemia among patients treated with modern antidiabetic medications.Prevalent short-term adverse events observed included gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions, and dermatological manifestations.