6923 Case Report: Long Standing Type 2 Diabetes with TOFI Phenotype Successfully Weaned Off One Hundred Units of Basal-Bolus Insulin Therapy With Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Therapy
Authors: Kon Y C 
Published: October 2024

Disclosure: Y.C. Kon: None.

A 60-year-old Indian male was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1997. In July 2017, his fasting blood glucose level (FBGL) was 10.3 mM, paired C-peptide 719 pM, eGFR measured as more than 60 ml/min. Since Sep 2017, he had been compliant on the same stable regimen of sc insulatard 20 units om and 20 units at 10 pm, sc actrapid 20 units t.i.d premeal, PO metformin 850 mg t.i.d and PO dapagliflozin 10 mg om. In the past, he had suffered myocardial infarction, with left ventricular ejection fraction 35%, and had left anterior descending coronary artery stenting. In 2017, he had automatic cardioverter defibrillator implanted for primary arrhythmia prevention. His cardiac medications included bisoprolol fumarate 5 mg om, losartan 25 mg om, spironolactone 25 mg om, aspirin 100 mg om and high intensity statin therapy. Since 2020, his HbA1c had measured 8% to 9% with FBGL at 6 mM to 11 mM. Hence he was referred by his cardiologist in Oct 2022 to optimize glycaemic control. Once every few months, he experienced hypoglycaemic symptoms with corresponding low capillary blood glucose (CBG) of 3 mM, reversed with glucose intake. On physical examination, he weighed 81.6 kg, BMI was 25.4 kg/m2, BP 110/67 mmHg, pulse rate 69/min regular, waist circumference 106 cm. There was no acanthosis nigricans. He did not appear Cushingoid nor acromegalic. As he had “thin outside, fat inside (TOFI)” type 2 diabetes phenotype, he was started on sc liraglutide 1.8 mg om. His actrapid dose was halved to 10 units premeal, and insulatard dose halved to 10 units bid. His dapagliflozin was switched to subsidised empagliflozin 25 mg om. Subsequently, his premeal CBG measured 4 to 7 mM, bedtime CBG 4-6 mM, with occasional minor hypoglycaemic episodes with CBG at 3-4 mM. In July 2023, HbA1c measured 6.3%, FBGL was 5.5 mM and paired C-peptide measured as 554 pM. Basal insulatard was discontinued and he was switched from liraglutide to sc dulaglutide 1.5 mg once weekly. In Oct 2023, his FBGL was 5.2 mM and HbA1c had improved markedly to 5.7%. His weight had reduced from 81.6 kg to 70.0 kg, BMI decreased from 25.4 kg/m2 to 22.9 kg/m2 and waist circumference reduced from 106 cm to 97 cm. As he continued to experience occasional minor hypoglycemic episodes, actrapid insulin was discontinued. On his current therapy of sc dulaglutide 1.5 mg once weekly, PO empagliflozin 25 mg om, PO metformin 850 mg tid, and PO acarbose 50 mg t.i.d, his fasting CBG measured 6.7-7.7 mM, premeal CBG 6.4 to 10.1 mM, off all insulins and without further episodes hypoglycaemia. Conclusion: Patients with long standing “TOFI” type 2 diabetes and robust C-peptide may be trialled on GLP1-receptor agonist therapy to wean off high daily doses of insulin, thus avoiding hypoglycaemia, achieving weight and abdominal fat loss, whilst maintaining glycaemic control. This is especially important in patients with established coronary artery disease.

Presentation: 6/3/2024