Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Keywords: Diabetes Neuropathy Glucose Control Peripheral Autonomic
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 46
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This study will look at whether or not the medication exenatide improves signs and symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in people with type 2 diabetes and mild to moderate diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Detailed description:
This study will look at the effects of the medication exenatide on peripheral neuropathy in people with type 2 diabetes. Exenatide (trade name, BYETTA®) is an injectable medication used by people with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar. Peripheral neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that can cause symptoms such as numbness, tingling or burning sensations in the feet and hands. Controlling blood sugars levels in type 2 diabetes is thought to prevent, delay or improve the damage to the nerve fibers that causes peripheral neuropathy. There is also some evidence that exenatide may have additional beneficial effects on the peripheral nerves, beyond the benefits of blood sugar control alone. In this study, about half of the participants will take exenatide by injection twice daily and the other half will take insulin glargine (Lantus®) by injection once daily. Both groups are expected to have similar improvement in blood sugar control. This study will show whether exenatide has beneficial effects on neuropathy beyond the benefits of better blood sugar control alone.

Arms:
arm 1: Subjects will take exenatide by subcutaneous injection twice daily for 18 months arm 2: Subjects will take 1 daily injection of insulin glargine for 18 months.

Interventions: intervention 1: Exenatide intervention 2: Glargine
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Exenatide is given according to current FDA prescribing guidelines. Exenatide and other diabetes medications will be titrated in order to achieve optimal blood glucose levels intervention 2: Subjects will take 1 daily injection of insulin glargine in manner consistent with current prescribing guidelines. Glargine and other diabetes medications will be adjusted to achieve optimal levels of blood sugar control

Protocol document: