Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Intervention and Dapagliflozin Add-On Therapy on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v9i1.2339Keywords:
Clinical pharmacist intervention, Dapagliflozin, Glycaemic control, Medication adherence, Type 2 diabetes mellitusAbstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes is a major global health issue. Poor glycemic control, often due to non-adherence, increases complications. Pharmacologic intensification and pharmacist-led interventions help optimize diabetes management. Objectives: To assess clinical pharmacist interventions and dapagliflozin effects on glycemic control, safety, and adherence in type 2 diabetes. Methods: A 3-month, three-arm open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Sulaimani city, Iraq, on adults with T2DM (HbA1c 7–10%, n=138) were randomized to dapagliflozin add-on (G1, n=46), clinical pharmacist intervention (G2, n=46; including medication optimization, adherence support, and counselling), or standard therapy (G3, n=46). Primary outcomes were HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) changes, and safety; secondary included lipids, blood pressure, and adherence (Modified Hill-Bone scale). Results: Among 125 completers, the median (IQR) difference in the HbA1c % was -0.7(-1.6 to 0.0) for G1, -0.665 (-1.55 to -0.245) for G2, and +0.05 (-0.3 to 0.597) for G3, which was significantly different between G1 and G3 and G2 and G3. The difference in the FPG was -37 (-83 to 1.0) for G1, -14.5 (-38.75 to 6) for G2, and -1.5 (-11.75 to 30.75) for G3. The difference is significant between G1 and G3, and G2 and G3. Medication adherence improved significantly only in G2 (high adherence: 80% to 95%, p=0.043). Adverse events were low in all groups (hypoglycemia: 4.5–7.3%), while UTIs were 7.3% in G1 only. Conclusions: Clinical pharmacist-led interventions were equally as effective as dapagliflozin for glycemic control but superior in enhancing medication adherence.
Downloads
References
Galicia-Garcia U, Benito-Vicente A, Jebari S, Larrea-Sebal A, Siddiqi H, Uribe KB, et al. Pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(17):6275. doi: 10.3390/ijms21176275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21176275
Kanagalingam T, Yu C, Ke C. Young-onset type 2 diabetes. CMAJ. 2024;196(28):E977–E977. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.240398. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.240398
International Diabetes Federation, 2025 [Internet]. [cited 2024 Oct 18]. Available from: https://diabetesatlas.org/
Abusaib M, Ahmed M, Nwayyir HA, Alidrisi HA, Al-Abbood M, Al-Bayati A, et al. Iraqi experts consensus on the management of type 2 diabetes/prediabetes in adults. Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes. 2020;13:1179551420942232. doi: 10.1177/1179551420942232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1179551420942232
Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M. Epidemiology of diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Phys Ther. 2008;88(11):1254-1264. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20080020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20080020
Buyken AE, von Eckardstein A, Schulte H, Cullen P, Assmann G. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk of coronary heart disease: results of the 10-year follow-up of the PROCAM study. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2007;14(2):230–236. doi: 10.1097/HJR.0b013e3280142037. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/HJR.0b013e3280142037
Dal Canto E, Ceriello A, Rydén L, Ferrini M, Hansen TB, Schnell O, et al. Diabetes as a cardiovascular risk factor: An overview of global trends of macro and micro vascular complications. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2019;26(2_suppl):25-32. doi: 10.1177/2047487319878371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487319878371
Viigimaa M, Sachinidis A, Toumpourleka M, Koutsampasopoulos K, Alliksoo S, Titma T. Macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2020;18(2):110-116. doi: 10.2174/1570161117666190405165151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/1570161117666190405165151
Shukla UV, Tripathy K, (Eds.), Diabetic Retinopathy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560805/
Feldman EL, Callaghan BC, Pop-Busui R, Zochodne DW, Wright DE, Bennett DL, Bril V, Russell JW, Viswanathan V. Diabetic neuropathy. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5(1):42. doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0097-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-019-0092-1
Fawzy MS, Alshammari MA, Alruwaili AA, Alanazi RTR, Alharbi JAM, Almasoud AMR, et al. Factors associated with diabetic foot among type 2 diabetes in Northern area of Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study. BMC Res Notes. 2019;12:51. doi: 10.1186/s13104-019-4088-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4088-4
Haghighatpanah M, Nejad ASM, Haghighatpanah M, Thunga G, Mallayasamy S. Factors that correlate with poor glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with complications. Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2018;9(4):167-174. doi: 10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.4.05. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.4.05
Polonsky WH, Henry RR. Poor medication adherence in type 2 diabetes: recognizing the scope of the problem and its key contributors. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016;10:1299-307. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S106821. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S106821
Lorenzati B, Zucco C, Miglietta S, Lamberti F, Bruno G. Oral hypoglycemic drugs: Pathophysiological basis of their mechanism of action. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2010;3(9):3005-3020. doi: 10.3390/ph3093005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ph3093005
Bashir MI, Pathan MF, Raza SA, Ahmad J, Khan AK, Ishtiaq O, et al. Role of oral hypoglycemic agents in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus during Ramadan. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16(4):503-507. doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.97994. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.97994
Ganesan K, Rana MBM, Sultan S. Oral Hypoglycemic Medications. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482386/
Hasan I, Rashid T, Jaikaransingh V, Heilig C, Abdel-Rahman EM, Awad AS. SGLT2 inhibitors: Beyond glycemic control. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2024 Mar 12;35:100335. doi: 10.1016/j.jcte.2024.100335. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcte.2024.100335
Labrador Barba E, Rodríguez de Miguel M, Hernández-Mijares A, Alonso-Moreno FJ, Orera Peña ML, Aceituno S, et al. Medication adherence and persistence in type 2 diabetes mellitus: perspectives of patients, physicians and pharmacists on the Spanish health care system. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2017;11:707-718. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S122556. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S122556
Presley B, Groot W, Pavlova M. Pharmacy-led interventions to improve medication adherence among adults with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2019;15(9):1057-1067. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.09.021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.09.021
Ahmed ZA, Abdallah ZA, Aziz TA. Exploring the role of clinical pharmacists intervention on the outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Sulaimani Med Coll. 2020;10(3):395–403. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17656/jsmc.10280
Benedict AW, Spence MM, Sie JL, Chin HA, Ngo CD, Salmingo JF, et al. Evaluation of a pharmacist-managed diabetes program in a primary care setting within an integrated health care system. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2018;24(2):114–122. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2018.24.2.114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2018.24.2.114
Badi S, Suliman SZ, Almahdi R, Aldomah MA, Marzouq ME, Ibrahim EEM, et al. The impact of clinical pharmacist diabetes education on medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An interventional study from Khartoum, Sudan. J Pers Med. 2024;14(1):74. doi: 10.3390/jpm14010074. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14010074
Obied KA, Mahwi TO. Role of the pharmaceutical care in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Pharm Sci Res. 2013;14: 1363-1369.
doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.4(4).1363-69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.4(4).1363-69
Pousinho S, Morgado M, Falcão A, Alves G. Pharmacist interventions in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2016;22(5):493-515. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.5.493. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.5.493
Abd Alrahman MS, Jasim AL, Alhilal MA. (2025) Impact of clinical pharmacist-led interventions on glycemic control and quality of life among Iraqi patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Pharmacia. 2025;72:1-8. doi: 10.3897/pharmacia.72.e156398. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/pharmacia.72.e156398
Namiq HS, Obeid KA, Mohammed DA. Role of pharmaceutical care in type 2 diabetic patients in Kirkuk city. Al Mustansiriyah J Pharm Sci. 2020;20(4):169–181. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32947/ajps.v20i4.788
Obeid KA, Hamasaeed AG. The impact of insulin staging in the context of pharmaceutical care on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes Targets Ther. 2023;16:71–83. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S388750. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S388750
Sheleme T, Sahilu T, Feyissa D. Identification and resolution of drug-related problems among diabetic patients attending a referral hospital: a prospective observational study. J Pharm Policy Pract. 2021;14(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s40545-021-00332-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-021-00332-9
Nabulsi NA, Yan CH, Tilton JJ, Gerber BS, Sharp LK. Clinical pharmacists in diabetes management: What do minority patients with uncontrolled diabetes have to say? J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2020;60(5):708-715. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2020.01.024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2020.01.024
Jabbour SA, Hardy E, Sugg J, Parikh S. Dapagliflozin is effective as add-on therapy to sitagliptin with or without metformin: a 24-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(3):740-750. doi: 10.2337/dc13-0467. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc13-0467
Kim MT, Hill MN, Bone LR, Levine DM. Development and testing of the Hill-Bone compliance to high blood pressure therapy scale. Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 2000;15(3):90-96. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7117.2000.tb00211.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-7117.2000.tb00211.x
Lambert EV, Steyn K, Stender S, Everage N, Fourie JM, Hill M. Cross-cultural validation of the hill-bone compliance to high blood pressure therapy scale in a South African, primary healthcare setting. Ethn Dis. 2006;16(1):286-291. PMID: 16599385.
About the Hill-Bone Scales [Internet]. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. [cited 2025 Aug 14]. Available from: https://nursing.jhu.edu/faculty-research/research/projects/about-hill-bone-scales/
American Diabetes Association. 8. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment. Diabetes Care. 2017;40(Suppl 1):S64-S74. doi: 10.2337/dc17-S011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc17-S011
Mekdad S, Alsayed L, Alkhulaif S. The role of clinical pharmacists in improving diabetic care of hospitalized heart patients. Diabetes Epidemiol Manag. 2025;17:100248. doi: 10.1016/j.deman.2024.100248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.deman.2024.100248
Al AdAwi RM, Jassim Z, Elgaily D, Abdelaziz H, Sree B, Mohamed Ibrahim MI. Assessment of dapagliflozin effectiveness as add-on therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Qatari population. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):6864. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43052-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43052-6
Anderson SL. Dapagliflozin efficacy and safety: a perspective review. Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2014;5(6):242-254. doi: 10.1177/2042098614551938. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2042098614551938

Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Al-Rafidain Journal of Medical Sciences ( ISSN 2789-3219 )

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Published by Al-Rafidain University College. This is an open access journal issued under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).