Semaglutide improves glycemia, weight, and blood pressure in UAE Type 2 Diabetes patients over 12 months

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) faces a high burden of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and obesity, contributing significantly to cardiometabolic disease. Despite the established efficacy of semaglutide in clinical trials, real-world evidence on its effectiveness in this specific population has been limited. Understanding how semaglutide performs in a diverse, real-world setting is crucial for optimizing cardiometabolic risk reduction strategies and addressing the local healthcare gap.

This retrospective, observational cohort study included 278 adults with Type 2 Diabetes initiating once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide in a UAE tertiary endocrine clinic (June 2022-Jan 2025). Primary outcomes were changes in HbA1c, body weight, and SBP at 6 and 12 months. Responder and composite endpoints were assessed at 12 months. Predictors of glycemic (HbA1c reduction ≥ 1%) and composite response (HbA1c reduction ≥ 1% and ≥ 5% weight loss) were analyzed via multivariable logistic regression.