At BEAT 2025: National Cardiovascular Summit and Awards, Dr. Sandeep Bansal, Director of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, presented a compelling session titled “Diabetes & the Heart – How a Pill is Changing the Future”, highlighting the transformative potential of new diabetes therapies on heart and kidney health.
Dr. Bansal emphasized the interconnected nature of cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health, noting that these conditions often occur together. Drawing on recent recommendations from the American Heart Association, he explained that tackling diabetes effectively requires a holistic approach addressing heart and kidney risks simultaneously.
The session highlighted GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of drugs that enhance insulin secretion, reduce glucose production, aid weight loss, and provide cardiovascular protection. Dr. Bansal pointed out that these drugs act across multiple organ systems—improving brain satiety signals, supporting liver and kidney function, stabilizing blood vessels, and reducing inflammation.
He shared key data from the SOUL trial, which involved nearly 9,500 patients, including around 800 from India. The trial demonstrated that patients on the GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy experienced a 14% reduction in major cardiovascular events, a 26% reduction in heart attacks among Asians, and significant kidney benefits. Moreover, combining GLP-1 receptor agonists with SGLT2 inhibitors further reduced heart events by 30% and kidney complications by 30–60%, while improving weight management and diabetes control.
Dr. Bansal stressed the urgency of adopting these therapies in India, given the country’s high diabetes burden. He noted that 75% of diabetic patients die from cardiovascular complications rather than high blood sugar, underlining the importance of drugs that go beyond glucose control. He also highlighted that oral formulations of GLP-1 receptor agonists could improve patient acceptance compared to injectable therapies, which are accepted by only a small fraction of patients.
Concluding his presentation, Dr. Bansal emphasized that the use of these advanced therapies can substantially reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage, ultimately helping patients live longer and healthier lives.