Comparison of Oral Versus Injectable Semaglutide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad and Jamshoro
1Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed, 2Dr. Ibia Nawaz, 3Dr. Nazan Hassan, 4Dr. Gul Muhammad, 5Dr. Altaf Hussain Jatoi, 6Dr. Hina Murtaza
1Associate Professor G. Surgery, Akhter Saeed Medical College Rawalpindi
2Senior registrar surgical unit-II
3Senior Registrar Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi.
4Assistant professor, Rawal institute of health sciences Islamabad
5Head of Department Surgery & Allied Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences Sehwan
6Consultant surgeon Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi
Vol: 14/02
Received: January 25, 2025 Accepted: March 02, 2025 Published: July 06, 2025
Abstract Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with increasing prevalence in Pakistan. Despite multiple therapeutic options, many patients fail to achieve target glycemic control and remain overweight or obese. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) such as semaglutide offer combined benefits of HbA1c reduction, weight loss, and cardiovascular protection. Semaglutide is available in injectable (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg weekly) and oral (3 mg, 7 mg, 14 mg daily) forms. Aim of the study is to compare the mean change in HbA1c (%) after three months between oral and injectable semaglutide groups.: A prospective observational comparative study conducted over three months among adult patients with T2DM attending the outpatient departments of LUH Hyderabad and Jamshoro. Total duration: three months following ERC approval. Each participant will be followed for 12 weeks (±2 weeks) from initiation of semaglutide therapy. A prospective consecutive sampling technique will be used. All eligible and consenting patients who meet inclusion criteria and are newly prescribed semaglutide during the three-month recruitment period will be enrolled sequentially until the required sample size is reached. No randomization or allocation by the investigators will occur; treatment choice (oral vs injectable) will follow physician prescription and patient preference, reflecting real-world practice.Sample size was calculated using OpenEpi version 3.01 for comparison of two independent means (change in HbA1c %). Assumptions: expected mean difference = 0.5%, standard deviation = 1.2%, confidence level = 95%, power = 80%. The calculated sample was 91 patients per group (182 total); after adjustment for an anticipated 20% attrition rate, the final required sample size is approximately 230 participants. This software-based calculation corresponds with the manual formula for two-sample comparison of means.