Liraglutide's impact on insulin secretion and exogenous insulin needs in early Type 1 Diabetes investigated

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Current treatment relies on exogenous insulin, which, while life-saving, often fails to fully prevent long-term complications or preserve residual beta-cell function. Incretin hormones like GLP-1 are known to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion and may offer protective effects on beta cells. Investigating GLP-1 agonists like liraglutide in early T1D could explore their potential to preserve endogenous insulin production and reduce the burden of exogenous insulin.

This was a randomized, quadruple-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial (NCT02908087) involving 13 participants aged 10-30 years with early-diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes (no symptoms, diagnosed via OGTT). All subjects were already on insulin therapy. Participants received either liraglutide (Victoza®) or placebo via daily subcutaneous injections, with doses escalating up to 1.8 mg per day over a 6-month treatment period. The primary endpoint was Serum C-peptide AUC during a 2-hour MMTT at 26 and 52 weeks.