People with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes who are being treated with semaglutide could stop needing insulin injections before or after eating a meal, a new study has identified.
Latest research in the New England Journal of Medicine has discovered that semaglutide is still associated with a lower HbA1c in those with type 1 diabetes.
According to the research team, people with diabetes who are being treated with semaglutide can significantly decrease their dose of basal insulin or remove it altogether.
Top author Dr Paresh Dandona said: “Our findings from this study are so promising for newly diagnosed people with type 1 diabetes that we are now absolutely focused on pursing a larger study for a longer period of time.”
During the investigation, the team of researchers studied the HbA1c levels of 10 people who were all newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the past three to six months.
At the start of their diagnosis, the participant’s mean HbA1c was 11.7 – drastically higher than the American Diabetes Association’s recommendation of seven or below.
In the initial stages of the study, the participants were treated with a low dose of semaglutide and carried on taking meal-time bolus insulin and basal background insulin.
Over time, the dosing of semaglutide was gradually increased and meal-time insulin was reduced.
Dr Dandona noted: “Within three months, we were able to eliminate all of the mealtime insulin doses for all of the participants and within six months we were able to eliminate basal insulin in seven of the 10 people. This was maintained until the end of the 12-month follow-up period.”
Six months after the study the participants’ average HbA1c fell to 5.9 and after a year it dropped to 5.7, the research has reported.
To access the full study, click here.
