Researchers have revealed that a GLP-1 drug may help control blood sugar in adolescents with thalassemia-related diabetes, with better results than insulin in some indicators.
GLP-1 inhibitors are now widely known for their role in treating obesity, but they have also been used for years to treat diabetes. These drugs work by stimulating the pancreas to produce insulin and helping to regulate blood glucose levels.
The study, led by researchers from Ain Shams University in Egypt, focused on adolescents with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT) diabetes.
Beta thalassemia is a genetic disorder that affects hemoglobin production, and those with severe cases require regular blood transfusions. With repeated transfusions, iron can accumulate in the body and damage the pancreas, impairing its ability to produce insulin and increasing the risk of developing diabetes.
The study included 80 adolescents aged 10 to 18 with thalassemia-related diabetes who had not responded adequately to metformin. Researchers divided the participants into two groups: one group received dulaglutide once a week, while the other received insulin daily, for a period of 24 weeks.
The results showed that participants who received dulaglutide achieved greater improvement in blood sugar control. Their blood sugar levels fluctuated less, their average glucose level decreased, and they spent more time within their target blood sugar range.
The "Dulaglutide" group also did not record a significant increase in weight, and initial indications emerged that the drug may contribute to reducing iron accumulation in the body.
Researchers suggest that one of the most important aspects of these findings lies in the way GLP-1 drugs work, as they stimulate the pancreas to produce its remaining insulin, rather than compensating for the lack of insulin by giving it from the outside.
However, the researchers emphasize that the results are still preliminary, and that larger, multi-center studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of dulaglutide, and to understand its potential impact on iron accumulation.
The study was published in the journal Diabetologia.
