Liraglutide and Βeta-Cell Function in Young Adults With Long-Standing Type 1 Diabetes and Residual C-Peptide: A Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.
José Caballero-Corbalán, Per Lundkvist, Daniel Espes et al.
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In 30 seconds
This blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessed whether liraglutide preserved residual beta-cell function in 18 adults with type 1 diabetes of at least 5 years’ duration and detectable fasting C-peptide. Participants received liraglutide or placebo for 52 weeks, with stimulated C-peptide assessed using mixed-meal tolerance tests. Liraglutide did not improve stimulated C-peptide compared with placebo at week 52. Exploratory post hoc analyses across weeks 0–65 suggested a steeper C-peptide decline with liraglutide, alongside increasing insulin requirements over time.
Key findings
- At week 52, liraglutide did not improve stimulated C-peptide compared with placebo.
- Exploratory post hoc analyses over weeks 0–65 suggested a steeper stimulated C-peptide decline with liraglutide than with placebo.
- Insulin requirements increased over time in the longitudinal analyses.
Why it matters
Detectable C-peptide can persist in some people with long-standing type 1 diabetes, but this trial found no evidence that liraglutide preserved stimulated beta-cell function over 52 weeks. The exploratory signal of a steeper decline with liraglutide also cautions against assuming beta-cell benefit, although it requires careful interpretation given its post hoc nature.
What to keep in mind
The trial included only 18 participants. The steeper C-peptide decline was identified in exploratory post hoc longitudinal analyses, rather than the primary endpoint.