Diabetes Dialogue: Making Sense of Semaglutide in Type 1 Diabetes

On September 6, 2023, a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine detailed the effects of semaglutide use in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, indicating use could eliminate the need for insulin.

A 10-person case series from the State University of New York at Buffalo, the report provided an overview of the effects of semaglutide use in people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, with results suggesting use was associated with a complete elimination of the need for mealtime insulin doses among the entire study cohort, allowed 70% to eliminate basal insulin use within 6 months, and decreased the mean HbA1c from 11.7% at baseline to 5.9% at 6 months and 5.7% at 12 months.¹

For many, the news comes as a pleasant surprise. However, for some in endocrinology, the news was not much of a surprise at all as many have off-label and this report been not the first research endeavor from Dandona examining use of a GLP-1 receptor agonist in type 1 diabetes. In 2011, Dandona helped lead a study examining use of liraglutide in people with type 1 diabetes. Among the authors of the study examining use of liraglutide in 2011 is Natalie Bellini, DNP, program director of Diabetes Technology at University Hospitals Diabetes and Metabolic Care Center.²

In this special edition episode of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives, Bellini leverages this unique perspective in a discussion around the latest data on semaglutide in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in a conversation with cohost Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic.

Relevant disclosures for Dr. Isaacs include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Abbott Diabetes Care, Dexcom, Medtronic, and others. Relevant disclosures for Dr. Bellini include Abbott Diabetes Care, MannKind, Provention Bio, and others.

References:

1. Campbell P. Semaglutide could eliminate need for insulin in type 1 diabetes. HCP Live. September 6, 2023. Accessed September 7, 2023. https://www.hcplive.com/view/semaglutide-could-eliminate-need-for-insulin-in-type-1-diabetes.
2. Varanasi A, Bellini N, Rawal D, et al. Liraglutide as additional treatment for type 1 diabetes. Eur J Endocrinol. 2011;165(1):77-84. doi:10.1530/EJE-11-0330