What the trial was testing
The SURPASS-5 enrolled 475 patients with type 2 diabetes. The study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
A1c dropped 1.5 points more — and patients lost 7-10 kg more — on tirzepatide.
JAMA · 2022 · NCT04039503
These findings — that on tirzepatide added to insulin glargine vs. insulin alone over 40 weeks — were published in the JAMA and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 475 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with type 2 diabetes, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro for diabetes, Zepbound for weight loss) is FDA-approved and available now. It can be added safely to insulin therapy when blood sugar is not at goal. Most common side effects are nausea and stomach upset that improve over time. Ask your doctor whether it could be added to your insulin plan.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open type 2 diabetes trials
"Screening for Change: Early Risk Detection and Integrated Prevention for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases in the Marche Region"
This study aims to test the feasibility of a new systematic screening program to allow the early detection of individuals aged 50 years at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the resident in the province of Ascoli Piceno and without previous diagnosis, using the CUORE and FINDRISDC tools developed in the Project. The intervention will be conducted at the premises of the Prevention Department in Ascoli Piceno and San Benedetto del Tronto, within the Local Health Authority of Ascoli Piceno (Marche Region, Italy), throughout 2026. Eligible individuals will be invited, based on recruitment criteria, to the screening via a letter containing study information and participation instructions. Those willing to participate will book the appointment to undergo the screening in one of the two premises of the Prevention Department involved in the study (namely, San Benedetto del Tronto and Ascoli Piceno), through the regional reservation system (CUP). On the scheduled date, participants will visit the Prevention Department, where healthcare professionals (HCPs) will explain the study, obtain the informed consent, and collect data related to the CUORE and/or FINDRISC questionnaires, as well as sociodemographic information. The calculated scores will determine the 10-year risks of T2DM and major CVD events. Based on these risks, participants will be provided with tailored suggested pathways. A summary letter outlining these pathways will be delivered, and, in case of consent, results will be added to the participants' Electronic Health Record. Follow-up calls will be scheduled at 3 (T1) and 6 (T2) months to assess adherence to the suggested pathway (e.g., visit the General Practitioner (GP), lifestyle counselling) through a phone call.
Blood Glucose Response to Test Foods Containing Brewer's Spent Grain
The objective of this project is to determine the impact of incorporating brewers' spent grain into cookie formulations on postprandial blood glucose absorption levels following consumption. The methodology for assessing blood glucose response to cookies formulated with brewers' spent grain is described as follows. A total of 20 participants will be recruited from the Universidad Católica del Uruguay. Volunteers will be recruited through institutional email dissemination, with Dr. María Belén Gutiérrez serving as the research contact. Eligible participants will be healthy adults without diagnosed diseases and not taking regular medication. Inclusion criteria will be: men and women aged 18 to 75 years and a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m². Exclusion criteria will include: pregnancy, diabetes, special dietary regimens, recent surgeries, and hypersensitivity or allergy to any of the components of the tested foods. A physical assessment will be performed for each participant, including waist and hip circumferences, body weight, and height. Each participant will be assigned a volunteer identification code, and the data analyst will be blinded to the identity of the participants. Volunteers may withdraw from the study at any time without any consequences. Participants will be studied on four separate occasions (one session per week). On two occasions they will receive 30 g of a commercial María cookie, and on the other two occasions 30 g of a reduced-sugar cookie containing 17% extruded brewers' spent grain. During the study period, participants will be asked to maintain their usual lifestyle. Participants will attend the University Clinic in the morning after an 8-10 hour overnight fast. After a fasting blood sample is obtained, the corresponding treatment will be provided, and participants will have 15 minutes to consume it. Capillary blood samples will be collected at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after the start of treatment consumption. Blood sampling will be performed via capillary puncture using a commercially available glucometer, with disposable lancets used for each measurement and safely discarded after each sample. Sample collection will be carried out by trained personnel from the Department of Health and Well-being of the Universidad Católica del Uruguay. During the testing period, participants will be allowed to drink up to 250 mL of water and must remain seated. For each participant and each treatment day, a data collection sheet will be used to record all measurements. After each experimental session, participants will receive a breakfast voucher.