New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. About 1.6 million Americans have it, mostly diagnosed in childhood but sometimes in adults. Current treatment centers on insulin delivered by injection or pump, often with continuous glucose monitors that track blood sugar in real time.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing drugs that delay or prevent beta cell destruction in newly diagnosed people, cell therapies that replace lost beta cells, and hybrid closed-loop systems that automate insulin delivery. Researchers are also studying teplizumab, FDA-approved in 2022 to delay onset in high-risk people, and ways to protect transplanted cells from immune attack.

What to know before you search

Eligibility often depends on how recently diagnosed, remaining beta cell function measured by C-peptide levels, antibody status, and current insulin needs.

What types of trials are currently open

• Prevention trials — Testing immune therapies in people at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes, often family members of those with the disease.
• Immune intervention trials — Testing drugs that slow beta cell loss in people recently diagnosed, aiming to preserve whatever insulin production remains.
• Cell therapy trials — Testing transplanted beta cells or stem cell-derived cells that make insulin, often with protective encapsulation to prevent immune rejection.
• Technology trials — Testing automated insulin delivery systems, continuous glucose monitors, and algorithms that predict blood sugar changes.
• Observational studies — Following people with type 1 diabetes to understand long-term complications, quality of life, and patterns in blood sugar control.