Type 2 diabetes treatment has been transformed by GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medications, which lower blood sugar while also producing major weight loss and reducing heart and kidney complications. Many patients now achieve diabetes remission with combinations of medication, weight loss, and lifestyle changes.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing newer once-weekly and oral hormone-based drugs, combinations aimed at remission, smart insulin pumps and closed-loop systems, and treatments to protect kidneys and the heart. Research also focuses on diabetes prevention in people with prediabetes and on disparities in how the disease affects different communities.
GLP-1 and dual agonists
Newer drugs combining GLP-1 with GIP or glucagon are producing larger drops in blood sugar and weight than any prior diabetes medication. Several are pills or once-monthly shots in late-stage trials.
Heart and kidney protection
SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 drugs reduce heart attacks, kidney decline, and heart failure hospitalizations. Trials are mapping out exactly when and how to start them.
Diabetes remission
Studies show many people can achieve normal blood sugar without medication through significant weight loss from diet, surgery, or new drugs. Trials are testing how durable remission can be.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on A1c level, BMI, kidney function, current medications, and presence of complications like heart disease or kidney disease.
What types of trials are currently open
- New medication trials — Testing new diabetes drugs, often hormone-based pills or longer-acting injections, to see how well they lower blood sugar and weight.
- Device trials — Studies of continuous glucose monitors, smart insulin pumps, and closed-loop systems.
- Lifestyle and behavior trials — Testing diet, exercise, and coaching programs aimed at improving blood sugar or achieving remission.
- Prevention trials — Testing medications and lifestyle programs in people with prediabetes to keep them from progressing.
- Surgical trials — Studies of bariatric and metabolic surgery for diabetes, including newer endoscopic procedures.
Recently added Type 2 Diabetes trials
Function of Beta Cells in Early-onset Diabetes Mellitus
* Research objectives: Evaluate and compare the clinical and paraclinical characteristics, complications, as well as the changes in beta cell function and HbA1C levels between two patient groups over a one-year follow-up period. +Research design: This is a prospective cohort study, monitoring patients at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. * Study Population and Sample Size: The study is planned to be conducted on 296 Vietnamese patients (accounting for a 20% dropout rate) who are being examined at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. * Key Evaluation Indicators: The function of beta cells and insulin resistance status are measured through the indices of HOMA-B, HOMA-IR, fasting C-peptide levels, and HbA1C levels. * Time and location: The study will be conducted from February 2025 to February 2028 at the Endocrinology Clinic, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City.
Effects of Short and Long Courses of Intermittent Hypoxic-Hyperoxic Training in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Including Elderly
This is a single-center randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of short (3 days) versus long (10 days) courses of intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic training (IHHT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 50-74 years. Participants will be randomized into three groups: 3-day IHHT course (n≥100), 10-day IHHT course (n≥100), or control group receiving gas mixture with constant O2 21% for 10 days (n≥50). The primary outcomes are fasting glucose levels and HbA1c. Secondary outcomes include cardiovascular parameters, quality of life, cognitive function, and biological age.
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