The GLP-1 derivative NN2211 restores beta-cell sensitivity to glucose in type 2 diabetic patients after a single dose

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Glucagon and Liraglutide, published as a randomized controlled trial.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) stimulates insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, but its short half-life limits its therapeutic potential.

Insulin secretion rates (ISRs) were estimated by deconvolution of C-peptide levels.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 10 subjects taking part.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Glucagon and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the subjects nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Glucagon, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Glucagon could be set against what happens without it.

In the crossover set-up each of the subjects took both Glucagon and the comparison in turn, acting as their own control.

What Was Measured

Insulin secretion rates (ISRs) were estimated by deconvolution of C-peptide levels.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Glucagon, Glucagon-Like Peptide 1, Glucose Clamp Technique, Liraglutide and Peptide Fragments.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Glucagon and Liraglutide in 10 subjects.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2003 (Diabetes), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Glucagon compound page and the Liraglutide compound page.