One week's treatment with the long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 derivative liraglutide (NN2211) markedly improves 24-h glycemia and alpha- and beta-cell function and reduces endogenous glucose release in patients with type 2 diabetes

What Was Tested

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

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is potentially a very attractive agent for treating type 2 diabetes.

The researchers explored the effect of short-term (1 week) treatment with a GLP-1 derivative, liraglutide (NN2211), on 24-h dynamics in glycemia and circulating free fatty acids, islet cell hormone profiles, and gastric emptying during meals using acetaminophen.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 13 patients were involved.

PubMed indexes the participants as middle-aged adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

The patients were allocated by chance, so the Glucagon group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Blinding on both sides kept the patients and researchers unaware of who received Glucagon.

Some patients received a placebo instead of Glucagon, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Glucagon and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Circadian Rhythm, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Gastric Emptying, Glucagon, Glucagon-Like Peptide 1, Glucose and Hormones.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Glucagon and Liraglutide in 13 patients.

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 2004 (Diabetes), a journal based in United States.

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