Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects roughly 1.25 million Americans and over 10 million people globally. The condition is caused by an autoimmune response that destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to a host of complications, including vision problems, kidney damage, and nerve damage.

Treatment options for type 1 diabetes

The standard treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin therapy, which involves injecting synthetic insulin into the body.

The goal of insulin therapy is to regulate blood glucose levels and prevent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) as well as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

While insulin therapy is effective at managing blood glucose levels, it does not address the underlying cause of the disease or prevent the complications associated with it.

Moreover, insulin therapy comes with a host of side effects, including weight gain, hypoglycemia, and injection site reactions.

Exploring unapproved drug indications for type 1 diabetes

In recent years, researchers have been exploring the use of drugs approved for other conditions to treat type 1 diabetes.

These drugs target different aspects of the disease, including the immune response, beta cell regeneration, and glucose regulation.

Immune modulators

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. Immune modulators are drugs that adjust the immune response to prevent or reduce the damage caused by the immune system.

Several immune modulators have shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies. One such drug is abatacept, which is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abatacept works by blocking the activation of T cells, which are immune cells that play a key role in autoimmune disease.

Another immune modulator that has been studied is teplizumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets a protein called CD3. CD3 is found on the surface of T cells and plays a crucial role in their activation.

By blocking CD3, teplizumab can reduce the number of T cells that attack beta cells in the pancreas.

Beta cell regeneration

The destruction of beta cells is a hallmark of type 1 diabetes. Researchers have been exploring ways to regenerate beta cells to restore insulin production in the pancreas.

One drug that has shown promise in this area is verapamil, a calcium channel blocker that is approved for the treatment of hypertension and angina. Verapamil has been shown to stimulate the proliferation of beta cells in animal models of diabetes.

A clinical trial is currently underway to test the safety and efficacy of verapamil in humans with type 1 diabetes.

Glucose regulation

In addition to insulin therapy, several other drugs are approved for the treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. These drugs work by different mechanisms to regulate blood glucose levels.

One such drug is metformin, which is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Metformin works by reducing glucose production in the liver and increasing glucose uptake in the muscles.

Some studies have shown that metformin may also be effective in type 1 diabetes by reducing insulin resistance and improving glucose control.

Conclusion

Type 1 diabetes is a complex disease that requires lifelong management. While insulin therapy is effective at controlling blood glucose levels, it does not address the underlying cause of the disease or prevent its complications.

Researchers are exploring the use of drugs approved for other conditions to treat type 1 diabetes by targeting different aspects of the disease. While these drugs show promise, more research is needed to determine their safety and efficacy in humans with type 1 diabetes.