Beyond glycaemic control: A cross‐over, double‐blinded, 24‐week intervention with liraglutide in type 1 diabetes

Aims To investigate the effects of 24 weeks of treatment with liraglutide added to basal/bolus insulin on anthropometric and metabolic parameters in overweight participants with type 1 diabetes. Methods In a double‐blinded cross‐over fashion, 15 participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive placebo (saline solution) or liraglutide for 24 weeks including a 1‐month titration period from 0.6 to 1.2 to 1.8 mg, in addition to their insulin. The treatment was followed by a 1‐month wash‐out period. Participants were then assigned to the other treatment for another 24 weeks. Paired rank tests were used to compare the metabolic parameters. Results There was no treatment effect on HbA1c nor on insulin dose. Heart rate was increased by about 8 beats per minute with liraglutide. There were significant reductions in metabolic measures: weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, body fatness, computed tomography scan abdominal and mid‐thigh measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (all P ≤ .05). There was no increase in time spent in hypoglycaemia with liraglutide. Conclusions The addition of liraglutide to basal/bolus insulin therapy for 24 weeks in overweight/obese individuals with type 1 diabetes improved the anthropometric and metabolic profiles without an increase in hypoglycaemia. Clinical Trials.gov No: NCT01787916.