Scientists from the St Vincent Institute of Medical Research in Australia have found that a drug commonly prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis can suppress the progression of type 1 diabetes. results published In New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
A study involving volunteers showed that the drug Baricitinib helps diabetics’ bodies produce their own insulin. 91 people participated in the experiment. The scientists divided the volunteers into two groups: The first received Baricitinib for a year, and the second received a placebo. All subjects were between 10 and 30 years of age and began participating within 100 days of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Participants continued insulin therapy throughout the experiment. The researchers tracked the total daily dose of insulin provided by the drugs, the amount produced endogenously (by the person’s own pancreas), and blood sugar and HbA1c levels. HbA1c (or glycated hemoglobin) is a measure of the average blood sugar concentration over the past two to three months.
Upon completion of the trial, it turned out that thanks to taking Baricitinib, the blood sugar levels of the participants in the first group returned to normal. In addition, the drug managed to stimulate the body’s own insulin production. The study authors explained that the drug protects insulin-producing cells from destruction by the immune system. They hope that this method used in diabetes treatment will be accepted by the scientific community and become widespread.
Previously was named A new risk factor for diabetes in women.