Effect of Linagliptin on Incretin-axis and Glycaemic Variability in T1DM

Short-term studies have demonstrated potential therapeutic efficacy of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4 inhibitors) in patients with poorly controlled T1DM. In this study we evaluated the effect of DPP4 inhibitor, linagliptin, on glycaemic control and variability, and incretinaxis in well controlled T1DM patients to mitigate the effect of glucotoxicity on incretin secreting cells.

Twenty T1DM patients were randomized to receive either linagliptin (10 patients, dose-5 mg/day) or placebo (10 patients), in addition to insulin for 3 months. HbA1C, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and mixed meal test (MMT) were performed before and at the end of the study period.

HbA1C reduction and change in glycaemic variability and insulin requirement in the linagliptin group did not attain the level of statistical significance. The increase in AUC GLP1 (Area under curve for GLP1) and decrease in AUC glucagon (Area under curve for glucagon) during the MMT in linagliptin group were also statistically insignificant.

Linagliptin is not effective in reducing HbA1C and glycaemic variability in relatively well controlled T1DM patients.