In this series we take a look at some of the exciting diabetes research developments announced recently, and what the findings could mean for people living with or affected by diabetes.
This month, we bring to you highlights from the annual European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference in September, where diabetes researchers from across the world presented their latest breakthroughs.
In this month's article:
- World’s first clinical practice guideline for diabetes distress
- Fully closed loop systems show benefits for type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- GLP-1 pill helps people lose weight
- Mounjaro improves blood sugar control in children with type 2
World's first clinical practice guideline for diabetes distress
The world’s first clinical practice guideline focused on diabetes distress was launched at the EASD, underpinned by our-funded research.
Because mental and physical health are closely linked, people with diabetes need support for both. But despite being common, diabetes distress isn’t yet routinely addressed in care.
Researchers, healthcare professionals, and people living with diabetes have come together to co-develop this new guideline. And around 240 research studies have been reviewed to ensure the recommendations are backed by scientific evidence.
Informed by insights from our landmark D-Stress study, the draft guideline recommends a standard approach so healthcare professionals know what to look for and how to support adults with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes experiencing diabetes distress.
This includes asking open-ended questions at every appointment about how people with diabetes are coping emotionally, not just reviewing treatment or numbers.
As well as using validated tools to assess distress, recording results as part of the annual care cycle, and working with each person to agree on tailored support and follow-up.
The guideline also sums up the effectiveness of psychological, psychoeducational, educational, peer support, and technology-based interventions for reducing diabetes distress.
The launch of this guideline marks an important step in recognising and addressing the emotional challenges of living with diabetes.
The draft guideline is now open for consultation until 31 October 2025 – to get input from people affected by diabetes and healthcare professionals, before being finalised.
Fully closed loop systems show benefits for type 1 and type 2 diabetes
A hybrid closed loop system combines an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that ‘talk to each other’ to automate some insulin delivery.
This technology is already transforming type 1 diabetes care, but it still relies on users to count carbs and give insulin at meals.
To further reduce this burden, researchers at the University of Cambridge have been testing a fully closed loop system, designed to automate all insulin delivery, including mealtime boluses. The team shared results from a series of trials using their CamAPS HX system at this year’s EASD.
In one study, 26 adults with type 1 diabetes and high HbA1c levels (above 8%/64 mmol/mol) compared the fully closed loop system with standard pump plus CGM therapy. The system enabled participants to:
- Spend three extra hours each day in target range
- Lower their average glucose and HbA1c
- Avoid severe hypos or diabetic ketoacidosis
- Experience less stress around meals, better sleep, improved mood, and reduced mental load.
A similar trial with 24 teenagers aged 13 to 19 reported similar improvements. Young people described feeling freer and less worried about their diabetes, with benefits for sports, social life, and overall well-being.
Looking ahead, we’re funding the Cambridge team to further investigate why fully closed loop works better for some people with type 1 than others. They’re also running a larger international trial to gather evidence on long-term outcomes, including complications and the experiences of underserved communities.
Fully closed loop systems could also be transformative for people with type 2 diabetes who use insulin.
Day-to-day insulin needs can vary in people with type 2, making blood sugar management particularly challenging. Around half of those using insulin do not meet recommended time-in-range targets, putting them at risk of hypos and long-term complications.
The Cambridge team have tested their fully closed loop system in 26 adults with type 2 diabetes who required insulin. Participants spent eight additional hours each day in range compared with usual insulin therapy. Another study with people with type 2 who also had kidney failure found an extra 3.5 hours in range.
As people with type 2 have less experience with diabetes technology, participants from both trials highlighted no need for fingerpicking or injecting as a significant benefit, on top of improved quality of life and confidence in managing their diabetes.
We’re now funding the team to test the technology in a more diverse and representative group of people with type 2 diabetes. This can help to make sure unfair and unacceptable inequities are avoided in the potential future roll out of closed loop tech for people with type 2 diabetes.
GLP-1 pill helps people lose weight
Results from a major trial found that a once-daily oral GLP-1 agonist medication, called Orforglipron, led to substantial weight loss in people living with obesity, who did not have type 2 diabetes.
GLP-1 agonists are used to manage blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and to manage weight for people living with overweight or obesity. There are many different types of GLP-1s already available, but they’re all taken as injections.
In their clinical trial, an international research team examined the safety and effectiveness of Orforglipron with 3,127 people living with obesity. Over 72 weeks, participants took daily doses of Orforglipron – either 6mg, 12mg, or 36mg – or a placebo, alongside a healthy diet and physical activity.
At 72 weeks, participants in all three Orforglipron dose groups had reduced body weights.
- 6 mg dose: average weight loss of 7.5%
- 12 mg dose: 8.4%
- 36 mg dose: 11.2%
- Placebo: 2.1%
People taking Orforglipron also saw improvements in waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood fats. Alongside weight loss, these factors can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The side effects of Orforglipron were mostly mild or moderate and linked to digestive issues.
Because some people find injectable GLP-1s difficult to start or stick with, an oral pill is important as it could make treatment easier for many.
Dougie Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said:
"We already know GLP-1 medications, alongside appropriate support, can be an effective tool for weight loss, so it's encouraging to see the results of this trial. The potential to make GLP-1 medications more widely accessible, as a daily pill could support more people to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and help tackle the impact of ill health caused by obesity."
Further studies are needed to see if Orforglipron could also help manage blood sugar levels in people living with type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro improves blood sugar control in children with type 2
Results of a clinical trial presented at EASD and published in The Lancet show Mounjaro, the brand name for tirzepatide, improved blood sugar control and weight loss in children and young people living with type 2 diabetes, whose existing treatments weren’t working well.
The number of children and young people developing type 2 diabetes in the UK is rapidly increasing. Type 2 diabetes is more aggressive in younger people, and they’re at greater risk of developing complications earlier than people diagnosed later in life.
But children and young people with type 2 have fewer and less effective treatment options than adults.
Tirzepatide is a once weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is already used for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity in adults.
Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine led the SURPASS-PEDS clinical trial to find out if the drug could also help children with type 2.
It involved 99 children and young people aged 10-17 years living with type 2 diabetes whose medications – metformin, insulin, or both – were not effectively controlling their blood sugar levels.
Over 30 weeks, they either took weekly doses of 5mg tirzepatide, 10mg tirzepatide, or a placebo alongside their existing medications. They were followed up for a year.
The researchers found tirzepatide improved HbA1c, fasting blood sugar levels, and body weights, with improvements continuing over the year. But in the placebo group, these factors hardly changed.
At 30 weeks, 79% of children and young people taking tirzepatide had HbA1c of less than 6.5%, compared to 29% in the placebo group.
Those who took 10mg tirzepatide had a 11.2% reduction in body weight, compared to 7.4% for the 5mg group, and 0.4% in the placebo group.
Side effects were mostly mild or moderate and stomach-related, which generally lessened over time.
Tirzepatide is the first drug for children and young people with type 2 diabetes to show meaningful improvements in both blood sugar control and weight loss over time.
Nikki Joule, Policy Manager at Diabetes UK, said:
“Type 2 diabetes continues to rise at an alarming rate, particularly in children and young people where the condition is more aggressive, leading to devastating long-term complications. Yet treatments for children and young people with type 2 diabetes are limited and often less effective. This promising study highlights tirzepatide as a much-needed potential option that could help improve how we treat and care for young people with type 2 diabetes."
