Understanding and treating obesity in young people with type 1 diabetes
Official title: Obesity complicating type 1 diabetes in young people: Physiology and Impact of GLP-1 analogue anti-obesity treatment on cardiometabolic risk factors
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11126759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how a medication for obesity, called a GLP-1 analogue, helps young people with type 1 diabetes manage their weight and reduce heart-related health risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $725,290 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134398-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young people, including adolescents and young adults, who have type 1 diabetes and are also experiencing obesity or overweight.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have type 1 diabetes or who are not in the adolescent and young adult age range may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We want to understand how obesity affects young people who also have type 1 diabetes, especially regarding their heart health. Our team will use special scans, like MRI and DEXA, to look at body fat distribution and overall body composition. We will also perform tests to see how the body handles sugar and fats. The goal is to see if a GLP-1 analogue medication can improve these health markers and reduce future risks for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to manage obesity and reduce the risk of heart disease in young people living with type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggests that young people with type 1 diabetes often have high visceral fat, and GLP-1 analogues are already used for obesity treatment, indicating this builds on existing knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Name, Michelle — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Van Name, Michelle
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Obesity and GLP-1 treatment in young people with type 1 diabetes
A study in teens and young adults with type 1 diabetes and obesity will look at how a GLP-1–based obesity medicine affects body fat distribution, insulin resistance, and lipids.
-
Investigating the effects of a medication for obesity on heart and metabolic health in young people with type 1 diabetes
This study is looking at how a special medication can help young people with type 1 diabetes manage their weight and improve their health, by checking things like body fat and how their bodies use insulin.
-
Low-cost, heat-stable GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists produced in maize for diabetes and obesity
This project aims to make affordable, heat-stable versions of diabetes and obesity medicines using corn plants.
-
Understanding what raises heart disease risk in people with well-controlled type 1 diabetes
Researchers are studying why some people with type 1 diabetes still develop heart disease even when traditional risk factors are controlled.
-
Comparing bariatric (weight‑loss) surgery with GLP‑1 and SGLT‑2 diabetes medicines for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes
This project compares long-term benefits and safety of weight‑loss surgery versus GLP‑1 and SGLT‑2 diabetes medicines for adults who have obesity and type 2 diabetes.
-
Understanding Heart Disease Risks in People with Well-Controlled Type 1 Diabetes
This project looks at why people with Type 1 diabetes might still get heart disease, even when their other health factors are well-managed.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.