Understanding Heart Disease Risks in People with Well-Controlled Type 1 Diabetes
Official title: Characterization of risk factors for excessive cardiovascular diseases (CVD) from circulating and cardiovascular tissues of people with well-controlled chronic type 1 diabetes
Funded at Joslin Diabetes Center · NIH-11194457 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why people with Type 1 diabetes might still get heart disease, even when their other health factors are well-managed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,020,124 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK142331-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194457 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant to people with Type 1 diabetes, especially those who have lived with the condition for a long time and are concerned about heart disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Type 1 diabetes or those not at risk for cardiovascular complications may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) often face a higher risk of heart disease, even when their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are well-controlled. This research aims to uncover the specific reasons behind this accelerated risk by examining heart and blood vessel tissues, as well as blood samples, from individuals with T1D. Researchers are looking for unique markers like advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), inflammatory signals, and specific autoantibodies that might contribute to heart problems. The goal is to identify new pathways that lead to heart disease in T1D, beyond what we currently understand.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict, prevent, or treat heart disease specifically for people living with Type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that people with long-term Type 1 diabetes can have accelerated hardening of the arteries despite good diabetes management, suggesting this approach builds on existing observations.
Where this research is happening
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Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: King, George L — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: King, George L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Investigating cardiovascular disease risks in people with well-controlled type 1 diabetes
This study is looking into why people with well-managed type 1 diabetes still have a higher chance of heart problems, by comparing their heart and blood samples with those from people with type 2 diabetes and those without diabetes, to find out what makes their risks different.
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Understanding heart disease in people with long-term Type 1 diabetes
This study is looking at how heart disease develops in people who have had Type 1 diabetes for a long time, to find out what makes their risk different from those with Type 2 diabetes, and it’s for anyone with a long history of Type 1 diabetes who wants to understand more about their heart health.
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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.
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Lifelong factors affecting brain health in type 1 diabetes (CLARiFY)
This project follows people who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in childhood into adulthood to find which lifelong health and lifestyle factors link to brain changes and thinking problems.
-
Understanding and treating obesity in young people with type 1 diabetes
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.
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.