A team of scientists in Sweden has found a new drug that may help people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
This drug could lower blood sugar and help the body burn more fat—without causing the usual side effects like muscle loss or reduced appetite.
The study was published in the journal Cell by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease that affects how the body uses sugar. People with this condition cannot use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels over time.
Obesity, which means being very overweight, often happens alongside type 2 diabetes. Together, these problems can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and many other health issues.
Right now, many people use a type of medicine called GLP-1 drugs to treat both type 2 diabetes and obesity. These include well-known medicines like Ozempic. They are usually given as injections and work by changing how the brain and gut communicate.
While GLP-1 drugs can help lower blood sugar and support weight loss, they also cause side effects like tiredness, nausea, muscle loss, and stomach problems.
The new drug from this study works differently. It comes in the form of a pill and activates the metabolism in muscles instead of affecting the brain or gut. It helps muscles burn sugar and fat more effectively. In tests on animals, the drug improved blood sugar and supported fat burning, with no serious side effects.
To see if the drug is safe for humans, scientists conducted a small study. It included 48 healthy people and 25 people with type 2 diabetes. All of them tolerated the drug well, and none experienced serious side effects.
One of the lead scientists, Professor Tore Bengtsson from Stockholm University, said that this discovery could be a big step forward. He explained that muscle mass is very important for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Keeping muscles strong can help people stay healthy and live longer. This new drug might support that goal.
The drug is based on a synthetic molecule that works in a way similar to β2 agonists. These drugs are often used for breathing conditions like asthma but can raise heart rate too much. However, the new drug has been designed to avoid this issue. It boosts muscle activity without affecting the heart.
Another researcher, Dr. Shane Wright from Karolinska Institutet, pointed out that the drug is easier to take because it’s a pill. He also said that it could be used along with GLP-1 drugs since they work in different ways. This could give doctors more tools to help their patients.
The drug is being developed by a company called Atrogi AB. They plan to start a larger clinical trial soon to test the drug in more people with type 2 diabetes or obesity. The goal is to see if it works as well in bigger groups as it did in the early trials.
The study is the result of collaboration between scientists from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, and Uppsala University in Sweden, as well as universities in Denmark and Australia.
In summary, the new drug shows early promise in helping people manage type 2 diabetes and obesity. It could lower blood sugar, help with weight loss, and protect muscle mass—all without the common side effects of current treatments.
Early trials show it is safe, but more research is needed. If future studies are successful, this new pill could offer an easier and more effective way to manage long-term health.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about This drug combo can treat type 2 diabetes in the long run effectively and findings of Eating fewer than 3 meals a day may help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
For more about diabetes, please read studies about How to choosing the right fruits for type 2 diabetes and findings of New higher dose diabetes drug promises better blood sugar control and weight loss.
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