Insulin is essential for diabetes management, but its stability can be affected by temperature, handling, and storage conditions. These factors may impact its effectiveness, yet current testing methods do not always detect these changes accurately.

The project Beyond Diagnostics is focused on understanding insulin instability and its impact on treatment outcomes. By using advanced analytical techniques, we investigate how insulin structure and activity change over time, aiming to improve storage recommendations and administration guidelines.

This research contributes to better diabetes care by ensuring insulin remains effective when used. Our findings will help healthcare professionals and people with diabetes make informed decisions, reduce insulin waste, and support innovation in diabetes treatment.

Project Team: Dr. Maren Schinz, Dr. Stefanie Dobitz, Danai Kokona
Funding: Diabetes Center Berne Foundation, Innosuisse Innovation project

Innovative approaches to combination therapy in type 1 Diabetes

Glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains a challenge, with ~32% of adults in Switzerland achieving an A1c target of <7%. The dual glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1RAs has emerged as promising therapy in T1D. Retrospective studies have shown people with T1D can significantly improve glycemic control with a reduction in insulin dose and body weight when long-acting GLP-1RAs or GIP/GLP-1RAs are added to insulin therapy.

This study will assess glycemic control in people with T1D on a stable dose of long-acting GIP/GLP-1RA (Tirzepatide) as an adjuvant therapy to automated insulin delivery (AID). We are conducting a prospective, parallel, open-label, randomized clinical trial to test the hypothesis that available AID systems combined with GIP/GLP-1RA will lead to safe and more efficacious glycemic control than Standard of Care (SoC) during the assessment period. The outcome of this study will provide unique data about the safety and efficacy of using GIP/GLP1-RA as adjuvant therapy to AID systems. 

Sponsor: Prof. José García-Tirado, PhD – University of Berne
Principal investigator: PD Dr. med. Thomas Züger, Chief Physician – Kantonsspital Olten
Funding: Internal funds