Clinical Trial Awareness: 5 Breakthrough Clinical Trials Bringing New Insights to Diabetes Care
Diabetes Awareness Month is a reminder of what life with diabetes really looks like—daily decisions, routines, and small adjustments that never take a day off. The theme for 2024–2026, “Diabetes and Well-being,” focuses on the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of care that shape daily life for millions around the world.
Just over a century ago, diabetes was almost always fatal. That changed in 1921, when Dr. Frederick Banting and Charles Best at the University of Toronto discovered insulin, turning what was once a hopeless diagnosis into a treatable condition. Their work opened the door to a century of progress and possibility.
Today, more than 589 million people live with diabetes, a number projected to rise to 853 million by 2050. Yet there’s more hope than ever. From GLP-1 receptor agonists to stem cell therapies and smart insulins, science continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in diabetes care.
None of these advances happens in isolation—they depend on the courage of people who take part in clinical trials. At TrialX, we help connect those individuals with the research that drives change forward.
In this blog, we’ll explore five exciting diabetes clinical trials that are currently recruiting.
1. MODY-Lira: A Clinical Trial Testing Liraglutide for Rare Diabetes
Sponsor: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
The MODY-Lira Study is exploring how liraglutide, a medication already used for Type 2 diabetes, works in people with Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) — a rare, inherited form of diabetes. Researchers want to learn whether liraglutide can improve not just blood sugar control, but also digestive issues that many people with MODY experience, such as nausea or bloating.
Why It Stands Out
This study is unique because it looks beyond traditional diabetes treatment. By using participants’ cells to create lab-grown stem cells (iPSCs), scientists can study how MODY affects the gut and hormone regulation at a cellular level. It’s a rare combination of clinical care and lab science aimed at uncovering the root causes of MODY-related complications.
What It Could Mean for Patients
For people with MODY, treatment options are limited. If liraglutide proves effective, it could offer a new therapy that eases both blood sugar and digestive symptoms, helping patients feel better day-to-day and giving doctors new insight into this uncommon form of diabetes.
Location- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio, USA.
Learn more or find out if you may be eligible to participate.
2. Exploring Ultrasound Neuromodulation to Improve Blood Sugar Control in Type 2 Diabetes
Sponsor- Yale University
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
This study is exploring whether ultrasound stimulation to the liver can improve how the body responds to insulin in people with Type 2 diabetes. Instead of adding new medications, researchers are testing if gentle, targeted sound waves can activate nerve pathways that naturally help regulate blood sugar.
Why It Stands Out
This is one of the first studies to use neuromodulation through ultrasound to influence metabolism. The approach is completely noninvasive, using safe ultrasound pulses similar to those in medical imaging. By pairing ultrasound with precise monitoring tools—like glucose tolerance tests, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and metabolic scans—researchers can track exactly how the treatment affects insulin sensitivity and glucose levels in real time.
What It Could Mean for Patients
If successful, this research could open the door to a new, drug-free therapy for Type 2 diabetes, helping patients improve insulin sensitivity without added medication or injections. Using the body’s own nerve signals to restore balance, this trial could make diabetes management safer, easier, and more sustainable.
Location-Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.
Learn more and check your eligibility here.
3. The GLP-1 Study: Protecting Blood Vessels During Low Blood Sugar in Type 1 Diabetes
Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
This study is testing whether glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)—a natural hormone already used to treat Type 2 diabetes—can also protect the heart and blood vessels in people with Type 1 diabetes during repeated episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Low blood sugar can strain the cardiovascular system and trigger inflammation or clotting, increasing long-term health risks. Researchers believe that GLP-1, when given during these episodes, may shield blood vessels and reduce damage, offering a new kind of protection for people managing Type 1 diabetes.
Why It’s a Breakthrough
While GLP-1 therapies are widely known for improving blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes, this is one of the first studies exploring its vascular-protective effects in Type 1 diabetes—a group that does not typically benefit from GLP-1 treatments. If proven effective, this could redefine how clinicians think about GLP-1, expanding its role from blood sugar control to heart and vascular protection. It’s also the first to test whether GLP-1 can counteract the body’s harmful responses to repeated hypoglycemia, a major unmet need in diabetes care.
What It Could Mean for Patients
For people with Type 1 diabetes, this research could pave the way for dual-action therapies that both regulate glucose and protect cardiovascular health. It could help prevent hypoglycemia-related complications and make diabetes management safer and more effective in the long run.
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD (USA)
Click here to learn more about this study.
4. Testing AI-Powered Support to Personalize Diabetes Treatment- The TREAT2D Study
Sponsor: University of Virginia
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
The TREAT2D study is testing a new Patient-Centered Multi-Agent Decision Support System (PCM-DSS) — an AI-powered tool designed to help doctors fine-tune treatment for people with Type 2 diabetes who use insulin and multiple diabetes medications. Managing Type 2 diabetes often means juggling several drugs and complex glucose data. PCM-DSS aims to simplify this by helping physicians make data-driven treatment decisions based on real-time readings from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
Why It’s a Breakthrough
The TREAT2D study marks one of the first real-world tests of a multi-agent AI system for diabetes care. Unlike existing tools that track glucose, this system analyzes multiple factors—including insulin use, glucose trends, and medication combinations—to recommend tailored adjustments. By integrating patient data directly into physician workflows, PCM-DSS represents a shift toward AI-assisted clinical decision-making, potentially transforming how diabetes is managed in everyday practice.
What It Could Mean for Patients
PCM-DSS could empower healthcare providers to optimize complex treatment plans faster and with more accuracy, improving blood sugar outcomes and reducing diabetes-related distress. For patients, it could mean fewer trial-and-error adjustments, more confidence in treatment, and a care experience that truly adapts to their daily life.
Location- University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology, Charlottesville, VA (USA)
View study details and check your eligibility.
5. Bionic Pancreas in CFRD: Automating Diabetes Care for People with Cystic Fibrosis
Sponsor: Jaeb Center for Health Research
What the Study Is Testing
This Phase 3 trial is testing the iLet Bionic Pancreas, an automated insulin delivery system designed to manage blood sugar without constant user input. It’s being compared against usual insulin care in people with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) — a challenging condition where both cystic fibrosis and diabetes need to be managed together.
Why It’s a Breakthrough
Unlike current insulin pumps that require users to set doses, the iLet system “thinks” for the user, adapting insulin delivery through intelligent algorithms and continuous glucose monitoring. It could become the first fully automated insulin system specifically tested in CFRD, potentially redefining diabetes management.
What It Could Mean for Patients
Managing CFRD often requires careful balancing of insulin doses, diet, and cystic fibrosis therapies — a process that can be overwhelming. If successful, the bionic pancreas could relieve much of this daily burden, automatically adjusting insulin levels using real-time glucose readings. For patients, this means fewer fingersticks, fewer calculations, and better glucose control with less stress.
Location- Recruiting participants across multiple U.S. centers, including:
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA
- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
View the full study and eligibility details here.
Together for a Healthier Future
Every clinical trial brings us a step closer to better care and a deeper understanding of diabetes. Behind every breakthrough are real people—patients, families, and researchers—working together to make life easier for those living with the condition.
If you want to learn more or get involved, explore trusted resources like the American Diabetes Association, International Diabetes Federation, or World Diabetes Association. You can also visit TrialX.com to find diabetes clinical trials near you or sign up for our volunteer registry to get notified about the latest research opportunities.
