Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham showed a blood pressure drug reverses diabetes in mice. The drug in question: verapamil.
The group of researchers have found that verapamil reduces TXNIP levels, a protein that is overproduced when blood sugar levels are high, which is then increased in pancreatic beta cells. Too much TXNIP in the beta cells leads to their death, and in turn a lack of production of insulin, leading to the progression of diabetes. Verapamil was found to lower the levels of TXNIP in mice beta cells and in in turn the levels of blood glucose to the point of eradicating the disease.
The Clinical Trial
The researchers received a grant of $2.1 million with plans to begin clinical trials and see if it can do the same for humans. They have based the trial on the idea that verapamil will promote beta cells recovery, production of more insulin and ultimately blood sugar control.
The trial, titled “Verapamil for Beta Cell Survival Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes”, started in February 20, 2015 and after almost two years it’s still recruiting participants. So far, 20 adults with type 1 diabetes have enrolled to see if 12 months of verapamil will increase insulin production.
The fist data shows that patients with type 1 diabetes or late-stage type 2 diabetes who took verapamil, had fasting serum glucose levels lower than patients who did not receive verapamil.
