Combined GLP-1 Receptor Agonist and Amylin Analogue Pharmacotherapy to Treat Obesity Comorbid With Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with obesity is increasingly common, prompting effective clinical interventions to induce weight loss in this population. We present 3 patients with T1DM and obesity prescribed a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) and pramlintide. Case 1: A 32-year-old male with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who lost −20.9 kg (−16.1% of total body weight [TBW]) over 10 months on semaglutide and pramlintide. Case 2: A 68-year-old female with diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and depression/anxiety initially treated with topiramate, losing −8.4 kg, but experiencing weight plateau. After adding dulaglutide and pramlintide, she lost an additional −12.8 kg (−14.0% TBW) over 7 months, with total weight loss of −21.2 kg (−23.1% TBW). Case 3: A 49-year-old female with hypertension, hypothyroidism, and depression who lost −14.6 kg (−17.9% TBW) over 6 months on semaglutide and pramlintide. No significant side effects were experienced. All patients reported decreased insulin requirements on pramlintide, and hemoglobin A1c levels remained constant or decreased throughout the treatment period. Pramlintide and GLP-1RA resulted in excellent weight loss in our patients with obesity and T1DM. This combination may have a synergistic effect on the gut-brain axis. More research is required to substantiate these findings.