Heterogeneous response of estimated insulin sensitivity indices to metformin in young individuals with type 1 diabetes and different phenotypes

Abstract

Abstract Aims This study aimed to investigate whether the response to adding metformin to insulin in young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) differs according to weight phenotype and insulin sensitivity index. Methods A prospective pilot study was conducted over 26 weeks in which insulin plus metformin (2 g/day) was administered to 35 individuals, ranging from normal weight (NW) to overweight (OW) to obese (OB) T1D individuals, to correlate insulin sensitivity indices and other clinical variables. Results At the end of the follow-up period, all groups showed an increase in the eGDR (NW: 7.37 vs 8.16, p = 0.002; OW: 7.28 vs 8.24, p < 0.001; OB: 6.33 vs 7.52 p < 0.001). KITT and SEARCH SCORE improved only in the OB group (2.15 vs 3.14, p < 0.001 and 5.26 vs 5.72, p = 0.007, respectively). Furthermore, HbA1c and BMI were significantly greater in the OB group (− 0.62%, p < 0.001; − 1.12 kg/m2, p = 0.031, respectively). Regression analysis revealed that the serum levels of triglycerides and uric acid were significantly (0.059, p = 0.013; 0.076, p = 0.001) associated with insulin sensitivity indices. Conclusions The study showed that eGDR improved independently of basal weight after metformin treatment. However, the KITT and SEARCH indices improved only in the obese group. Triglycerides and uric acid are associated with insulin sensitivity indices. These results highlight the heterogeneity of the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and its response to metformin in individuals with T1D.