Study highlights possible knowledge gap over effects of some diabetes drugs

A gap in scientific knowledge about a family of drugs that are used to treat Type 2 diabetes has been highlighted in a new study.

Researchers behind the study say that while their results are speculative at this stage, they point to a lack of complete information about the potential impact of a group of treatments known as GLP-1 agonists, or incretin mimetics.

In particular, their survey found that one such treatment has the hitherto unrecognised potential to activate receptor sites for the hormone, glucagon. This can promote the release of sugars into the blood, which is a process that GLP-1 agonists are supposed to prevent.

The paper, which is published in the Journal Of Biological Chemistry, stresses that these are only initial findings, and that more in-depth research will be needed before "definitive conclusions can be drawn" about the existing results.