Effect of once weekly dulaglutide for juvenile type 2 Diabetes mellitus and obesity in Korea: a Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects and side effects of once weekly dulaglutide treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients under the age of 18 years in Korea.

METHODS: From the Eulji University Hospital database, we identified all patients under the age of 18 years diagnosed with T2DM and treated with dulaglutide from January 1, 2017 to July 31, 2022.

RESULTS: We identified five patients under the age of 18 years treated with dulaglutide for T2DM management. Their mean (SD) age was 16.6 (0.5) years. Four (80%) patients were female. The mean (SD) body mass index was 29.4 kg/m2 (5.1 kg/m2), and the mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 15.2 (1.6) years. Four among them were treated previously with metformin alone or with insulin. Four patients were treated with 1.5 mg dulaglutide and one with 0.7 mg dulaglutide. The mean (SD) HbA1c at baseline was 10.0% (2.2%), at three months of treatment 6.5% (1.5%), and at one year after treatment 6.7% (1.4%), with significant difference. At baseline, the mean (SD) bodyweight was 79.7 kg (13.3 kg), at three months after treatment 80.2 kg (14.0 kg), and at one year after treatment 81.1 kg (15.3 kg), with no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS: Use of once weekly dulaglutide for juvenile T2DM had very good glycemic control, with little side effects and good adherence, indicating the potential of dulaglutide as a promising therapeutic agent in this age group. Nationwide studies are warranted to confirm these results.