Normal-weight Diabetes: Adipocyte-directed Therapy With Pioglitazone or Tirzepatide
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 30 Years to 70 Years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
This study is to investigate how adipocyte (fat cell) function and fat distribution differ between individuals with normal-weight type 2 diabetes (NWD), those with overweight type 2 diabetes (OWD), and normal-weight controls without diabetes (NWC). The study will assess whether adipocyte-directed therapies, specifically pioglitazone and tirzepatide, can improve insulin resistance, adipocyte function, and fat distribution in individuals with NWD. By analyzing the biological mechanisms underlying adipocyte dysfunction, the study aims to provide insights into novel treatment strategies for improving metabolic health in normal-weight individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Normal-Weight Diabetes (NWD) Group: 1. Age: 30 to 70 years old. 2. Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D): Based on a previous diagnosis or confirmed by laboratory testing at screening (A1c \> 5.7% or fasting glucose \> 100 mg/dL). 3. HbA1c Range: Between 5.7% and 8%, with a stable medication or lifestyle regimen for at least 3 months. 4. BMI: Between 19 and 24.9 kg/m². 5. Diabetes Medications: All diabetes medications are allowed, except insulin and pioglitazone. GLP-1 receptor agonists are permitted if the dose has been stable for 3 months. 6. Stable Body Weight: Body weight must have been stable (no more than 2 kg change) over the last 3 months. Normal-Weight Control (NWC) Group: 1. Age: 30 to 70 years old. 2. No Diagnosis of Diabetes: Fasting plasma glucose \< 100 mg/dL and A1c \< 5.7%, with no history of glucose-lowering medications. 3. BMI: Between 19 and 24.9 kg/m². 4. Stable Body Weight: No more than 2 kg change over the past 3 months. - Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnancy or Lactation: Women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding are excluded due to potential risks to the fetus or infant. 2. Prior Use of Pioglitazone: Participants who have previously used pioglitazone are excluded to avoid confounding effects of prior drug exposure. 3. Unstable Body Weight: Individuals with a body weight change of more than 2 kg in the last 3 months are excluded to ensure stable metabolic conditions. 4. Liver or Kidney Disease: Participants with significant liver disease (ALT \> 3x upper limit of normal) or renal disease (creatinine \> 1.5 mg/dL) are excluded due to potential safety risks. 5. Congestive Heart Failure or Fluid Overload History: These conditions are exclusionary due to the risk of fluid retention with pioglitazone. 6. Uncontrolled Hypertension: Blood pressure \> 160/90 mmHg excludes participants due to increased cardiovascular risk. 7. Active Cancer: Individuals with a diagnosis of cancer in the past 3 years (except for skin cancer) are excluded. 8. Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Excluded due to potential effects on metabolic measurements. 9. Use of Weight Loss Medications: Those currently taking weight loss medications are excluded to prevent confounding effects on body weight and metabolic function. 10. Bariatric Surgery or Liposuction History: Participants who have had weight-loss surgeries or liposuction are excluded due to alterations in fat tissue and metabolic profiles. 11. Insulin Use: Participants using insulin are excluded to focus on non-insulin-dependent diabetes. 12. Active Psychiatric Disease or Eating Disorders: Individuals with these conditions are excluded due to potential impacts on study compliance and data integrity. 13. Substance Abuse: Participants with a history of substance abuse are excluded for similar reasons. \-
Study sites (2)
CA
- Stanford University · Palo Alto, CA 94304Nina Shenoy, BS · Study contact · 408-896-0134 · nshenoy8@stanford.eduAlisa Turner, BS · Study contact · 650-285-8855 · alturner@stanford.eduMore trials in Palo Alto
- Stanford University, Clinical and Translational Research Unit (CTRU) · Stanford, CA 94304Nina Shenoy, BS · Study contact · 408-896-0134 · nshenoy8@stanford.eduAlisa Turner, BS · Study contact · 650-285-8855 · alturner@stanford.eduTracey McLaughlin, MD · Principal investigatorMore trials in Stanford