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Taking people in United StatesPhase 1

Testing empagliflozin's effects on sugar and ketone production in type 2 diabetes

Tests empagliflozin against placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes, looking at ketones and glucose.

Key facts

Who runs it
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Where
San Antonio, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
SGLTi, Hepatic Glucose Production and Ketogenesis
Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 1
People taking part
30 people, planned
Started
5 Oct 2023
Expected to end
30 Jun 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a placebo (a dummy treatment), for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Empagliflozin 25 MG
  • Placebo
Record updated
17 July 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 30 to 75 with type 2 diabetes who are in general good health. Participants are treated with diet, metformin or a sulfonylurea, and can have a stable GLP1-RA or DPP-4 inhibitor.

Age
30 to 75 years
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Type 2 diabetes with HbA1c 7.0-11% (53–97 mmol/mol), BMI 21-45 kg/m2, eGFR above 60 ml/min/1.73m2, blood pressure 160/90 mmHg or lower.
Earlier treatment
Treated with diet, sulfonylureas, metformin, or sulfonylureas with metformin. A GLP1-RA must be at a stable dose for at least three months, and a DPP-4 inhibitor for at least two months. SGLT2 inhibitors must be stopped at least two months before enrolment. Statins are allowed at a stable dose for at least 3 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Treatment with thiazolidinediones (TZDs) or insulin
  • Other medicines known to affect glucose metabolism
  • Taking an SGLT2 inhibitor within 2 months of the screening visit
  • Proliferative retinopathy, or eGFR below 60
  • Women who can become pregnant and do not use appropriate contraception

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 18 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Ages 30-75
  • BMI (Body Mass Index) 21-45 kg/m2
  • HbA1c = 7.0-11%
  • eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)> 60 ml/min/1.73m2
  • Blood Pressure (BP)≤160/90 mmHg
  • Participants must be in general good health based on medical history, physical exam, screening blood chemistries, CBC (Complete Blood Count), TSH/T4 (thyroid/thyroxine hormone), EKG (electrocardiogram), and urinalysis (UA)
  • Stable body weight (±1.5 kg) over the last 3 months and must not participate in an excessively heavy exercise program
  • Patients treated with diet, Sulfonylureas, Metformin, or Sulfonylureas/Metformin (Sulfo/MET)
  • Participants receiving a Glucagon like peptide -1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) must be on a stable dose for at least three months prior to study enrollment
  • Participants receiving a Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitor) must be on a stable dose for at least two months prior to study enrollment
  • SGLT2 inhibitors must be discontinued at least two months prior to study enrollment
  • Statin therapy is permissible if the dose has been stable for at least 3 months

Who cannot take part

  • Patients treated with Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), or Insulin are excluded
  • Patients taking medications other than Sulfonylureas/Metformin (SU/MET), stable dose of GLP1-RA and DPP4i known to affect glucose metabolism are excluded. Patients taking SGLT2i within 2 months of screening visit will be excluded from participating in this study, however they may be asked whether they would agree to discontinue the medication for two months to become eligible. (Please see clarification below.) *
  • Subjects with evidence of proliferative retinopathy or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 are excluded
  • Women of childbearing potential are excluded unless they are taking/using appropriate contractive medications/devices * Only participants who are taking SGLT2 inhibitors during the prescreening period will be asked to discontinue the medication at least two months prior to the screening visit. If they agree, they will return for an HbA1c measurement four weeks after stopping the SGLT2 inhibitor; If their HbA1c rises to greater than 10%, treatment will be initiated with either metformin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, or a sulfonylurea. We do not anticipate any adverse effects during this initial period, provided the HbA1c remains below 10%; HbA1c will be measured using a fingerstick test, which requires only a minimal amount of blood. No compensation will be provided during this phase; After two months of medication discontinuation, participants will return for a screening visit. If they meet all eligibility criteria, they will be enrolled in the study and payment done by protocol
  • An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

Other criteria

  • Patients with T2D

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 30 and 75 years old?

Where in United States

  • Texas Diabetes Institute/UHSan Antonio, United StatesContact: Ralph DeFronzo, MDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

In this study, we will test the hypothesis that distinct mechanisms account for the SGLT2i-induced stimulation of ketogenesis and lipolysis versus endogenous (hepatic) glucose production in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and type 1 diabetes (T1D), and that the increases in ketone production and lipolysis can be prevented by concomitant administration of the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone. We will conduct five distinct experiments to test this hypothesis in patients with T2D and T1D.

Read full original descriptionShow less

MAIN STUDY: To examine the effect of empagliflozin versus empagliflozin/pancreatic clamp on EGP (6,6, D2-glucose), gluconeogenesis (D2O), lipolysis (U-2H-glycerol), ketogenesis (13C-palmitate conversion to 3-betahydroxybuyrate), and norepinephrine turnover (3H-NE) in type 2 diabetes subjects.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • EmpagliflozinTreatment being tested

    Empagliflozin 25 mg/day

    Treatment: Empagliflozin 25 MG

  • Placebo/Control GroupPlacebo, for comparison

    Placebo control

    Treatment: Placebo

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Protocol l: SGLT2 Inhibitors, Ketogenesis, and Ketoacidosis
Plain-language title
Testing empagliflozin's effects on sugar and ketone production in type 2 diabetesGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Fit questions
Built from NCT05960656, who can take part
Record updated
17 July 2026