Recruiting
Phase 1

SGLT2 Inhibitors

Sponsor:

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Code:

NCT05960656

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 30 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Empagliflozin 25 MG

Placebo

Study Details

Brief summary:

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.

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.

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes

Study ID

NCT05960656

Start date

Oct 5, 2023

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

Jun 30, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 1, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 30 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Patients with T2D

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 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

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  • 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.

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Empagliflozin

Empagliflozin 25 mg/day

placebo comparator: Placebo/Control Group

Placebo control

Interventions

Empagliflozin 25 MG

A medication used in the management and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is in the sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT-2) class of medications.

Placebo

Inert tablet

Primary outcome measure

  • Endogenous Glucose Production (EGP) [ Time Frame: 0 and 300 minutes ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Ralph DeFronzo, MD

210-567-6691defronzo@uthscsa.edu

Aurora Merovci, MD

210-567-6691merovci@uthscsa.edu

Locations

Texas Diabetes Institute/UH

Recruiting

San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229-3900

Contacts

Ralph DeFronzo, MD

210-358-7200defronzo@uthscsa.edu

Aurora Merovci, MD

210-567-6691merovci@uthscsa.edu

Principal Investigator:

Ralph DeFronzo, MD

More Information

Sponsor

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Last update posted

Jul 17, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Keywords

  • Pancreatic clamp
  • Endogenous glucose production
  • Ketogenesis
  • Gluconeogenesis
  • Lipolysis
  • Norepinephrine turnover

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-23. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on 2026-07-17. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.