Clinical Research Fellow in Diabetes at University of Sheffield

Simon Berry, MbChB

Off-Label Use of Tirzepatide Shows Early Promise in Type 1 Diabetes, with Simon Berry, MbChB

Tirzepatide has demonstrated promising safety and efficacy in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in new data from a longitudinal, retrospective study.

These findings were presented by Simon Berry, MbChB, Clinical Research Fellow in Diabetes at University of Sheffield at the 

2025 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions

spoke with Berry to learn more about current off-label tirzepatide use in the T1D treatment landscape, and how his study sought to formally add to the data for this indication. Tirzepatide was approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes in 2022.

Berry and colleagues found that after 3 months, participants experienced a significant 6.7 kg reduction in mean weight (95% CI, 5.4-8.0 kg; 

<.001; n = 36) and were able to reduce mean total daily insulin dose by 21.6 units (95% CI, 12.8-30.4; 

<.001; n = 28), mostly driven by reduction in bolus doses (95% CI, 14.4 units; 6.6-22.2; 

= .001; n=26.) Furthermore, time in range (70-180 mg/dl) also significantly increased from 54.9% to 60.8% (95% CI, 0.0-11.8; 

“In people with T1D and obesity, there's quite a lot of off label GLP-1 agonist use and tirzepatide, as a proportion of that, is increasing,” Berry told 

“People found it really beneficial, but I would caution that it's retrospective data and randomized control trials are needed to confirm those benefits that we found.”

Berry SA, Mcnally E, Goodman I, et al. Tirzepatide in Type 1 Diabetes—Safety, Tolerability, and Clinical Outcomes—Real-World Experience from a Large UK Center [Board No. 305]. Presented at: ADA 2025; June 20-23; Chicago, Illinois. Presentation #305-OR

FDA approves Lilly's Mounjaro™ (tirzepatide) injection, the first and only GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. News release. Lilly. May 13, 2022. Accessed June 24, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-lillys-mounjarotm-tirzepatide-injection-first-and

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Berry discussed findings from a retrospective, real-world study but emphasized that they should be confirmed in randomized controlled trials. 

Simon Berry, MbChB

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