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Type 2 DiabetesPhase 1NCT07053306

SGLT2i, Ketoacidosis, Volume Contraction, and Insulinopenia

A Phase 1 study testing Empagliflozin 25 MG in people with Type 2 Diabetes, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

To examine the 2-HIT hypothesis that the SGLT2i-induced stimulation of EGP, lipolysis, and ketone production requires the combination of volume depletion plus insulinopenia in T2D individuals. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 30 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Type 2 Diabetes
What is being tested?
Empagliflozin 25 MG
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
29 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
29 Apr 2025to 30 Jun 2027
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 30 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 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)
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  • 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 join

  • 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.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Ralph DeFronzo, MD contact

210-567-6691

defronzo@uthscsa.edu

Aurora Merovci, MD contact

210-567-6691

merovci@uthscsa.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Texas Diabetes Institute/UH

    San Antonio, Texas, 78229-3900

    Ralph DeFronzo, MD, 210-358-7200, defronzo@uthscsa.edu

    Aurora Merovci, MD, 210-567-6691, merovci@uthscsa.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Protocol III: SGLT2i, Ketoacidosis, Volume Contraction, and Insulinopenia

To examine the 2-HIT hypothesis that the SGLT2i-induced stimulation of EGP, lipolysis, and ketone production requires the combination of volume depletion plus insulinopenia in T2D individuals.

Read the detailed description

After screening visit, subjects will participate in four additional visits and or at least one of the four visits that will be performed in random order starting at 6:00 AM to the Clinical Research Center at University Hospital-Texas Diabetes Institute.

Visit 2 (Study 1): At 6:00AM at (Study 1), a prime-continuous infusions of 6,6, D2-Glucose or U-3H-glucose and U-2H-glycerol or U-14C-Glycerol are started and continued to study end (2:00 PM) to measure rates of hepatic glucose production (HGP) and fat break down (lipolysis).3H-Glucose infusion to be given: (Prime=25µCi x (FPG/100), Continuous=0.25µCi/min x 480 min=120µCi). At time zero (9:00 AM) subjects will ingest Empagliflozin (25 mg). Plasma substrate, hormone concentrations, U-3H-glucose and U-14C-glycerol specific activities will be measured every 5-30 minutes for 300 minutes (2:00 PM) and 295 minutes. If Principal Investigator (PI) use U-2H-glycerol instead of U-14C Glycerol, PI will measure plasma U-2H-glycerol enrichment instead of U-14C-glycerol specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 54, if PI will use U-6,6, D2-Glucose instead of U-3H Glucose, PI will measure plasma 2H-Glucose enrichment instead of 3H Glucose specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 54.

Visit 3 (Study 2, Optional): At 6:00AM prime-continuous infusions of 6,6, D2-Glucose or U-3H-Glucose and U-2H-glycerol or U-14C-Glycerol are started and continued to study end (2:00 PM) to measure rates of hepatic glucose production (HGP) and lipolysis. 3H-Glucose infusion to be given: (Prime=25µCi x (FPG/100), Continuous=0.25µCi/min x 480 min=120µCi). At 7 AM an infusion of normal saline will be started at the rate of 150 ml/hour and continued to the end of study at 2 PM (total volume = 1050 ml; total Na and Cl = 154 meq) to provide volume replacement for blood loss. At time zero (9:00 AM) subjects will ingest Empagliflozin (25 mg). Plasma substrate, hormone concentrations, 3H-glucose and 14C-glycerol specific activities will be measured every 5-30 minutes for 300 minutes (2:00 PM) and 295 minute. If PI use U-2H-glycerol instead of U-14C Glycerol, PI will measure plasma U-2H-glycerol enrichment instead of U-14C-glycerol specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 55. If PI use U-6,6, D2-Glucose instead of U-3H Glucose, PI will measure plasma 2H-Glucose enrichment instead of 3H Glucose specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 55.

Visit 4 (Study 3, Optional): At 6:00AM prime-continuous infusions 6,6, D2-Glucose or U-3H-Glucose and U-2H-glycerol or U-14C-Glycerol are started and continued to study end (2:00 PM) to measure rates of Hepatic Glucose Production (HGP) and fat break down (lipolysis). 3H-Glucose infusion to be given: (Prime=25µCi x (FPG/100), Continuous=0.25µCi/min x 480 min=120µCi). At time zero (9:00 AM) subjects will ingest Empagliflozin (25 mg) and octreotide or somatostatin with insulin and glucagon will be given to reduce volume without insulinopenia. Plasma substrate and hormone concentrations and 3H-glucose/14C-glycerol specific activities will be measured every 5-30 minutes for 300 minutes (2:00 PM) and 295 minute. If PI use U-2H-glycerol instead of U-14C Glycerol, PI will measure plasma U-2H-glycerol enrichment instead of U-14C-glycerol specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 55-56. If PI uses U-6,6, D2-Glucose instead of U-3H Glucose, PI will measure plasma 2H-Glucose enrichment instead of 3H Glucose specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 56.

Visit 5 (Study 4, Optional): At 6:00AM prime-continuous infusions of 6,6, D2-Glucose or 3H-Glucose and U-2H-glycerol or U-14C-Glycerol are started and continued to study end (2:00 PM) to measure rates of hepatic (liver) glucose production (HGP) and fat break down (lipolysis). 3H-Glucose infusion to be given: (Prime=25µCi x (FPG/100), Continuous=0.25µCi/min x 480 min=120µCi). At 7 AM an infusion of normal saline will be started at the rate of 150 ml/hour and continued to the end of study at 2 PM (total volume = 1050 ml; total Na and Cl = 154 meq) to provide volume replacement for blood loss. At time zero (9:00 AM) subjects will ingest empagliflozin (25 mg) and octreotide or somatostatin with insulin and glucagon will be given. Plasma substrate and hormone concentrations and 3H-glucose/14C-glycerol specific activities will be measured every 5-30 minutes for 300 minutes (2:00 PM) and 295 minute. If PI uses U-2H-glycerol instead of U-14C Glycerol, PI will measure plasma U-2H-glycerol enrichment instead of U-14C-glycerol specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 56. If PI use U-6,6, D2-Glucose instead of U-3H Glucose, PI will measure plasma 2H-Glucose enrichment instead of 3H Glucose specific activities. Detailed explanation on page 56.

In Substudy II, PI will use stable isotopes (6,6-D2-glucose and U-2H-glycerol) or radioisotopes (U-3H-glucose and U-14C-glycerol) to measure endogenous glucose production (EGP) and fat breakdown (lipolysis), depending on isotope availability and cost. Both sets of isotopes will provide the necessary data to address research objectives.

Conditions
Type 2 Diabetes
Being tested
Empagliflozin 25 MG
Keywords
Pancreatic clamp, Endogenous glucose production, Ketogenesis, Gluconeogenesis, Lipolysis
Medical subject headings
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Empagliflozin 25 MGDrug

    Also called Jardiance

    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.

Study groups in NCT07053306
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
EmpagliflozinExperimentalEmpagliflozin 25 mg/day
Receives: Drug: Empagliflozin 25 MG

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Ketone Body Turnover (ketogenesis)

    Measurement of ketone body turnover rate during the baseline state and 240-300-minute time period, before and after Empagliflozin administration.

    Measured: 0 and 300 minutes

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 Jul 2025
  2. Study start29 Apr 2025
  3. Primary completion1 Jun 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
A randomized controlled 1 arm clinical trial comprised of 4 studies
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
29 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07053306
Sponsor's protocol ID
20230457HU - 504076
Other IDs
R01DK024092
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
26 Jun 2025
Last updated
17 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Deidentified data will be shared with NIH and as a publication in a peer reviewed journal once data are published.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Empagliflozin 25 MG in people with Type 2 Diabetes, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Ralph DeFronzo, MD (210-567-6691, defronzo@uthscsa.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Ketone Body Turnover (ketogenesis) (time frame: 0 and 300 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Jul 2026.

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