Two popular medications could help improve life for diabetes patients

In a world-first clinical trial, researchers have discovered a way to dramatically reduce the amount of insulin needed by type 1 diabetes patients.

The surprising results come from Metformin and Mounjaro, two popular medications already used by patients with type 2 diabetes.

"There's not a day that I don't think about it, because every little change you make in your life impacts your blood sugar levels," type 1 diabetic Angela Pezzano said.

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Pezzano was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five and has had to balance her blood sugar levels with insulin for the past 37 years.

Eager to help ease the burden on patients like herself, she took part in a world-first clinical trial at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

She was given Metformin, a drug taken by type 2 diabetics to reduce insulin resistance.

However, the researchers discovered that Metformin doesn't reduce insulin resistance in patients with type 1 diabetes, but rather reduces the amount of insulin needed to manage the disease.

"This was a very surprising finding, which indicates that it works in unexpected ways, given that it works on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes," Dr Jennifer Snaith said.

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Weight gain can also be a side effect for patients on insulin, which can also increase the risk of heart disease and other complications.

A second study trialled another type 2 diabetes and weight loss drug, Mounjaro, on patients with type 1 diabetes.

"People with type 1 diabetes who were treated for 12 weeks were able to lose eight or nine kilograms and reduce their total daily insulin dose by up to 40 per cent," Professor Jerry Greenfield said.

"So we think these are really significant findings."

While widely used by patients with type 2 diabetes, Metformin and Mounjaro are not currently approved to treat patients with type 1 diabetes.

Researchers are hopeful their findings will support the case to make them available.

"These results open up the door to change the way we consider treatment of type 1 diabetes to insulin plus other treatments," Snaith said.

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