Peptide Therapies/June 8, 2025/2 min read

Amylin: A Hormone-Based Approach to Blood Sugar Control in Type 1 Diabetes

Amylin is a hormone your body normally makes alongside insulin. Research shows that adding an amylin-like medication to insulin therapy may help improve blood sugar control in Type 1 diabetes.

PubMed indexed literature

Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

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Key takeaways

Amylin is a hormone deficient in people with diabetes that helps control blood sugar after meals.
Pramlintide, an amylin-like medication, has shown promise in helping people with Type 1 diabetes improve blood sugar control when used alongside insulin.
Researchers are working on new amylin-based treatments that may be easier to use and more effective.

What is amylin and what does it do?

Amylin is a hormone your pancreas normally releases together with insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes produce little or no amylin.

Amylin helps control blood sugar in several ways: it slows the movement of food from your stomach into your intestines, reduces a hormone called glucagon that raises blood sugar, and helps you feel full after eating.

Because amylin is low or missing in diabetes, researchers have studied whether adding it back might help improve blood sugar control.

What current research shows

Pramlintide is an injectable medication that mimics amylin. It is the only amylin-like drug currently approved by the FDA.

In people with Type 1 diabetes who use insulin, adding pramlintide has been shown to help lower blood sugar levels after meals and throughout the day. Studies have not found that it increases low blood sugar episodes or weight gain.

However, translating amylin-based therapies into everyday treatments has been challenging. The hormone is complex, breaks down quickly in the body, and can form clumps in a way that complicates its use.

What researchers are working on next

Scientists are developing new ways to make amylin-like medications work better and be easier to use. These include attaching protective molecules to amylin to make it last longer in the body, and creating oral (swallowed) versions instead of injections.

Researchers are also exploring combination therapies that pair amylin-like medications with other hormones to improve blood sugar control and support weight management.

This is evolving research. Findings from published studies provide important information, but one study is one piece of a larger puzzle. Always discuss any new treatment options with your diabetes care team.

Important note

This article shares published research for information only, not as medical advice. If you are interested in amylin-based therapies, speak with your doctor or endocrinologist about what may be right for your individual situation.

Evidence label

Source: Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

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