The investigators are studying how to help people with prediabetes (Pre-DM) and obesity. The goal is to use new and affordable treatments to bring blood sugar levels back to normal and help participants to lose weight. The investigators also want to reduce participants risk of heart problems. The study team will look at how these treatments affect metabolism and other body functions to help find new ways to treat diabetes and obesity in the future.
While taking part in this study, participants will be asked to attend approximately 16 visits with the researchers or study staff. Study participants are assigned (single-blinded, only the study team will know the assigned group) to one of 4 study groups, receiving a 6-month treatment with Nutritional Consultation + either SGLT2 Inhibitor (Empagliflozin), Rybelsus (GLP1 Receptor Agonist), Metformin + Pioglitazone, or placebo. A placebo is an inactive, harmless substance that looks like the other study drugs. This study does not require overnight stays at the hospital in any of the study groups. Duration of the Study will be about 6-7 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
64
Oral tablet administered once daily
Oral tablet started at a 3mg dose once daily and increased to 7mg once daily or maximum tolerable dose.
Oral 25 mg Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter (SGLT2) inhibitor administered once daily
Oral tablet started at a dose of 500mg with an increase of 500mg weekly up to a maximum dose of 2000mg (4 tablets)
Oral tablet dosed at 15mg once daily
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States
RECRUITINGHemoglobin A1c Level (HBA1c)
Percentage of glycated hemoglobin level in blood
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Percentage of Body Fat Composition
Measurement of body fat using a DEXA scan
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Left Ventricular Function
Cardiac function is measured by left-ventricular function measured using cardiac MRI and expressed as a percentage
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Measure of phosphocreatine k-value
A skeletal muscle bioenergetic measurement using skeletal muscle MRI/MRS
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Measure of oxidative capacity
A skeletal muscle bioenergetic measurement using skeletal muscle MRI/MRS
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Measure of intramyocellular lipids (IMCL)
A skeletal muscle bioenergetic measurement using skeletal muscle MRI/MRS
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Measure of extramyocellular lipids (EMCL)
A skeletal muscle bioenergetic measurement using skeletal muscle MRI/MRS
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Patient Reported Outcomes (PROMIS)
A survey used to assess physical function. Subjects will rank 20 questions from a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest physical function and 1 being the lowest. The score will be added up, and the Raw score will be converted to T-Score using the PROMIS Adult v2.0 Physical Function 20a Short Form Conversion Table. The range of T-scores is 12.1-62.5. A higher score indicates higher physical function.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
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