Diabetes Research

At Lilly, we want to continue developing and making medicines to meet the needs of people with diabetes and those that care for them. Through clinical research we are looking to find potential treatments for different types of diabetes and linked conditions including:

type 1 diabetes
type 2 diabetes
overweight and obesity
cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, vision loss, and nerve damage

By taking part in a clinical research study, you can help to make a difference. Click here to view diabetes trials

Person with short grey hair and a blue shirt sitting down outdoors and smiling.

About Our Research

Diabetes Research Areas

Find a Trial

Learning Center

Explore Related Research

About Our Research

Global Impact

We want to make life better for the millions of people around the world living with diabetes and those at risk of developing diabetes and related conditions.

We carry out clinical research in more than 55 countries to make new medicines for people living with different medical conditions.

We want to make life better for the millions of people around the world living with diabetes. We carry out clinical research in more than 55 countries to make new medicines for people living with different medical conditions.

Click to flip

Lilly's Commitment to Research

Lilly was the world’s first company to bring insulin to the market. Since then, we have continued to look for ways to make treatment better for people with diabetes and ensure equal access to care.

Click to flip

Advancing Science Together

Making new medicines is only possible with the help of people in our community. This involves clinical trial participants, doctors, researchers, care partners and advocates. Together, we work to improve diabetes care for all.

Making new medicines is only possible with the help of people in our community. This involves doctors, researchers, clinical trial participants, care partners, advocates. Together, we will aim to improve diabetes care for all.

Click to flip

Diabetes Research Areas

Diabetes can impact people of all ages and from all countries. The two main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. There is another type of diabetes called ‘gestational diabetes’ that can develop during pregnancy. People living with diabetes have problems balancing blood glucose (sugar). This is because insulin, the hormone that allows glucose (sugar) to enter cells and make energy is not being made or handled properly.
With clinical research, we can find more convenient and effective ways to manage the condition, and potentially prevent or reverse some types of diabetes. Below you can find more information about diabetes and related conditions that we are carrying out clinical research studies for. Here you can view diabetes clinical trials.

Related Conditions

Related Conditions include chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), vision loss and nerve damage. Many medical conditions are linked to diabetes. Good blood glucose control can help in their prevention and management.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when kidneys cannot filter blood properly.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are diseases of the heart and blood vessels and can cause heart attack and stroke.

Vision loss and nerve damage are caused by high blood glucose over a long period of time. Regular eye tests and foot exams are important for people with diabetes.

Find a Trial

Pinned

A Study of Retatrutide (LY3437943) in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Who Have Obesity or Overweight

Enrolling

Conditions: Obesity, Overweight, Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep Apnea

Trial Name

TRIUMPH-2

Drugs: Retatrutide

Age

≥18 years

Phase

III

Pinned

A Study of Orforglipron (LY3502970) in Adult Participants With Type 2 Diabetes and Inadequate Glycemic Control With Diet and Exercise Alone

Enrolling

Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes

Trial Name

ACHIEVE-1

Drugs: Orforglipron

Age

≥18 years

Phase

III

Pinned

A Study of Daily Oral Orforglipron (LY3502970) Compared With Insulin Glargine in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity or Overweight a...

Enrolling

Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes, Overweight at Increased Cardiovascular Risk

Trial Name

ACHIEVE-4

Drugs: Orforglipron (LY3502970), Insulin Glargine

Age

≥18 years

Phase

III

Pinned

A Study of LY3556050 in Adult Participants With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

Enrolling

Conditions: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Drugs: LY3556050

Age

≥18 years

Phase

A Study of Orforglipron (LY3502970) Compared With Semaglutide in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled With Metformin

Enrolling

Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes

Trial Name

ACHIEVE-3

Drugs: Orforglipron, Semaglutide

Age

≥18 years

Phase

III

Learning Center

Closing the Loop

In this podcast, host Joe Kim talks to Dana Lewis, a patient advocate and Marie Schiller who worked in Research and Development at Lilly. Listen to the podcast to hear the 3 talk about finding new and improved ways to care for diabetes.

Cartoon of a healthcare professional with short white hair holding up a test tube.

Diabetes Blood Tests and Beyond

Lab samples are a key part of diagnosing and managing diabetes. You can read about the different tests and the vital information they give us in lab samples in diabetes research.