Amylin replacement therapy in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Amylin is a pancreatic beta-cell hormone that is cosecreted with insulin and plays an important physiologic role in glucose homeostasis. Pramlintide is an analogue of amylin recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and represents the first new treatment for people with type 1 diabetes since the discovery of insulin more than 80 years ago. Pramlintide has been shown to reduce the day-to-day fluctuations in glucose values that are commonly seen despite maximized insulin therapy alone. Additional proven clinical benefits include flattening of the postprandial glucose values, reducing the A1C, and concomitant weight loss. This combination of benefits makes pramlintide an important therapeutic tool for improving the metabolic control and quality of life of people with type 1 diabetes.