Use of exendins and agonists thereof for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Methods for treating gestational diabetes which comprise administration of an effective amount of an exendin or an exendin agonist, alone or in conjunction with other compounds or compositions that lower blood glucose levels.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for treating gestational diabetes mellitus in a subject comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of an exendin or an exendin agonist.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said exendin or exendin agonist is administered continuously.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said administration is by injection.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the injection is a subcutaneous injection.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein about 1 μg-30 μg to about 1 mg of the exendin or exendin agonist is administered per day.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein about 1 μg-30 μg to about 500 μg of the exendin or exendin agonist is administered per day.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein about 1 μg-30 μg to about 100 μg of the exendin or exendin agonist is administered per day.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein about 3 μg to about 50 μg of the exendin or exendin agonist is administered per day.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said subject is human.  
     
     
         10 . A method for reducing blood glucose level of a subject having gestational diabetes mellitus comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of an exendin or an exendin agonist.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 10  wherein said exendin is exendin-3.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 10  wherein said exendin is exendin-4.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 10  wherein said exendin agonist is selected from the group consisting of exendin-4 acid, exendin-4 (1-30), exendin-4 (1-30) amide, exendin-4 (1-28) amide,  14 Leu,  25 Phe exendin-4 amide, and  14 Leu,  25 Phe exendin-4 (1-28) amide.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 10  further comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an insulin and an amylin agonist.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 10  wherein said exendin agonist is an exendin agonist according to Formula I.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 10  wherein said exendin agonist is an exendin agonist according to Formula II.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to any of claims  1 - 10  wherein said exendin agonist is an exendin agonist according to Formula III.