Methods for administering hypoglycemic agents

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of administering hypoglycemic agents and/or GLP-1 agonists.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a disease selected from the group consisting of Type 1 diabetes, Type II diabetes, obesity and hyperglycemia in a human in need thereof comprising administering a composition comprising a polypeptide having GLP-1 activity as a subcutaneous injection once weekly to said human via an injection device comprising a tube having a gauge of 28, 29 or, 30 wherein the composition comprises about 0.01 mg to about 104 mg of the polypeptide having GLP-1 activity and wherein the polypeptide having GLP-1 activity comprises two fragment and variant polypeptides of human GLP-1, wherein said fragment and variant polypeptides of human GLP-1 are tandemly oriented and covalently bound by a chemical linker. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the disease is Type II diabetes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the needle has a gauge selected from is 29. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said two fragment and variant polypeptides of human GLP-1 are separated by other amino acids sequences. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chemical linker is a disulphide bond. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fragment and variant polypeptides of human GLP-1 comprise a substitution of the alanine residue analogous to alanine 8 of wild type GLP-1. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the alanine at position 8 is substituted with glycine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide is administered to said human at a dose selected from about 0.5 mg/week, 0.8 mg/week, 1.0 mg/week and 2 mg/week. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the GLP-1 activity is selected from stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon secretion, delaying gastric emptying, and promoting beta cell competence and neogenesis.