Human embryonic intestinal tissues were digested by collagenase, epithelial cells were cultured, glucagon-like peptide 1(1~37) was adapted to induce human embryonic intestinal epithelial cells (hEIECs) to differentiate, and hEIECs without GLP-1 induction were set as control. hEIECs were successfully isolated and cultured, they were stained by cytokeratin 18 and cytokeratin19, the marker for intestinal epithelial cells; they were also stained by somatostatin and glucagon, the hormones secreted by endocrinal cells from pancreas, but they were negative for insulin. After GLP-1(1~37) induction for 6 days, insulin-positive cells could be identified in intestinal epithelial cells by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR showed that these cells expressed pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), glucose transporter-2 (GLUT-2) and insulin. No insulin-positive cells were identified in the control (no GLP-1(1~37) induction), RT-PCR showed that the control expressed PDX-1 and GLUT-2, but not insulin. The findings suggest that GLP-1(1~37) could induce insulin production in developing human embryonic intestinal epithelial cells in vitro, and GLP-1(1~37) may represent a new therapeutic approach to diabetes mellitus.