The present disclosure provides FGF1 mutant proteins having one or more mutations in the heparin binding domain. Such mutants may also have an N-terminal deletion, point mutation(s), or combinations thereof. In some examples, the mutant FGF1 proteins have reduced mitogenic activity. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules that encode such proteins, and vectors and cells that include such nucleic acids. The disclosed FGF1 mutants can reduce blood glucose in a mammal, and in some examples are used to treat a metabolic disorder.