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Glucose Counterregulation in Long Standing Type 1 Diabetes

Effect of Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Glucose Counterregulation in Long Standing Type 1 Diabetes

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01474889
Enrollment
37
Registered
2011-11-18
Start date
2011-10-31
Completion date
2021-03-05
Last updated
2023-08-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy, Hypoglycemia Unawareness, Type 1 Diabetes

Keywords

Hypoglycemia, Unawareness, RT-CGM, Type 1 Diabetes

Brief summary

Enrollment for this study is complete. This study is designed to determine if use of a real-time continuous glucose monitor (RT-CGM) can reverse defective Glucose counter regulation and hypoglycemia unawareness in long standing type 1 diabetes.

Detailed description

The present protocol is designed to determine whether strict hypoglycemia avoidance by real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM), can restore endogenous glucose production in response to hypoglycemia in patients with long standing disease. Twelve subjects with long standing type 1 diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness underwent assessment of the endogenous glucose production response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia using paired hyperinsulinemic euglycemic and hypoglycemic clamps with stable glucose isotope infusions before and at 6 and 18 months following initiation of RT-CGM. The primary analysis will be change in the endogenous glucose production response from before to 6 months following initiation of RT-CGM, and a secondary analysis will consider the persistence of any change at 18 months. The clinical significance of any determined changes in the endogenous glucose production response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia will be determined by comparison to responses obtained using paired hyperinsulinemic euglycemic and hypoglycemic clamps on one occasion in a matched control group of 12 subjects with long-standing type 1 diabetes but no hypoglycemia unawareness (GROUP 2) and in a matched control group of 12 nondiabetic subjects (GROUP 3). Arms are not assigned to these two control groups in ct.gov as they were only used as a baseline for clinical significance. Neither group wore a CGM nor are they analyzed at 6-month and 18-month time-points. This said, for control group clarification, inclusion and exclusion criteria for each group is included in ct.gov Hypoglycemia is a major barrier to the achievement of adequate glycemic control for most patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1 diabetic patients with absolute insulin deficiency (C-peptide negative) are at greatest risk for experiencing severe hypoglycemic events because the near total destruction of insulin producing islet β-cells produces an associated defect in glucagon secretion from neighboring α-cells. Such patients then depend on the sympathoadrenal system as a final defense against hypoglycemia, but unfortunately, recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia blunt sympathoadrenal activation and produce a syndrome of hypoglycemia unawareness that is associated with a twenty-fold increased risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia. Without intact islet or sympathoadrenal (especially epinephrine) responses to hypoglycemia, these patients cannot increase endogenous (primarily hepatic) glucose production to prevent or correct low blood glucose.

Interventions

DEVICERT-CGM

Each device is approximately the size of a pager and transmits with a subcutaneously placed sensor consisting of a 21 - 26 gauge needle 5 - 12 mm in length. Sensors are placed using sterile precautions and changed every 3 - 7 days depending on the manufacturers' instructions. All devices are approved as adjunctive tools to blood glucose monitoring that will be continued at least 4 times daily, before each meal and at bedtime.

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Pennsylvania
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Hypoglycemia Unaware T1 Diabetics & 2 Control Groups. Non-Diabetics & T1Ds With Intact Awareness.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Key Inclusion Criteria for intervention GROUP 1 (Long-standing T1D complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness) 1. Male and female subjects aged 25 to 70 years 2. Able to provide written informed consent and to comply with the protocol procedures 3. Clinical history compatible with type 1 diabetes with disease onset \< 40 years of age OR onset ≥ 40 years and documented islet autoimmunity 4. Insulin-dependent for \> 10 years 5. Absent C-peptide (\< 0.3 ng/mL). 6. Involvement in intensive diabetes management defined as self-monitoring of glucose values no less than a mean of three times each day averaged over each week and by the administration of three or more insulin injections each day or insulin pump therapy under the direction of an endocrinologist, diabetologist, or diabetes specialist with at least 3 clinical evaluations during the previous 12 months.) 7. Hypoglycemia unawareness manifested by a Clarke score of 4 or more AND at least one of the following: * HYPO score greater than or equal to the 90th percentile (1047); OR marked glycemic lability defined by a glycemic lability index (LI) score greater than or equal to the 90th percentile (433 mmol/l2/h·wk-1); OR * A composite of a HYPO score greater than or equal to the 75th percentile (423) and a LI greater than or equal to the 75th percentile (329). 8. At least one episode of severe hypoglycemia in the past 12 months defined as an event with symptoms or signs compatible with hypoglycemia in which the subject was unable to treat him/herself and which was associated with either a blood glucose level \< 54 mg/dl \[3.0 mmol/L\] or prompt recovery after oral carbohydrate, intravenous glucose, or glucagon administration; OR documented \> 5% time spent in the hypoglycemic range (glucose \< 60 mg/dl) by 72-hour blinded CGM. Key Inclusion Criteria for control GROUP 2 (Long-standing T1D with intact hypoglycemia awareness) 1. Male and female subjects aged 25 to 70 years. 2. Able to provide written informed consent and to comply with the procedures of the study protocol. 3. Clinical history compatible with type 1 diabetes with disease onset \< 40 years of age 4. Insulin-dependent for \> 10 years 5. Absent C-peptide (\< 0.3 ng/mL). 6. Involvement in intensive diabetes management defined as the use of basal-bolus insulin analog delivery by multi-dose injection (MDI) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) together with self-monitoring of blood glucose values four or more times daily, without continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), under the direction of an endocrinologist, diabetologist, or diabetes nurse practitioner with at least 3 clinical evaluations during the previous 12 months. 7. Intact hypoglycemia awareness indicated by a Clarke score of 3 or less. 8. No episodes of severe hypoglycemia in the past 3 years. Key Inclusion Criteria for control GROUP 3 (Non-diabetic controls) 1. Male and female subjects aged 25 to 70 years. 2. Subjects who are able to provide written informed consent and to comply with the procedures of the study protocol. 3. No history of diabetes. Key

Exclusion criteria

for ALL 3 groups 1. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 38 kg/m2. 2. Insulin requirement of more than 1.0 IU/kg/day. 3. HbA1c greater than 10%. 4. Untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy. 5. SBP greater than 160 mmHg or DBP greater than 100 mmHg. 6. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 55 ml/min/1.73 m-squared 7. Positive pregnancy test, presently breast-feeding, or unwillingness to use effective contraceptive measures for the duration of the study. 8. Baseline hemoglobin less than 11 g/dl in women and less than12 g/dl in men. 9. Severe co-existing cardiac disease 10. Persistent elevation of liver function tests greater than 1.5 upper normal limits 11. Hyperlipidemia despite medical therapy 12. Receiving treatment for a medical condition requiring chronic use of systemic steroids 13. Presence of a seizure disorder not attributable to hypoglycemia. 14. Untreated hypothyroidism, Addisons disease, or Celiac disease. 15. Treatment with any anti-diabetic medication other than insulin within 4 weeks of enrollment. 16. Use of RT-CGM (continuous glucose monitor) within last 4 weeks. * Non-diabetic patients do not need to meet any of the glucose criteria.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Endogenous Glucose Production6 monthsMeasure of hepatic glucose output during final hour of hypoglycemic clamp. Outcome Measures are not assigned to the control groups in ct.gov as they were only used as a baseline for clinical significance. Neither group wore a CGM nor were they analyzed at 6-month and 18-month time-points.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Endogenous Glucose Production18 monthsMeasure of hepatic glucose output during final hour of hypoglycemic clamp
Autonomic Symptom Response to Hypoglycemia6 monthsResponse measure during hypoglycemic clamp using an Autonomic Symptom Questionnaire. The autonomic symptom response is calculated during the final hour of the Hypoglycemic clamp as the sum of scores ranging from 0 (none) to 5 (severe) for each of the following symptoms: anxiety, palpitations, sweating, tremor, hunger, and tingling. This results in a minimum of 0 or a maximum of 30 score with the higher score a better outcome. The scale title is Autonomic Symptom Response to hypoglycemia.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

The Intervention Group (Group 1) consists of participants with Type 1 Diabetes complicated by Hypoglycemia Unawareness. There were two Control Groups: (Group 2) T1Ds With Intact Awareness and (Group 3) Non-diabetics are used as a baseline for clinical significance. Neither of these two Control Groups wore a CGM nor were they analyzed at 6-month and 18-month time-points.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Hypoglycemia Unaware T1 Diabetics
This main arm is the intervention group. It consists of participants with type 1 diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness. Patients wore an RT-CGM for 18 months. We studied glucose production and symptom generation during insulin-induced hypoglycemia (metabolic testing) by subjecting this intervention group to a pair of metabolic clamps (hypoglycemic and euglycemic) at baseline, at 6 months and at 18 months to determine if hypoglycemia avoidance can reverse unawareness. RT-CGM: Each device is approximately the size of a pager and transmits with a subcutaneously placed sensor consisting of a 21 - 26 gauge needle 5 - 12 mm in length. Sensors are placed using sterile precautions and changed every 3 - 7 days depending on the manufacturers' instructions. All devices are approved as adjunctive tools to blood glucose monitoring that will be continued at least 4 times daily, before each meal and at bedtime.
13
Control Group 2 - T1Ds With Intact Awareness
Control Group 2 consists of 12 type one diabetics with intact awareness. Participants in control group 2 are enrolled as a baseline for clinical significance and not assessed for outcome measures. Control group 2 did not wear a CGM. They attended 3 visits (screening, HypoGlycemic clamp and EuGlycemic clamp) and they were not analyzed at 6-month and 18-month time-points.
12
Control Group 3 - Non-diabetics
Control Group 3 consists of 12 non-diabetics. Participants in control group 3 are enrolled as a baseline for clinical significance and not assessed for outcome measures. Control group 3 did not wear a CGM. They attended 3 visits (screening, HypoGlycemic clamp and EuGlycemic clamp) and they were not analyzed at 6-month and 18-month time-points.
12
Total37

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002
Overall StudyDid not meet inclusion100
Overall StudyPhysician Decision100
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject010

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicControl Group 2 - T1Ds With Intact AwarenessControl Group 3 - Non-diabeticsHypoglycemia Unaware T1 DiabeticsTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
12 Participants12 Participants13 Participants37 Participants
Age, Continuous35.416 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.442
46.166 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.309
46.307 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.343
42.729 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.593
Region of Enrollment
United States
12 participants12 participants13 participants37 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
4 Participants6 Participants8 Participants18 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants6 Participants5 Participants19 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 130 / 120 / 12
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 130 / 120 / 12
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 130 / 120 / 12

Outcome results

Primary

Endogenous Glucose Production

Measure of hepatic glucose output during final hour of hypoglycemic clamp. Outcome Measures are not assigned to the control groups in ct.gov as they were only used as a baseline for clinical significance. Neither group wore a CGM nor were they analyzed at 6-month and 18-month time-points.

Time frame: 6 months

Population: Type 1 Diabetes with Hypoglycemia Unawareness. Patients wear an RT-CGM for 18 months.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Hypoglycemia Unaware T1 Diabetes RT-CGMEndogenous Glucose Production0.54 mg/kg/minStandard Error 0.07
Secondary

Autonomic Symptom Response to Hypoglycemia

Response measure during hypoglycemic clamp using an Autonomic Symptom Questionnaire. The autonomic symptom response is calculated during the final hour of the Hypoglycemic clamp as the sum of scores ranging from 0 (none) to 5 (severe) for each of the following symptoms: anxiety, palpitations, sweating, tremor, hunger, and tingling. This results in a minimum of 0 or a maximum of 30 score with the higher score a better outcome. The scale title is Autonomic Symptom Response to hypoglycemia.

Time frame: 6 months

Population: Type 1 Diabetes with Hypoglycemia Unawareness. Patients wear an RT-CGM for 18 months.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Hypoglycemia Unaware T1 Diabetes RT-CGMAutonomic Symptom Response to Hypoglycemia5.1 score on a scaleStandard Error 1
Secondary

Autonomic Symptom Response to Hypoglycemia

Response measure during hypoglycemic clamp using an Autonomic Symptom Questionnaire. The autonomic symptom response is calculated during the final hour of the Hypoglycemic clamp as the sum of scores ranging from 0 (none) to 5 (severe) for each of the following symptoms: anxiety, palpitations, sweating, tremor, hunger, and tingling. This results in a minimum of 0 or a maximum of 30 score with the higher score a better outcome. The scale title is Autonomic Symptom Response to hypoglycemia.

Time frame: 18 months

Population: Type 1 Diabetes with Hypoglycemia Unawareness. Patients wear an RT-CGM for 18 months.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Hypoglycemia Unaware T1 Diabetes RT-CGMAutonomic Symptom Response to Hypoglycemia5.6 score on a scaleStandard Error 1.2
Secondary

Endogenous Glucose Production

Measure of hepatic glucose output during final hour of hypoglycemic clamp

Time frame: 18 months

Population: Type 1 Diabetes with Hypoglycemia Unawareness. Patients wear an RT-CGM for 18 months.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Hypoglycemia Unaware T1 Diabetes RT-CGMEndogenous Glucose Production0.84 mg/kg/minStandard Error 0.15

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026