Prevention of Severe Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes

Overview

Severe hypoglycaemia leading to collapse without warning is one of the most-feared complications for those with Type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study is to determine whether detection and targeted prevention of hypoglycaemia by using either an optimised subcutaneous insulin regime or continuous insulin regime can restore hypoglycaemia awareness in Type 1 diabetes. Following a 6-day continuous subcutaneous monitor glucose profile, participants will be randomised to 1 of 3 interventions: rigorous avoidance of hypoglycaemia on current insulin regime; targeted optimisation of subcutaneous insulin regime to avoid hypoglycaemia; or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Symptomatic experience and severity of hypoglycaemia, pattern of hypoglycaemia on glucose profiling and, in selected individuals, response to hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemic clamp, will be compared over a 6 month period. It is envisaged that successful prevention of hypoglycaemia by one or more interventions may reverse altered hypoglycaemia awareness and prevent further episodes of severe hypoglycaemia.

The unifying objective of the proposed unblinded randomized prospective study is to determine whether hypoglycaemia awareness in Type 1 diabetes can be restored by rigorous avoidance of hypoglycaemia addressed by one of the following interventions: 1. A non-targeted approach whereby pre-prandial glycaemic targets are raised from 4.5-7mmol/L to 7.2-8.3mmol/L and hypoglycaemia is rigorously avoided without specific alterations in subcutaneous insulin regime5 2. Optimisation of subcutaneous insulin regime employing pre-prandial short-acting insulin analogue in combination with once daily insulin Glargine targeted to prevent periods of hypoglycaemia identified by 24 hour glucose profiles 3. Insulin delivery by external pump (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion) targeted to prevent periods of hypoglycaemia identified by 24 hour glucose profiles