Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system (the part of the body which helps fight infections) mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin (islet cells found in the pancreas). As these cells are destroyed, the body's ability to produce insulin decreases. There is evidence suggesting that repeated oral administration of an autoantigen (the same protein that the immune system is reacting to) may introduce a protective immunity and cause the immune system to stop its attack. An earlier, large scale study was done to see if oral insulin could delay or prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes in relatives at risk for developing Type 1 diabetes. The overall results showed that for the entire study population, oral insulin did not delay or prevent Type 1 diabetes. However, an analysis that was done after the conclusion of the trial suggested a potential beneficial effect in a subgroup of participants. The participants who seemed to benefit from oral insulin had higher levels of insulin autoantibodies which are directed against insulin itself ( called mIAA). The Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet study group will further explore the potential role of oral insulin to delay or prevent Type 1 diabetes in a similar group of people. The study will also include a secondary group of individuals at different levels of risk than those in the primary cohort to gather information for future studies.
Eligible participants will be randomized to receive either oral insulin (7.5 mg of recombinant human insulin crystals) or placebo daily. All participants randomized into this study will be seen at a study site for a follow-up evaluation, three and six months after randomization, and every six months thereafter. Participants will be contacted by phone between 6-monthly clinic visits to assess changes in diabetes status, medication compliance and adverse events. These phone contacts will occur approximately 3 months from the date of the participants previous clinic visit. At the study visits, participants will undergo assessments of their insulin production, immunologic status, and overall health. As the primary outcome measure, subjects will be followed until development of type 1 diabetes or the conclusion of the study. The trial is expected to last approximately 7-8 years or until the required amount of information is gathered.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
560
7.5 mg oral insulin or placebo given before breakfast on a daily basis.
Placebo capsule designed to match active drug
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States
Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
University of Miami
Miami, Florida, United States
Indiana University-Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Columbia University
New York, New York, United States
Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
...and 8 more locations
Rate of Type 1 Diabetes Per Year Among Individuals in the Primary Stratum When Treated With Oral Inulin Versus Placebo
Primary outcome is reported as the rate of type 1 diabetes per year among the primary stratum; type 1 diabetes was diagnosed based on metabolic testing and assessment of symptoms. This is calculated by dividing the number of participants who develop diabetes by the total number of years of follow-up.
Time frame: Metabolic and immunological tests were conducted every 6 months; participants were followed for a median of 2.7 years
Rate of Type 1 Diabetes Per Year in Secondary Stratum (Stratum 2) When Treated With Oral Insulin Versus Placebo
Secondary outcome is reported as the rate of type 1 diabetes per year among secondary stratum 2; type 1 diabetes was diagnosed based on metabolic testing and assessment of symptoms. This is calculated by dividing the number of participants who develop diabetes by the total number of years of follow-up.
Time frame: Metabolic and immunological tests were conducted every 6 months; participants were followed for a median of 2.7 years
Rate of Type 1 Diabetes in Secondary Stratum (Stratum 3+4) When Treated With Oral Insulin Versus Placebo
Secondary outcome is reported as the rate of type 1 diabetes per year among secondary stratum 3+4; type 1 diabetes was diagnosed based on metabolic testing and assessment of symptoms. This is calculated by dividing the number of participants who develop diabetes by the total number of years of follow-up.
Time frame: Metabolic and immunological tests were conducted every 6 months; participants were followed for a median of 2.7 years
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