People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) like to take part in sport and exercise, but problems with metabolism and blood glucose control can make this difficult. Some people with T1DM administer their insulin via an insulin pump, also know as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy, in which a background or basal level of insulin is constantly infused under the skin by a special pump, with bolus doses of insulin given to accompany food. Clinical experience suggests that this may be particularly useful for managing diabetes for exercise, but there is limited experimental evidence to support this. The aim of this research , which is divided into three parts, is to investigate the hypothesis that the physiological response to sub-maximal (moderate) exercise of a person with type 1 diabetes treated with CSII, can be made to approximate more closely to the physiological response of a healthy individual by a prior reduction of their basal insulin infusion rate. This first part of the research is designed to compare metabolic response to exercise between people without diabetes and people with T1DM running there insulin pump at the usual basal rate.
For the first part of the study, participants will be either people with type 1 diabetes treated with insulin pump therapy or volunteers without diabetes. The 2 groups will be matched as far as possible by age, body mass index and usual level of activity. Participants will attend an exercise laboratory on 2 occasions. On the first occasion, which can take place at any time of day, formal written consent will be obtained for participation in the study. Participants will then undergo measurement of maximal exercise capacity (VO2 MAX). On the second occasion they will attend 2 hours after a lunch containing 60 grams of carbohydrate (advice will be given on how this can be achieved). A cannula will be inserted on arrival and blood samples obtained. Arterialised samples will be obtained by using a heated hand technique. Once the cannula has been inserted participants with type 1 diabetes will be asked to reduce the basal insulin infusion rate on their insulin pump to 70% of normal until the end of the study visit. After 30 minutes a further set of blood samples will be obtained, and participants will then start to exercise for 1 hour at 50% VO2 MAX. A further set of blood samples will be obtained at the end of the hour of exercise. Participants will then rest for 30 minutes before a final set of blood samples is taken. At this point the cannula will be removed and the study visit ends. Participants with diabetes will be given the choice to return basal insulin infusion rate to normal at this point. A snack will be offered. Blood glucose will be monitored every 10 minutes and also if a participant feels symptoms of hypoglycaemia. If hypoglycaemia occurs the protocol will be stopped and carbohydrate given until the blood glucose level returns to the normal range.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
16
Wycombe Hospital
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Glucose excursion
The primary outcome measure is change in blood glucose (glucose excursion) between the start and the end of exercise
Time frame: Glucose will be measured at the start and end of 1 hour of exercise at 50% VO2 MAX during the second study visit
Comparison between the two groups of levels of lactate
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Multiple correlation between blood glucose values and values of lactate, NEFA, betahydroxybutyrate, catecholamines, glucagon, insulin, C-peptide, human growth hormone and cortisol
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Ratio of respiratory quotient (RQ) at the beginning of exercise to RQ at the end of exercise, compared between the two groups, which will give information about fuel use during exercise.
Time frame: Respiratory quotient will be calculated using a breath by breath analyser using 2 minutes of data from the start at the end of exercise
Comparison between the two groups of levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Comparison between the two groups of levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Comparison between the two groups of levels of circulating catecholamines
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Comparison between the two groups of levels of glucagon
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Comparison between the two groups of levels of circulating insulin
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Comparison between the two groups of levels of human growth hormone
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
Comparison between the two groups of levels of cortisol
Time frame: Samples will be obtained on arrival, 30 minutes later (at the start of exercise), at the end of exercise (1 hour later) and at the end of the study visit (30 minutes later)
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