The goal of this study is to determine whether metabolic control centers in the brain can be activated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) as compared to non-diabetic individuals. This is important since people with diabetes have inappropriately high production of glucose, which could be at least in part due to impaired activation of important brain centers.
In this study investigators will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a safe, noninvasive method of measuring brain activity by imaging the blood flow to different parts of the brain, to assess the impact of the medication diazoxide on both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. fMRI is a technique for measuring and mapping brain activity. This technique relies on the fact that cerebral blood flow (CBF) and neuronal activity are coupled. Previous rodent and human studies have demonstrated that diazoxide activates potassium (KATP) channels that are sensitive to ATP in the hypothalamus, inhibiting hepatic glucose production. However, these inhibitory effects of diazoxide on hepatic glucose production are curiously absent in diabetic patients, which suggests that they may have impaired activation of KATP channels and thus lowered brain activity in this area of the brain. After screening and meeting eligibility criteria, participants will have 2 day-long study visits (one day in which the brain will be imaged before and after receiving diazoxide, and one day in which the brain will be imaged before and after placebo). Each study day will include up to 3 MRI scans per study visit and hourly blood draws.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
37
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
The Bronx, New York, United States
Change in Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) Signal Measured Using 3T MRI From Baseline to 5 Hours Post Dosing
Arterial Spin Labeling data was acquired and converted by the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC) and reported as Hypothalamic Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) which is a more meaningful clinical endpoint measurement. Data was collected at three time points during each of the two study visits (pre dosing, 2 hours post dosing, and 5 hours post dosing). CBF values at the respective timepoints are summarized in mL/100g/min units and reported by study arm. An increase in CBF is correlated with an increase in brain activity.
Time frame: 2 hours and 5 hours post dosing
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