Type 1 Diabetes MellitusPhase 2NCT03161964
Propranolol in Treating Hypoglycemia Unawareness
A Phase 2 study testing Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended Release in people with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, run by Anu Sharma at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia is common in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients. Impaired hypoglycemia awareness increases severe hypoglycemia risk by six-fold. Severe hypoglycemia compromises quality of life and can potentially cause death. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 59 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- What is being tested?
- Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended Release
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 2 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 19 Oct 2017to 19 Dec 2019
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 59 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Subjects with Type 1 diabetes mellitus for more than 5 years with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia
- Age between 21 to 59 years old
- Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 9%; most recent value within 3 months
- No beta-blocker use history in the last 6 months
- Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines
Who cannot join
- History of coronary, cerebral or peripheral vascular disease
- History of cardiac conduction abnormality or heart failure
- History of advanced liver disease
- Active malignancy
- Major Central or Peripheral Nervous System disease
- History of human immunodeficiency virus infection
Show all 13Show fewer
- Contraindication to beta-blockers, including hypersensitivity to beta-blocker and bronchospastic disease
- Female in pregnancy or not able to practice effective contraception during the study period
- Concomitant acetaminophen use
- Currently utilizing unblinded real-time continuous glucose monitoring
- Advanced diabetic microvascular complications including retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy
- Inability to understand or cooperate with study procedure, including performing glucometer glucose assessment a minimum of four times a day, carrying glucose tablets and following standardized hypoglycemia treatment, completing hypoglycemia diary, wearing continuous glucose monitoring, and using a single glucometer
- Recent or current use or involvement in clinical studies of other therapies (e.g. opioid antagonist, SSRI, behavioral modification, relaxation of glycemic control) that may improve hypoglycemia awareness or prevent impaired hypoglycemia awareness development
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Propranolol as a Treatment for Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes
Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia is common in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients. Impaired hypoglycemia awareness increases severe hypoglycemia risk by six-fold. Severe hypoglycemia compromises quality of life and can potentially cause death. The long-term goal of this pilot study is to lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to improve hypoglycemia awareness and thus prevent severe hypoglycemia development in T1DM population with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia.
It is hypothesized that propranolol will improve hypoglycemia recognition in T1DM. The specific aims of the study are to determine whether propranolol treatment improves subjects' recognition of hypoglycemic episodes, and improves hypoglycemic awareness scores; whether propranolol favorably increases hypoglycemia blood glucose nadir, decreases onset-to-treatment/recovery time (i.e. hypoglycemia duration), and reduces hypoglycemia/severe hypoglycemia frequency; and, whether propranolol reduces fear of hypoglycemia and improves overall blood glucose control.
Read the detailed description
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can lead to serious and devastating complications, including microvascular (retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy) and cardiovascular disease. Both diabetic microvascular and cardiovascular complications can be reduced with intensive insulin therapy and strict blood glucose control which target hemoglobin A1C to less than 7%. However, tighter glycemic control correlates with a higher incidence of hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia. Recurring exposure to hypoglycemia leads to an attenuated sympathoadrenal response to hypoglycemia (which is termed hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure), and thus a loss or decrease in neurogenic hypoglycemic symptoms (i.e. impaired awareness of hypoglycemia). Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia is associated with a six-fold increased risk of severe hypoglycemia and physician or patient-directed higher glycemic goals. Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia is therefore a major barrier in diabetes management, by precluding optimal glycemic control and realization of its full benefits.
Several therapeutic strategies have been proposed to improve hypoglycemia awareness in T1DM patients. A temporal increase in glycemic goal only sustains hypoglycemia awareness recovery for a short-term. Islet transplantation is invasive, extremely expensive and requires life-long use of immunosuppressants. A widely available and affordable treatment with sustained efficacy for improving hypoglycemia awareness is therefore in urgent need. Pharmaceutical agents targeting potential mechanisms that contribute to the development of impaired hypoglycemia awareness have been proposed, including beta-blockers, opioid receptor antagonists and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, none of these agents has been approved for the treatment of impaired hypoglycemia awareness.
The current pilot study will examine the clinical use of beta-blockers, specifically propranolol, for the treatment of impaired hypoglycemia awareness. In a physiological condition, hypoglycemia leads to counterregulatory hormone responses, including catecholamines. Catecholamine elevation mediates the development of neurogenic symptoms, including palpitation, anxiety and diaphoresis, and patient's recognition of a hypoglycemic episode. Previous study suggests that recurring hypoglycemic events, potentially through repeated ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) noradrenergic system activation, dampen the counterregulatory hormone response to hypoglycemia. In addition, carvedilol (a non-specific beta-blocker) prevented hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure development in rats made recurrently hypoglycemic. Consistent with these findings, propranolol, which crosses blood brain barrier and blocks beta-2 adrenergic receptors, has been shown to prevent hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in healthy human subjects. Thus, an intervention which can block the propagating mechanism(s) (i.e. repeated activation of beta2-adrenergic receptors) will likely lead to sympathoadrenal function improvement, and thus increase hypoglycemic symptoms and hypoglycemia awareness.
Beta-blocker is one of the most extensively used medication classes in the United States, and has been commonly utilized in diabetes patients for cardiac diseases. Although beta-blocker may theoretically attenuate hypoglycemic symptoms or lead to worsening of hypoglycemia, multiple studies have proven that beta-blockers increase hypoglycemic symptoms and can be safely used in insulin-dependent diabetes patients. In particular, a retrospective study included more than 13,000 patients and examined the relationship between antihypertensive use and hypoglycemia, and this study supported that beta-blocker use was not associated with an increase in severe hypoglycemia. As well, in a recent post-hoc analysis of a large type 2 diabetes intensive insulin therapy study (ACCORD), the group receiving beta-blocker and intensive insulin therapy had fewer cardiovascular events and comparable all-cause and cardiovascular death events compared to the group receiving beta-blocker and conventional therapy; this is thus evident for the safety of beta-blocker usage in patients undergoing intensive insulin therapy. With the safety data and previous basic/clinical observations, it is therefore proposed that propranolol is a strong testing candidate for potential hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure treatment.
- Conditions
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Being tested
- Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended Release, Placebo oral capsule
- Keywords
- Hypoglycemia, Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia, Propranolol
- Medical subject headings
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Hypoglycemia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended ReleaseDrug
Also called propranolol Long Acting (LA)
Propranolol capsule over-encapsulated to match placebo for blinding
Placebo oral capsuleDrug
Also called placebo
Placebo capsule over-encapsulated to match propranolol for blinding
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Propranolol | Experimental | After enrollment and the initial two-week continuous glucose monitoring assessment, study subjects randomized to the Propranolol Arm will be treated with Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended Release daily for four weeks. Receives: Drug: Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended Release |
| Placebo | Experimental | After enrollment and the initial two-week continuous glucose monitoring assessment, study subjects randomized to the Placebo Arm will be treated with matching placebo oral capsule daily for four weeks. Receives: Drug: Placebo oral capsule |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Ratio of Self-reported Hypoglycemic Episodes to Total Hypoglycemic Episodes Determined by Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
A subject's self-reported hypoglycemic episode is defined by a hypoglycemic symptom record on the hypoglycemia diary with a confirmatory glucose value (glucometer value < 70 mg/dL), or an incidental glucometer value < 70 mg/dL if no hypoglycemia symptom develops. A single CGM hypoglycemic episode is defined by any CGM readings < 70 mg/dL, followed by at least one reading ≥ 70 mg/dL from the Dexcom Professional Mobile CGM system. Self-reported and CGM assessment of hypoglycemic episodes will be conducted for two weeks before study drug intervention and two weeks after study drug intervention. The average change in the ratio of self-reported hypoglycemic episodes to total (CGM) episodes will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms
Measured: 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes (15)
Gold Questionnaire Score for Hypoglycemia Awareness
Subjects will complete the Gold questionnaire for hypoglycemia awareness at the baseline and at the last visit of the intervention period. The Gold questionnaire is comprised of one question to evaluate the hypoglycemia awareness, with scores from 1 to 7, representing from normal to minimal/no hypoglycemia awareness. The average change in Gold questionnaire score from baseline to the last visit will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 4 weeks
Clarke Questionnaire Score for Hypoglycemia Awareness
Subjects will complete the Clarke questionnaire for hypoglycemia awareness at the baseline and at the last visit of the intervention period. The Clarke questionnaire is comprised of eight questions to evaluate the hypoglycemia awareness. The answer for each individual question will represent a score (0 or 1). These scores will be summed together to a final score from 0 to 7, representing from normal to minimal/no hypoglycemia awareness. The average change in Clarke questionnaire score from baseline to the last visit will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 4 weeks
Pederson-Bjergaard Questionnaire Score for Hypoglycemia Awareness
Subjects will complete the Pederson-Bjergaard questionnaire for hypoglycemia awareness at the baseline and at the last visit of the intervention period. The Pederson-Bjergaard questionnaire is comprised of one question to evaluate the hypoglycemia awareness, with answers of "Always", "sometimes", "occasionally", "never" or "Do not know". Each answer will represent an awareness status. The change in Pederson-Bjergaard questionnaire status from baseline to the last visit will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 4 weeks
Nadir Glucose Level
Nadir glucose level during each hypoglycemic episode will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The average of nadir blood glucose levels will be calculated and the change will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Nadir Glucose Level in Categories
Nadir glucose level during each hypoglycemic episode will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The number of hypoglycemic events will be totaled in the severity categories of nadir glucose level: < 70 mg/dL; < 60 mg/dL; < 56 mg/dL; < 50 mg/dL; and < 40 mg/dL. The change in the number of hypoglycemic events in these categories will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Hypoglycemia Duration
Duration of hypoglycemia will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The total duration of hypoglycemia (in minutes) will be calculated for each duration categories of hypoglycemia: <15 minutes, ≥ 15 minutes, ≥ 30 minutes, ≥ 45 minutes and ≥ 60 minutes. The change in the total time of hypoglycemia in these categories will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Blood Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Blood glucose will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The AUC of blood glucose will be calculated for each severity categories of nadir glucose level: < 70 mg/dL; < 60 mg/dL; < 56 mg/dL; < 50 mg/dL; and < 40 mg/dL. The change in AUC of these categories will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Onset-to-Diagnosis
The time of hypoglycemic symptom and glucometer reading of each hypoglycemic episode will be documented by study subjects in the hypoglycemia diary, and the onset time of hypoglycemia will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The duration of hypoglycemia onset-to-diagnosis will be calculated as the time difference between hypoglycemia onset as recorded on CGM, and documented hypoglycemic symptom and glucometer reading, whichever is the earliest. The change in the average duration of hypoglycemia onset-to-diagnosis will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Onset-to-Treatment
The time of hypoglycemia treatment of each hypoglycemic episode will be documented by study subjects in the hypoglycemia diary, and the onset time of hypoglycemia will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The duration of hypoglycemia onset-to-treatment will be calculated as the time difference between hypoglycemia onset as recorded on CGM, and documented hypoglycemia treatment. The change in the average duration of hypoglycemia onset-to-treatment will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Diagnosis-to-Recovery
The time of hypoglycemic symptom and glucometer reading of each hypoglycemic episode will be documented by study subjects in the hypoglycemia diary, and the recovery time of hypoglycemia will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The duration of hypoglycemia diagnosis-to-recovery will be calculated as the time difference between the documented hypoglycemic symptom and glucometer reading, whichever is the earliest, and hypoglycemia recovery as recorded on CGM. The change in the average duration of hypoglycemia diagnosis-to-recovery will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Treatment-to-Recovery
The time of hypoglycemia treatment of each hypoglycemic episode will be documented by study subjects in the hypoglycemia diary, and the recovery time of hypoglycemia will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The duration of hypoglycemia treatment-to-recovery will be calculated as the time difference between the documented hypoglycemia treatment and hypoglycemia recovery as recorded on CGM. The change in the average duration of hypoglycemia treatment-to-recovery will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Total Hypoglycemia Episodes
Hypoglycemia will be reported by patients detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at the baseline and at end of the treatment period. The total number of hypoglycemic episodes as defined by CGM readings of < 70 mg/dL will be counted, and the changes in the number will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Total Severe Hypoglycemia Episodes
Severe hypoglycemia is a clinical event defined by any hypoglycemic episode requiring outside help in the treatment administration of the particular hypoglycemic episode. Severe hypoglycemia episodes will be recorded by hypoglycemia diary during a 2-week interval at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The total number of hypoglycemia/severe hypoglycemia episodes as defined by CGM readings of < 70 mg/dL will be counted and the change will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 week
Fear of Hypoglycemia Score
Subjects will complete the Fear of Hypoglycemia Questionnaire at baseline and the last visit of the intervention period. The average change in Fear of Hypoglycemia Questionnaire score from baseline to 4 weeks will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 4 weeks
Mean Blood Glucose
Blood glucose will be detected by CGM during a 2-week interval at the baseline and at the end of the treatment period. The average change will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms.
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 May 2017
- Study start19 Oct 2017
- Primary completion19 Dec 2019
- Study completion19 Dec 2019
Why it stopped: Statistical power could not be achieved due to low enrollment.
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (20)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Type 1 Diabetes MellitusStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 2 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Anu Sharma
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Anu Sharma, University of Utah
- Investigators
- Anu Sharma, MD, Principal investigator, University of Utah
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03161964
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB #101995
- Status last verified
- Aug 2020
- First submitted
- 17 May 2017
- Last updated
- 24 Aug 2020
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group; Nathan DM, Genuth S, Lachin J, Cleary P, Crofford O, Davis M, Rand L, Siebert C. The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of long-term complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 30;329(14):977-86. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199309303291401.
PubMed 8366922Hypoglycemia in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group. Diabetes. 1997 Feb;46(2):271-86.
PubMed 9000705Cryer PE. The barrier of hypoglycemia in diabetes. Diabetes. 2008 Dec;57(12):3169-76. doi: 10.2337/db08-1084. No abstract available.
PubMed 19033403Cryer PE. Mechanisms of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2013 Jul 25;369(4):362-72. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1215228. No abstract available.
PubMed 23883381Geddes J, Schopman JE, Zammitt NN, Frier BM. Prevalence of impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia in adults with Type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med. 2008 Apr;25(4):501-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2008.02413.x.
PubMed 18387080Cranston I, Lomas J, Maran A, Macdonald I, Amiel SA. Restoration of hypoglycaemia awareness in patients with long-duration insulin-dependent diabetes. Lancet. 1994 Jul 30;344(8918):283-7. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)91336-6.
PubMed 7914259Dagogo-Jack S, Rattarasarn C, Cryer PE. Reversal of hypoglycemia unawareness, but not defective glucose counterregulation, in IDDM. Diabetes. 1994 Dec;43(12):1426-34. doi: 10.2337/diab.43.12.1426.
PubMed 7958494Rickels MR, Peleckis AJ, Markmann E, Dalton-Bakes C, Kong SM, Teff KL, Naji A. Long-Term Improvement in Glucose Control and Counterregulation by Islet Transplantation for Type 1 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Nov;101(11):4421-4430. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-1649. Epub 2016 Aug 29.
PubMed 27571180Szepietowska B, Zhu W, Chan O, Horblitt A, Dziura J, Sherwin RS. Modulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in the ventromedial hypothalamus influences counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia. Diabetes. 2011 Dec;60(12):3154-8. doi: 10.2337/db11-0432. Epub 2011 Oct 19.
PubMed 22013013Chan O, Sherwin R. Influence of VMH fuel sensing on hypoglycemic responses. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Dec;24(12):616-24. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.08.005. Epub 2013 Sep 21.
PubMed 24063974Barnes MB, Lawson MA, Beverly JL. Rate of fall in blood glucose and recurrent hypoglycemia affect glucose dynamics and noradrenergic activation in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011 Dec;301(6):R1815-20. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00171.2011. Epub 2011 Sep 28.
PubMed 21957162Ramanathan R, Cryer PE. Adrenergic mediation of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure. Diabetes. 2011 Feb;60(2):602-6. doi: 10.2337/db10-1374.
PubMed 21270270UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group. Efficacy of atenolol and captopril in reducing risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes: UKPDS 39. UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group. BMJ. 1998 Sep 12;317(7160):713-20.
PubMed 9732338Barnett AH, Leslie D, Watkins PJ. Can insulin-treated diabetics be given beta-adrenergic blocking drugs? Br Med J. 1980 Apr 5;280(6219):976-8. doi: 10.1136/bmj.280.6219.976.
PubMed 6106521Shorr RI, Ray WA, Daugherty JR, Griffin MR. Antihypertensives and the risk of serious hypoglycemia in older persons using insulin or sulfonylureas. JAMA. 1997 Jul 2;278(1):40-3.
PubMed 9207336
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Aug 2020. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Propranolol as a Treatment for Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03161964
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB #101995
- Conditions
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Keywords
- Hypoglycemia, Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia, Propranolol
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- TerminatedReason stopped: Statistical power could not be achieved due to low enrollment.
- Enrolment
- 2 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Anu SharmaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 19 Oct 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Dec 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 19 Dec 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 May 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 24 Aug 2020
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia is common in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients. Impaired hypoglycemia awareness increases severe hypoglycemia risk by six-fold. Severe hypoglycemia compromises quality of life and can potentially cause death. The long-term goal of this pilot study is to lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to improve hypoglycemia awareness and thus prevent severe hypoglycemia development in T1DM population with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia.
It is hypothesized that propranolol will improve hypoglycemia recognition in T1DM. The specific aims of the study are to determine whether propranolol treatment improves subjects' recognition of hypoglycemic episodes, and improves hypoglycemic awareness scores; whether propranolol favorably increases hypoglycemia blood glucose nadir, decreases onset-to-treatment/recovery time (i.e. hypoglycemia duration), and reduces hypoglycemia/severe hypoglycemia frequency; and, whether propranolol reduces fear of hypoglycemia and improves overall blood glucose control.
Detailed description
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can lead to serious and devastating complications, including microvascular (retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy) and cardiovascular disease. Both diabetic microvascular and cardiovascular complications can be reduced with intensive insulin therapy and strict blood glucose control which target hemoglobin A1C to less than 7%. However, tighter glycemic control correlates with a higher incidence of hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia. Recurring exposure to hypoglycemia leads to an attenuated sympathoadrenal response to hypoglycemia (which is termed hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure), and thus a loss or decrease in neurogenic hypoglycemic symptoms (i.e. impaired awareness of hypoglycemia). Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia is associated with a six-fold increased risk of severe hypoglycemia and physician or patient-directed higher glycemic goals. Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia is therefore a major barrier in diabetes management, by precluding optimal glycemic control and realization of its full benefits.
Several therapeutic strategies have been proposed to improve hypoglycemia awareness in T1DM patients. A temporal increase in glycemic goal only sustains hypoglycemia awareness recovery for a short-term. Islet transplantation is invasive, extremely expensive and requires life-long use of immunosuppressants. A widely available and affordable treatment with sustained efficacy for improving hypoglycemia awareness is therefore in urgent need. Pharmaceutical agents targeting potential mechanisms that contribute to the development of impaired hypoglycemia awareness have been proposed, including beta-blockers, opioid receptor antagonists and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, none of these agents has been approved for the treatment of impaired hypoglycemia awareness.
The current pilot study will examine the clinical use of beta-blockers, specifically propranolol, for the treatment of impaired hypoglycemia awareness. In a physiological condition, hypoglycemia leads to counterregulatory hormone responses, including catecholamines. Catecholamine elevation mediates the development of neurogenic symptoms, including palpitation, anxiety and diaphoresis, and patient's recognition of a hypoglycemic episode. Previous study suggests that recurring hypoglycemic events, potentially through repeated ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) noradrenergic system activation, dampen the counterregulatory hormone response to hypoglycemia. In addition, carvedilol (a non-specific beta-blocker) prevented hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure development in rats made recurrently hypoglycemic. Consistent with these findings, propranolol, which crosses blood brain barrier and blocks beta-2 adrenergic receptors, has been shown to prevent hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in healthy human subjects. Thus, an intervention which can block the propagating mechanism(s) (i.e. repeated activation of beta2-adrenergic receptors) will likely lead to sympathoadrenal function improvement, and thus increase hypoglycemic symptoms and hypoglycemia awareness.
Beta-blocker is one of the most extensively used medication classes in the United States, and has been commonly utilized in diabetes patients for cardiac diseases. Although beta-blocker may theoretically attenuate hypoglycemic symptoms or lead to worsening of hypoglycemia, multiple studies have proven that beta-blockers increase hypoglycemic symptoms and can be safely used in insulin-dependent diabetes patients. In particular, a retrospective study included more than 13,000 patients and examined the relationship between antihypertensive use and hypoglycemia, and this study supported that beta-blocker use was not associated with an increase in severe hypoglycemia. As well, in a recent post-hoc analysis of a large type 2 diabetes intensive insulin therapy study (ACCORD), the group receiving beta-blocker and intensive insulin therapy had fewer cardiovascular events and comparable all-cause and cardiovascular death events compared to the group receiving beta-blocker and conventional therapy; this is thus evident for the safety of beta-blocker usage in patients undergoing intensive insulin therapy. With the safety data and previous basic/clinical observations, it is therefore proposed that propranolol is a strong testing candidate for potential hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Propranolol | Experimental | Drug: Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended ReleaseAfter enrollment and the initial two-week continuous glucose monitoring assessment, study subjects randomized to the Propranolol Arm will be treated with Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended Release daily for four weeks. |
| Placebo | Experimental | Drug: Placebo oral capsuleAfter enrollment and the initial two-week continuous glucose monitoring assessment, study subjects randomized to the Placebo Arm will be treated with matching placebo oral capsule daily for four weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 59 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Subjects with Type 1 diabetes mellitus for more than 5 years with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia
- Age between 21 to 59 years old
- Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 9%; most recent value within 3 months
- No beta-blocker use history in the last 6 months
- Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- History of coronary, cerebral or peripheral vascular disease
- History of cardiac conduction abnormality or heart failure
- History of advanced liver disease
- Active malignancy
- Major Central or Peripheral Nervous System disease
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended ReleaseAlso: propranolol Long Acting (LA)Propranolol capsule over-encapsulated to match placebo for blinding | Drug | Propranolol |
| Placebo oral capsuleAlso: placeboPlacebo capsule over-encapsulated to match propranolol for blinding | Drug | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Ratio of Self-reported Hypoglycemic Episodes to Total Hypoglycemic Episodes Determined by Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
Time frame: 2 weeks
A subject's self-reported hypoglycemic episode is defined by a hypoglycemic symptom record on the hypoglycemia diary with a confirmatory glucose value (glucometer value < 70 mg/dL), or an incidental glucometer value < 70 mg/dL if no hypoglycemia symptom develops. A single CGM hypoglycemic episode is defined by any CGM readings < 70 mg/dL, followed by at least one reading ≥ 70 mg/dL from the Dexcom Professional Mobile CGM system. Self-reported and CGM assessment of hypoglycemic episodes will be conducted for two weeks before study drug intervention and two weeks after study drug intervention. The average change in the ratio of self-reported hypoglycemic episodes to total (CGM) episodes will be compared between the propranolol and placebo treatment arms
15 secondary outcomes
Gold Questionnaire Score for Hypoglycemia Awareness
Time frame: 4 weeks
Clarke Questionnaire Score for Hypoglycemia Awareness
Time frame: 4 weeks
Pederson-Bjergaard Questionnaire Score for Hypoglycemia Awareness
Time frame: 4 weeks
Nadir Glucose Level
Time frame: 2 weeks
Nadir Glucose Level in Categories
Time frame: 2 weeks
Hypoglycemia Duration
Time frame: 2 weeks
Blood Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Time frame: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Onset-to-Diagnosis
Time frame: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Onset-to-Treatment
Time frame: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Diagnosis-to-Recovery
Time frame: 2 weeks
Duration of Hypoglycemia Treatment-to-Recovery
Time frame: 2 weeks
Total Hypoglycemia Episodes
Time frame: 2 weeks
Total Severe Hypoglycemia Episodes
Time frame: 2 week
Fear of Hypoglycemia Score
Time frame: 4 weeks
Mean Blood Glucose
Time frame: 2 weeks
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Aug 2020.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 8366922Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group; Nathan DM, Genuth S, Lachin J, Cleary P, Crofford O, Davis M, Rand L, Siebert C. The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of long-term complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 30;329(14):977-86. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199309303291401.
- Background: PubMed 9000705Hypoglycemia in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group. Diabetes. 1997 Feb;46(2):271-86.
- Background: PubMed 19033403Cryer PE. The barrier of hypoglycemia in diabetes. Diabetes. 2008 Dec;57(12):3169-76. doi: 10.2337/db08-1084. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 23883381Cryer PE. Mechanisms of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2013 Jul 25;369(4):362-72. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1215228. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 18387080Geddes J, Schopman JE, Zammitt NN, Frier BM. Prevalence of impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia in adults with Type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med. 2008 Apr;25(4):501-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2008.02413.x.
- Background: PubMed 7914259Cranston I, Lomas J, Maran A, Macdonald I, Amiel SA. Restoration of hypoglycaemia awareness in patients with long-duration insulin-dependent diabetes. Lancet. 1994 Jul 30;344(8918):283-7. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)91336-6.
- Background: PubMed 7958494Dagogo-Jack S, Rattarasarn C, Cryer PE. Reversal of hypoglycemia unawareness, but not defective glucose counterregulation, in IDDM. Diabetes. 1994 Dec;43(12):1426-34. doi: 10.2337/diab.43.12.1426.
- Background: PubMed 27571180Rickels MR, Peleckis AJ, Markmann E, Dalton-Bakes C, Kong SM, Teff KL, Naji A. Long-Term Improvement in Glucose Control and Counterregulation by Islet Transplantation for Type 1 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Nov;101(11):4421-4430. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-1649. Epub 2016 Aug 29.
- Background: PubMed 22013013Szepietowska B, Zhu W, Chan O, Horblitt A, Dziura J, Sherwin RS. Modulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in the ventromedial hypothalamus influences counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia. Diabetes. 2011 Dec;60(12):3154-8. doi: 10.2337/db11-0432. Epub 2011 Oct 19.
- Background: PubMed 24063974Chan O, Sherwin R. Influence of VMH fuel sensing on hypoglycemic responses. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Dec;24(12):616-24. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.08.005. Epub 2013 Sep 21.
- Background: PubMed 21957162Barnes MB, Lawson MA, Beverly JL. Rate of fall in blood glucose and recurrent hypoglycemia affect glucose dynamics and noradrenergic activation in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011 Dec;301(6):R1815-20. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00171.2011. Epub 2011 Sep 28.
- Background: PubMed 21270270Ramanathan R, Cryer PE. Adrenergic mediation of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure. Diabetes. 2011 Feb;60(2):602-6. doi: 10.2337/db10-1374.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Anu Sharma, MD principal investigator
University of Utah
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Propranolol 80 Mg Oral Capsule, Extended Release in people with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, run by Anu Sharma at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Aug 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 24 Aug 2020). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Ratio of Self-reported Hypoglycemic Episodes to Total Hypoglycemic Episodes Determined by Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) (time frame: 2 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03161964, which also lists 20 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Aug 2020.