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Effect of Food Composition on Postprandial Insulin Secretion in Neonatal Diabetes

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Neonatal Diabetes
Interventions
Other: High protein meal
Other: High carbohydrate meal
Drug: Paracetamol
Other: Fasting state - sulphonylurea only
Registration Number
NCT02921906
Lead Sponsor
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Brief Summary

Neonatal diabetes is diagnosed before 6 months of age and causes high blood glucose levels due to the pancreas not secreting insulin. Neonatal diabetes can be caused by a change in a DNA region called the KCNJ11 gene. KCNJ11 encodes a channel in the pancreas that acts as a switch to turn 'on' and 'off' insulin secretion. A change in KCNJ11 results in a faulty channel, which keeps insulin secretion 'switched off'. The diabetes can be treated with tablets called sulphonylureas that switch the pancreatic channel 'on', allowing it to secrete insulin in response to gut hormones called incretins. Previous research has shown that patients who switch from insulin to sulphonylureas have better blood glucose control, including fewer episodes of hypoglycaemia (glucose dropping too low), and also avoid the need for injections. It is thought that serious side effects from sulphonylureas are uncommon in KCNJ11 neonatal diabetes. Some patients report low glucose after meals and we think this may be because they make too much insulin if they eat a meal with protein but low amounts of carbohydrate. The investigators will test this by giving study participants different meals and measuring the amount of insulin, glucose and incretin hormone in the blood afterwards.

Detailed Description

Anecdotal evidence from routine clinical care suggests that patients with sulphonylurea-treated KCNJ11 neonatal diabetes, when they eat, may experience mild hypoglycaemia if the food consumed lacks carbohydrate. It has been suggested that this may be due to regulation of insulin secretion via the incretin pathway as opposed to the classical ATP pathway. Therefore the investigators hypothesise that foods with a relatively high protein content compared to those with a relatively high carbohydrate content will result in excessive insulin secretion and relatively lower glucose values in KCNJ11 patients. This would be in contrast to healthy control subjects or subjects with SU-treated T2D where the insulin secretion will be moderated by the ambient glucose via the classical ATP pathway. The investigators will formally study this hypothesis by comparing the insulin, glucose and incretin hormone responses to a high protein meal with a high carbohydrate meal in people with KCNJ11 neonatal diabetes, people without diabetes and people with sulphonylurea-treated Type 2 Diabetes. To assess whether any effect seen is due to direct stimulation of the beta cell by the sulphonylurea itself, people with KCNJ11 neonatal diabetes will also undergo the same tests in the fasting state, having taken the sulphonylurea in the absence of any food.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
16
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥8yrs.
  • Willing and able to provide informed consent (adults i.e. participants aged >16 years).
  • Willing and able to provide assent and parents willing to provide informed consent (children and young people <16 years).
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Age <8yrs.
  • Unable/unwilling to provide informed consent (adults).
  • Unable/unwilling to provide assent (children) or parents unwilling to provide informed consent.
  • Known liver disease or chronic renal impairment (EGFR <60ml/min).
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Non-diabetic controlsHigh protein mealPeople without diabetes.
Non-diabetic controlsHigh carbohydrate mealPeople without diabetes.
Controls with Type 2 DiabetesHigh protein mealPeople with Type 2 diabetes who are treated with sulphonylurea medication.
Neonatal diabetesFasting state - sulphonylurea onlyPeople with neonatal diabetes due to mutations in the KCNJ11 gene who are treated with sulphonylureas and not on insulin.
Neonatal diabetesHigh protein mealPeople with neonatal diabetes due to mutations in the KCNJ11 gene who are treated with sulphonylureas and not on insulin.
Controls with Type 2 DiabetesHigh carbohydrate mealPeople with Type 2 diabetes who are treated with sulphonylurea medication.
Neonatal diabetesHigh carbohydrate mealPeople with neonatal diabetes due to mutations in the KCNJ11 gene who are treated with sulphonylureas and not on insulin.
Neonatal diabetesParacetamolPeople with neonatal diabetes due to mutations in the KCNJ11 gene who are treated with sulphonylureas and not on insulin.
Non-diabetic controlsParacetamolPeople without diabetes.
Controls with Type 2 DiabetesParacetamolPeople with Type 2 diabetes who are treated with sulphonylurea medication.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Insulin levels240 minutes

Insulin AUC after each meal.

Glucose levels240 minutes

Glucose AUC after each meal.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
GLP-1 levels240 minutes

GLP-1 AUC after each meal.

Glucagon levels240 minutes

Glucagon AUC after each meal.

GIP levels240 minutes

GIP AUC after each meal.

Paracetamol levels240 minutes

Rate of change of paracetamol levels after each meal as marker of gastric emptying.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Exeter Clinical Research Facility

🇬🇧

Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom

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