MedPath

Fructose in Exercising Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes Using Insulin Degludec

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Complications
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Fructose
Other: Plain water
Registration Number
NCT03497260
Lead Sponsor
Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Brief Summary

To determine and compare the time-to-hypoglycaemia (defined as plasma glucose \<3.9mmol/L) in individuals with type 1 diabetes treated with ultra-Long acting insulin degludec during aerobic exercise with or without prior ingestion of a single oral fructose load.

Detailed Description

Glycaemic control remains complex and demanding during exercise for type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients. Traditional treatment guidelines for exercise emphasizing the reduction of insulin doses and/or ingestion of additional carbohydrates are of limited applicability for patients treated with ultra-long acting basal insulin analogues. Dose reductions may require two to three days for modern basal insulin analogues in order to achieve an adapted steady state, hereby increasing the risk of inadequate insulin-following exercise. If T1D patients engage in recreational exercise - as recommended by every international treatment guideline - current treatment strategies may simply not be sufficient.

As a consequence for patients treated with modern basal insulin analogues, it seems more adequate not to modify insulin doses but to apply alternative strategies for recreational exercise. The ingestion of fructose, an insulin-independent carbohydrate, which increases lipid oxidation but attenuates the dependency on carbohydrates may offer a novel strategy. Up to date, only preliminary data for fructose have been produced regarding clinical effectiveness and underlying mechanisms in the prevention of hypoglycaemia. The present comprehensive study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy, feasibility, and safety of a pre-exercise oral fructose load without modification of insulin degludec in T1D patients.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
15
Inclusion Criteria
  • Type 1 diabetes as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) for at least 1 year or confirmed negative C-peptide (<100pmol/l with concomitant blood glucose >4 mmol/l)
  • Male subjects aged between 18-45 years
  • HbA1c <8.0% (64mmol/mol) based on analysis from the central laboratory unit of the University Hospital Bern.
  • Basal/Bolus-insulin regimen with insulin degludec for at least 3 months, with good knowledge of insulin self-management
  • Regular physical activity (at least 30 min of moderate exercise 3 times weekly)
  • Written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Relevant diabetic complications as judged by the investigator
  • Total daily insulin dose >2 IU/kg/day
  • Hypoglycaemia unawareness (Gold score > 4) or any episode of severe hypoglycaemia as defined by the American Diabetes Association within the last 6 months
  • Physical or psychological disease likely to interfere with the normal conduct of the study and interpretation of the study results as judged by the investigator
  • Current treatment with drugs known to interfere with metabolism, e.g. systemic corticosteroids, statins etc.
  • Known fructose-intolerance or malabsorption
  • Known allergy to one of the study drugs

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Fructose in water first, water only secondFructoseIntake of 20 g of fructose dissolved in 200 ml of tap water at first visit; intake of 200 ml of tap water at second visit
Fructose in water first, water only secondPlain waterIntake of 20 g of fructose dissolved in 200 ml of tap water at first visit; intake of 200 ml of tap water at second visit
Water only first, Fructose in water secondPlain waterIntake of 200 ml of tap water at first visit; intake of 200 ml of 20 g of fructose dissolved in 200 ml of tap water at second visit
Water only first, Fructose in water secondFructoseIntake of 200 ml of tap water at first visit; intake of 200 ml of 20 g of fructose dissolved in 200 ml of tap water at second visit
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time (in minutes) to hypoglycaemia (plasma glucose <3.9mmol/l)From time point 0 minutes (initiation of exercise) to time point 60 minutes (completion of exercise) or development of hypoglycaemia

The development of hypoglycaemia will be determined by repeated measurement of plasma glucose.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Glucose levels after exerciseFrom time point 0 minutes until time point 90 minutes

Plasma glucose will be measured repeatedly every 5 minutes

Lactate levels before exerciseFrom time point -30 minutes until time point 0 minutes (initiation of exercise)

Lactate will be measured repeatedly every 5 minutes

Lactate levels during exerciseFrom time point 0 minutes until time point 60 minutes (completion of exercise) or development of hypoglycaemia

Lactate will be measured repeatedly every 5 minutes

Lactate levels after exerciseFrom time point 0 minutes until time point 90 minutes

Lactate will be measured repeatedly every 5 minutes

Glucose levels before exerciseTime point -30 minutes until time point 0 minutes (initiation of exercise)

Plasma glucose will be measured repeatedly every 5 minutes

Glucose levels during exerciseFrom time point 0 minutes until time point 60 minutes (completion of exercise) or development of hypoglycaemia

Plasma glucose will be measured repeatedly every 5 minutes

Insulin levels before exerciseTime point -30 minutes until time point 0 minutes (initiation of exercise)

Lactate will be measured repeatedly every 15 minutes

Insulin levels during exerciseFrom time point 0 minutes until time point 60 minutes (completion of exercise) or development of hypoglycaemia

Insulin will be measured repeatedly every 15 minutes

Insulin levels after exerciseFrom time point 0 minutes until time point 150 minutes

Insulin will be measured repeatedly every 15 minutes

Heart rate before exerciseTime point -30 minutes until time point 0 minutes (initiation of exercise)

Heart rate will be measured using an electro-cardio-gramme

Heart rate during exerciseFrom time point 0 minutes until time point 60 minutes (completion of exercise) or development of hypoglycaemia

Heart rate will be measured using an electro-cardio-gramme

Oxygen consumption before exerciseBetween 15 minutes and 5 minutes before initiation of exercise

Oxygen consumption will be measured via spirometry

Oxygen consumption during exerciseBetween 15 minutes and 20 minutes during exercise

Oxygen consumption will be measured via spirometry

Carbon dioxide production before exerciseBetween 15 minutes and 5 minutes before initiation of exercise

Carbon dioxide production will be measured via spirometry

Carbon dioxide production during exerciseBetween 15 minutes and 20 minutes during exercise

Carbon dioxide production will be measured via spirometry

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Bern University Hospital

🇨🇭

Bern, Switzerland

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath