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Therapeutic Strategies for Microvascular Dysfunction in Type 1 Diabetes

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Endothelial Dysfunction
Interventions
Behavioral: exercise training
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT05478707
Lead Sponsor
University of Virginia
Brief Summary

The investigators will test the hypothesis that, in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonism (GLP-1RA, i.e. dulaglutide) and exercise training each enhance insulin-mediated skeletal muscle microvascular perfusion via attenuating endothelial oxidative stress and thereby improving endothelial function.

Detailed Description

In this study, 64 (n=48 needed to complete) adult participants with type 1 diabetes will be randomized (1:1:1) to 14-weeks of one of 3 interventions: 1) dulaglutide, 2) placebo, or 3) exercise training.

Participants will undergo two study admissions at baseline and 14 weeks. Prior to each admission, participants will wear a continuous glucose monitor (Dexcom G6 Professional) for 10 days to assess glycemic variability (GV). Prior to admissions, they will undergo cardiorespiratory fitness testing. On study admission days, participants will undergo an antecubital vein endothelial cell biopsy prior to commencing vascular testing. From the harvested endothelial cells, the investigators will quantify endothelial cell reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein expression relevant to insulin-mediated endothelial function. Vascular testing will include contrast enhanced ultrasound of quadriceps muscle to determine microvascular blood volume (MBV). The investigators will also measure brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD). Quadriceps skeletal muscle oxygenation (HHb) will also be measured. These vascular and muscle oxygenation measurements will be conducted before and after a 120-minute euglycemic insulin clamp which will measure insulin sensitivity based on glucose infusion rate (GIR).

This randomized, placebo-controlled study will assess whether GLP-1 receptor agonism with dulaglutide or exercise training improves insulin-mediated skeletal muscle microvascular perfusion. The investigators will assess for predictive relationships between microvascular perfusion and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), insulin sensitivity (GIR), endothelial reactive oxygen species (ROS), and glycemic variability (GV).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
64
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Exercise trainingexercise trainingSupervised high intensity interval training on a stationary bicycle will be conducted 3 days per week for 14 weeks. Participants will warm up at low intensity for 3 min then repeat 1-min bouts of 100% peak power output followed by 1-min recovery at 50 W. Training will start with 6 intervals per session, increasing by 2 intervals every 2 weeks. Sessions will end with a 10-min cool-down.
PlaceboPlaceboSaline subcutaneous injection, volume matched to dulaglutide, i.e. 0.5 mL weekly for 14 weeks
DulaglutideDulaglutideDulaglutide (0.75 mg/0.5 mL weekly for 2 weeks, then 1.5 mg/0.5 mL weekly for 12 weeks) subcutaneous injection
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Microvascular blood volume (MBV)At baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment.

Insulin mediated change in muscle microvascular blood volume (MBV). A measure of microvascular nitric oxide dependent endothelial function

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD)At baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment

Post-occlusive percent (%) change in diameter. A measure of conduit artery nitric oxide-dependent endothelial function.

Glucose infusion rate (GIR)At baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment

Mean GIR over the final 30 minutes of euglycemic insulin clamp; a measure of insulin sensitivity

Cardiorespiratory fitness, maximum consumption of oxygen (VO2max)At baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment

Assessed by cycle ergometer exercise testing.

Skeletal muscle oxygenation, deoxyhemoglobin (HHb)At baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment. Measured before and after insulin clamp.

Assessed by frequency domain multi-distance near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitor at the quadriceps muscle

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Virginia

🇺🇸

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

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