Improving Glucose Variability in Type 1 Diabetes and Its Effect on the Underlying Homeostatic Metabolic Pathways of Angiogenesis

The study will have two parts. The first phase will look at all current paediatric type 1 diabetics in Tayside on continuous subcutaneous insulin pump therapy and measure their levels of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), erythropoietin and cortisol. This will help answer the question; Does glucose control (as expressed by HbA1c ) effect levels of HIF, VEGF, erythropoietin and cortisol? To our knowledge this will be the first human study comparing how HIF, VEGF, erythropoietin and cortisol are affected by glucose control

The second phase of the trial will chose 10 patients on insulin pump therapy and using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), monitor their glucose variability over a period of 6 weeks. After this period their levels of HIF, VEGF, erythropoietin and cortisol will again be measured. This will help answer the question of whether there is a relationship between glucose variability and levels of HIF, VEGF, erythropoietin and cortisol. As we know that these factors are stimulated by episodes of hypo and hyperglycaemia, it is hypothesised that these factors will be lower in participants that demonstrate reduced glucose variability. It will be the first study to give detailed information on the relationship between HIF, VEGF, erythropoietin and cortisol and glucose variability.

By using telemedicine sessions during weeks 1, 3 and 5 of the participants wearing CGM we will aim to improve the participant's glucose variability. This will help give further information about glucose variability and the above factors as well as giving further evidence for the use of telemedicine and CGM to improve glycaemic control in adolescent diabetics.