Efficacy of Glucagon In the Prevention of Hypoglycemia During Mild Exercise

Efficacy of Glucagon In the Prevention of Hypoglycemia During Mild Exercise

The study will consist of two study arms. Each arm will include a 24-96 hour outpatient run-in period prior to their exercise visit wearing the bi-hormonal bionic pancreas. In random order subjects will then complete two approximately 5-hour exercise visits, one wearing the bi-hormonal bionic pancreas and one wearing the insulin-only bionic pancreas.

Twenty subjects will participate in two experimental periods. Each will include a 24-96 hour outpatient run-in period prior to their exercise visit wearing the bi-hormonal bionic pancreas. This will allow the bionic pancreas to adapt to their diabetes management needs. After the run-in period is complete, the subjects will participate in an exercise visit during which they will arrive fasting and remain fasted until the visit is completed. Subjects will walk on a treadmill for up to 1 hour at a comfortable walking pace. Plasma glucose (PG) measurements will be performed frequently. In one experimental period the bionic pancreas will remain in the bihormonal configuration and will deliver glucagon as needed during the exercise visit. In the other experimental period the glucagon will be replaced with a placebo during the exercise visit. The two experimental periods will be performed in random order. The study will be performed in single-blind fashion in that the participant will not know whether the bionic pancreas glucagon pump is filled with glucagon or placebo during the exercise visits. The outpatient run-in period will always be with the bi-hormonal bionic pancreas delivering glucagon.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years and have had clinical type 1 diabetes for at least one year
• Diabetes managed using an insulin pump for ≥ 6 months
• Have used a CGM for ≥ 4 weeks over the last 12 months (usage does not need to be consecutive)
• Prescription medication regimen stable for > 1 month (except for medications that will not affect the safety of the study and are not expected to affect any outcome of the study, in the judgment of the principal investigator)
• Live within 120 minute radius of Massachusetts General Hospital
• Willing to remain within a 250 mile radius of the central monitoring location during the outpatient run-in period. No air travel will be allowed, and subjects will still be expected to follow the visit schedule as described.
• Willing to spend the night prior to both exercise visits in a hotel and fast overnight prior to exercise
• Willing to wear two steel cannula infusion sets (6 mm Contact Detach) and one Dexcom CGM sensor and change sets frequently (a new glucagon infusion set daily and a new insulin infusion set every other day during the outpatient run-in period)
• Have a mobile phone they will have access to at all times during the outpatient run-in period for making contact with study staff

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to provide informed consent (e.g. impaired cognition or judgment)

• Unable to safely comply with study procedures and reporting requirements (e.g. impairment of vision or dexterity that prevents safe operation of the bionic pancreas, impaired memory, unable to speak and read English)

• Current participation in another diabetes-related clinical trial that, in the judgment of the principal investigator, will compromise the results of this study or the safety of the subject

• Pregnancy (positive urine HCG), breast feeding, plan to become pregnant in the immediate future, or sexually active without use of contraception

  • Subjects must use acceptable contraception for the two weeks prior to the study, throughout the study and for the two weeks following the study.
  • Acceptable contraception methods include:Oral contraceptive pill (OCP), Intrauterine Device (IUD, hormonal or copper), Male condoms, Female condoms, Diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide, Contraceptive patch (such as OrthoEvra), Contraceptive implant (such as Implanon, Nexplanon), Vaginal ring (such as NuvaRing), Progestin shot (such as Depo-Provera), Male partner with a vasectomy proven to be effective by semen analysis

• Current alcohol abuse (intake averaging > 3 drinks daily in last 30 days) or other substance abuse (use within the last 6 months of controlled substances other than marijuana without a prescription)

• Unwilling or unable or to avoid use of drugs that may dull the sensorium, reduce sensitivity to symptoms of hypoglycemia, or hinder decision making during the period of participation in the study (use of beta blockers will be allowed as long as the dose is stable and the subject does not meet the criteria for hypoglycemia unawareness while taking that stable dose, but use of benzodiazepines or narcotics or other central nervous system depressants, even if by prescription, may be excluded according to the judgment of the principal investigator)

• History of liver disease that is expected to interfere with the anti-hypoglycemia action of glucagon (e.g. liver failure or cirrhosis). Other liver disease (i.e. active hepatitis, steatosis, active biliary disease, any tumor of the liver, hemochromatosis, glycogen storage disease) may exclude the subject if it causes significant compromise to liver function or may do so in an unpredictable fashion.

• Renal failure requiring dialysis

• Personal history of cystic fibrosis, severe pancreatitis, pancreatic tumor, pancreatectomy or any other pancreatic disease leading to diabetes mellitus.

• Any known history of coronary artery disease including, but not limited to, history of myocardial infarction, stress test showing ischemia, history of angina, or history of intervention such as coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention, or enzymatic lysis of a presumed coronary occlusion)

• Abnormal EKG consistent with coronary artery disease or increased risk of malignant arrhythmia including, but not limited to, evidence of active ischemia, prior myocardial infarction, proximal LAD critical stenosis (Wellen's sign), prolonged QT interval (> 440 ms). Non-specific ST segment and T wave changes are not grounds for exclusion in the absence of symptoms or history of heart disease. A reassuring evaluation by a cardiologist after an abnormal EKG finding may allow participation.

• Congestive heart failure (established history of CHF, lower extremity edema, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, or orthopnea)

• History of TIA or stroke

• Seizure disorder, history of any non-hypoglycemic seizure within the last two years, or ongoing treatment with anticonvulsants

• History of hypoglycemic seizures (grand-mal) or coma in the last year

• History of pheochromocytoma: fractionated metanephrines will be tested in patients with history increasing the risk for a catecholamine secreting tumor:

  • Episodic or treatment refractory (requiring 4 or more medications to achieve normotension) hypertension
  • Paroxysms of tachycardia, pallor, or headache
  • Personal or family history of MEN 2A, MEN 2B, neurofibromatosis, or von Hippel-Lindau disease
  • Adrenal tumor that has not undergone characterization for endocrine function

• Hypertension with systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥100 despite treatment

• Untreated or inadequately treated mental illness (indicators would include symptoms such as psychosis, hallucinations, mania, and any psychiatric hospitalization in the last year), or treatment with anti-psychotic medications that are known to affect glucose regulation.

• Electrically powered implants (e.g. cochlear implants, neurostimulators) that might be susceptible to RF interference

• Unable to completely avoid acetaminophen for duration of study

• History of adverse reaction to glucagon (including allergy) besides nausea and vomiting

• Established history of allergy or severe reaction to adhesive or tape that must be used in the study

• History of eating disorder within the last 2 years, such as anorexia, bulimia, or diabulemia or omission of insulin to manipulate weight

• History of intentional, inappropriate administration of insulin leading to severe hypoglycemia requiring treatment

• Use of oral (e.g. thiazolidinediones, biguanides, sulfonylureas, glitinides, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors) or non-insulin injectable (GLP-1 agonists, amylin) anti-diabetic medications

• Lives in or frequents areas with poor Verizon wireless network coverage (which would prevent remote monitoring)

• Hemoglobin < 12 g/dl for men, < 11 g/dl for women

• Any factors that, in the opinion of the principal investigator would interfere with the safe completion of the study