Type 1 Diabetes Management Using a Very Low Carbohydrate Versus Standard Diet

NCT03710928 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: IRB-P00030039
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Despite major technological advances, management of type one diabetes mellitus (T1D) remains suboptimal, putting millions of people at risk for immediate and long-term complications. After meals, a mismatch between carbohydrate absorption rate and insulin action typically leads to alternating periods of hyper- and hypoglycemia. A conceptually promising approach to control both problems is dietary carbohydrate restriction to reduce postprandial blood glucose changes and insulin needs. In a prior survey study, the investigators documented exceptional glycemic control (HbA1c 5.67%) and low acute complication rates among 316 children and adults with T1D consuming a very-low-carbohydrate diet. To test the feasibility of this approach, the investigators will conduct a randomized-controlled feeding study involving 32 adults and adolescents with T1D. Participants will be randomized to receive a very low carbohydrate vs. standard carbohydrate diet. Participants will be in the study for 12 weeks and receive all their meals by meal delivery.They will share continuous glucose monitoring data with the study team and be in close communication to adjust insulin doses as needed. All participants will have a screening visit, an individual or group education session, and 3 study visits to evaluate diabetes control and metabolic health. Some of these visits will have a fasting blood draw. Two of the visits will also comprise additional metabolic studies to assess glucagon response and brain function during hypoglycemia by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants will have IV catheters placed and receive IV insulin to drop blood glucose levels to 50 mg/dl for up to 30 minutes. The primary outcome will be HbA1c change from baseline. Secondary outcomes include detailed measures of glycemic variability, metabolic health, and quality of life.

Conditions

Type1diabetes

Keywords

very low carbohydrate diet; nutrition; ketogenic diet; ketosis; nutritional ketosis; metabolism; metabolic health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Hemoglobin A1C change

  HbA1C change from baseline at 12 weeks will be compared between the 2 interventions

  12 weeks - baseline

Secondary Outcomes (20)

• total daily insulin dose

  week 0 and 12

• percent time spent in the glycemic target range of 70-140 mg/dl

  week 0 and 12

• percent time spent below the glycemic target of 70 mg/dl

  week 0 and 12

• percent time in hypoglycemia below 54 mg/dl

  week 0 and 12

• percent time spent above the glycemic target of 140 mg/dl

  week 0 and 12

Study Arms (2)

very low carbohydrate diet

EXPERIMENTAL

Dietary Intervention, food delivery

Other: very low carbohydrate diet

standard diet

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Dietary Intervention, food delivery

Other: standard carbohydrate diet

Interventions

very low carbohydrate diet OTHER

All meals will be delivered and participants will consume study foods exclusively. Participants will receive a fiber supplement as needed with each meal to support digestive health, and a daily multi-vitamin, magnesium and omega-three supplement to ascertain micronutrient sufficiency. Participants will be weighed at each study visit and the diet plan will be adjusted for satiety and weight-maintenance. The diet composition will be as follows: 5% carbohydrate, 70% fat, 20% protein.

very low carbohydrate diet

standard carbohydrate diet OTHER

All meals will be delivered and participants will consume study foods exclusively. Participants will receive a daily multi-vitamin and omega-3 supplement to ascertain micronutrient sufficiency. Participants will be weighed at each study visit and the diet plan will be adjusted for satiety and weight-maintenance. The diet composition will be as follows: 50% carbohydrate, 30% fat, 20% protein.

standard diet

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Males and females with T1D for at least 1 year
• Age 18 to 40 years
• Tanner stage ≥ IV
• BMI 18.5-35 kg/m2
• Stable glycemic control (HbA1c 6.5-9%)
• Use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)
• Use of an insulin pump
• Attendance of at least 1 diabetes care visit over the past 12 months (including virtual)

You may not qualify if:

• Ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycemia with seizure or coma in the past 6 months
• Dietary restrictions or intolerances that are incompatible with the planned food deliveries, e.g. celiac disease, gastroparesis, certain food allergies
• Following a weight-loss or otherwise restrictive diet
• Vigorous exercise \>2 hours on \>3 days a week
• History of an eating disorder or at risk for eating disorder, assessed by the Eating Disorders Diagnostic Scale (EDDS)
• Major medical illness or use of medications other than insulin and metformin that could interfere with metabolic or glycemic variables
• Significant psychiatric illness
• Smoking, use of recreational drugs, or excessive alcohol consumption
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Anemia
• For participants who undergo MRI:
• Irregular menses
• Use of psychotropic medication other than SSRIs or other mild antidepressant or anxiety medications (unless these medications are safe to be held for several days to allow for the acquisition of MRI data)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Boston Children's Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Lennerz BS, Barton A, Bernstein RK, Dikeman RD, Diulus C, Hallberg S, Rhodes ET, Ebbeling CB, Westman EC, Yancy WS Jr, Ludwig DS. Management of Type 1 Diabetes With a Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet. Pediatrics. 2018 Jun;141(6):e20173349. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-3349. Epub 2018 May 7.

  PMID: 29735574 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ketosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Acidosis; Acid-Base Imbalance; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Belinda Lennerz, MD PhD

CONTACT

8572183896; belinda.lennerz@childrens.harvard.edu

Azova

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: randomized controlled trial, 12-week feeding study

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 16, 2018
• First Posted: October 18, 2018
• Study Start: January 3, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Last Updated: December 18, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Locations

US (1)