Glucose Levels as a Biomarker for Stress in Firefighters

NCT06899373 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 00182726
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Stress is known to cause physical structures in the brain to dysregulate, resulting in health problems like cancer, cardiac disease, metabolic disorders (obesity), and depression. Firefighters experience many of these diseases at higher rates than other occupations while also experiencing highly unique stress loads. When the body's nervous system responds to stress, blood glucose levels increase. This study will equip firefighters with continuous glucometers to observe glucose levels during emergency response and other stressful events. The immediate goal of this study is to determine whether the physiological stress response of on-shift firefighters can be quantified with glucose monitoring. The long-term goal is to identify occupational firefighter stress as a health risk exposure.

Conditions

Stress; Sympathetic Nervous System; Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal

Keywords

Occupational stress; firefighter; firefighter health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Blood Glucose Levels Following Emergency Dispatch

  Blood glucose levels will be continuously monitored every minute using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). Glucose levels immediately before and after emergency dispatch calls will be compared to changes indicative of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation. The magnitude and frequency of glucose level increases will be analyzed to determine the physiological response to emergency dispatch events.

  2 Weeks

• Association Between Perceived Stress and Blood Glucose Response to Emergency Dispatch

  Firefighters will self-report perceived stress levels for emergency dispatch calls. The three most stressful calls during their shift and the three most stressful events during their off-shift periods will be identified. The relationship between perceived stress ratings and changes in blood glucose levels following emergency dispatch will be analyzed to assess the impact of emotional stress on sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation.

  2 Weeks

Other Outcomes (1)

• Demographic and Within-Group Comparison of Blood Glucose and Perceived Stress Responses

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Firefighters

17 professional firefighters being monitored on their work shifts and days off

Device: Continuous glucometer

Interventions

Continuous glucometer DEVICE

The continuous glucometer is a wearable device that measures interstitial glucose levels 24 hours per day and transmits readings every one minute.

Firefighters

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Full time firefighters that work 48 hour work shifts followed by 96 hours of rest.

You may qualify if:

• Full time Unified Fire Authority (UFA) employee working for a fire crew that has been designated by the UFA board as approved for study participation

You may not qualify if:

• Use of insulin
• Diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus
• Practicing a ketoacidosis or intermittent fasting diet
• Intermittent use of glucocorticoids, antibiotics or benzodiazepines

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Utah: lead

Study Sites (1)

Unified Fire Authority

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Occupational Stress

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Occupational Diseases; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Matthew Thiese, PhD

  matt.thiese@hsc.utah.edu

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 28, 2025
• First Posted: March 28, 2025
• Study Start: December 17, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2025
• Study Completion: April 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)