Closing the Loop for 36 Hours in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

The study is an open-label, randomised, 2-period crossover study comparing the closed-loop insulin therapy with the conventional insulin pump therapy in 12 adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Subjects who consented to take part in the study will attend the Clinical Research Facility on two occasions, each lasting 36 hours. Approximately 1-3 days prior to each Study Visit, a subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device will be inserted.

On each Study Visit subjects will arrive between 17:30 and 18:00 and will stay in the clinical research facility for two nights.

Shortly after arrival the subjects will have Actiheart monitor fitted and a cannula inserted into a vein of one arm for blood sampling purposes. Blood sampling for plasma glucose and plasma insulin will start at 18:30 and will be carried out at 30 minutes intervals during the day and at 60min intervals during the night throughout the study period. Plasma glucose measurements will be done in real time every 30min during the day and every 60min during the night except when when plasma glucose < 3.5mmol/L or following treatment for hypoglycaemia, when the measurements will be carried out every 15 minutes.

On Study Visit 1 the subjects will be randomised on arrival to receive either the conventional insulin pump therapy or the closed-loop intervention. At 18:30 subjects will perform 5 to 10 minutes exercise on a bicycle to determine the settings needed to achieve a heart rate of 140 bpm corresponding to an exercise level at 55%60% of peak VO2. In the closed-loop intervention arm the insulin pump therapy will be driven by the computer-based algorithm from 19:30 until the end of the study. The basal insulin infusion rate on the insulin pump will be adjusted manually at 15min intervals following the computer-based algorithm advice. During the control arm, the subject will carry on with their usual insulin pump regimen. In both groups CGM will be continued throughout the whole of the study period. Subjects who completed Study Visit 1 will cross over to the alternative Study Visit schedule after an interval of 1 to 6 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• The subject is between 12 and 18 years of age (inclusive)
• The subject has had type 1 diabetes, as defined by WHO for at least 1 year or is confirmed C-peptide negative
• The subject will have been on insulin pump for at least 3 months, with good knowledge of insulin self-adjustment
• HbA1c ≤ 12% based on analysis from central laboratory

Exclusion criteria

• Non-type 1 diabetes mellitus including those secondary to chronic disease
• Any other physical or psychological disease likely to interfere with the normal conduct of the study and interpretation of the study results
• Current treatment with drugs known to interfere with glucose metabolism such as systemic corticosteroids, non-selective beta-blockers and MAO inhibitors
• Known or suspected allergy against insulin
• Subjects with clinical significant nephropathy, neuropathy or proliferative retinopathy as judged by the clinician
• Total daily insulin dose >= 2 IU/kg
• Postmenarchal girls who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant or are breastfeeding
• Any coexisting cardiac and respiratory condition (including asthma)