The current study is designed to determine the effect on mean glucose, hypoglycemia,
glucagon usage, and insulin usage of adjusting upward the glucose target of the bi-hormonal
bionic pancreas, and determine whether there is a target at which adequate glycemic control
is achieved by an insulin-only bionic pancreas with minimal hypoglycemia.
Mean CGM glucoseFraction of time spent in: < 50 mg/dl, < 60 mg/dl, < 70 mg/dl, 70-120 mg/dl, 70-180 mg/dl, > 180 mg/dl, >250 mg/dl
Correlation between the bionic pancreas target and the mean CGM glucose
Correlation between the bionic pancreas target and time < 60 mg/dl
Percentage of subjects with mean CGM < 154 mg/dl
Number of hypoglycemic events (< 70 mg/dl, <60 mg/dl, <50 mg/dl)
Area between the glucose curve and 60 mg/dl calculated from BG measurements
Area between the glucose curve and 60 mg/dl calculated from CGM measurements
Time from start of exercise to first BG measurement < 60 mg/dl
Time from start of exercise to first CGM measurement < 60 mg/dl
Fraction of days that CGM was used by participants as part of their usual care
Number of severe hypoglycemic events
Glucagon total daily dose in bi-hormonal bionic pancreas arm
Insulin total daily dose
Correlation between bionic pancreas target and mean insulin dosing by the bionic pancreas
Correlation between bionic pancreas target and mean glucagon dosing by the bionic pancreas
Number of episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia (reported daily by subjects)
Number of reported carbohydrate interventions for hypoglycemia (reported daily by subjects)
Total grams of carbohydrate taken for hypoglycemia
Fraction of time bionic pancreas off-line or not functioning properly
Grams of oral carbohydrates given to the subject to treat hypoglycemia
Total glucagon dosing by bi-hormonal bionic pancreas from the start of exercise until the end of the visit
Episodes of nausea and nausea index
Change in body weight
Any skin rash, either local to infusion sites or more generalized with subject reported severity and timing
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Both.
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
- 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 a 60 minute drive-time radius of the central monitoring location
- Willing to remain within a 120 minute drive-time radius of the central monitoring
location throughout the study
- Have someone over 18 years of age who lives with them, has access to where they
sleep, is willing to be in the house when the subject is sleeping, and is willing to
receive calls from the study staff and check the welfare of the study subject if
telemetry shows a technical problem or severe biochemical hypoglycemia without
subject response and the subject does not answer their telephone (up to two
individuals can share this role, but they must be willing to carefully coordinate
with each other and the subject so that one of them is clearly designated as having
this responsibility at any given time)
- Willing to wear two infusion sets and one CGM sensor and change sets frequently (at
least one new glucagon infusion set daily during bi-hormonal arms, and insulin
infusion set every other day throughout the study)
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
- Need to go outside of the designated geographic boundaries during the study
- Current alcohol abuse (intake averaging > 3 drinks daily in last 30 days), use of
marijuana within 1 month of enrollment, or other substance abuse (use within the last
6 months of controlled substances other than marijuana without a prescription)
- Unwilling or unable to refrain from drinking more than 2 drinks in an hour or more
than 4 drinks in a day or use of marijuana during the trial
- 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,
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 on dialysis
- Personal history of cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, pancreatic tumor, or any other
pancreatic disease besides type 1 diabetes
- 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:
oEpisodic or treatment refractory (requiring 4 or more medications to achieve
normotension) hypertension oParoxysms of tachycardia, pallor, or headache oPersonal or
family history of MEN 2A, MEN 2B, neurofibromatosis, or von Hippel-Lindau disease
- History of adrenal disease or tumor
- 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) anti-diabetic medications
- Lives in or frequents areas with poor Verizon wireless network coverage (which would
prevent remote monitoring)
- Any factors that, in the opinion of the principal investigator would interfere with
the safe completion of the study
Courtney A Balliro, BS, RN, CDE, Phone: 617-726-1242, Email: cballiro@partners.org