Continuous Glucose monitoring in Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Blood Glucose Concentration in Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia using Real-time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System
IRAS ID
257358
Contact name
Pratik Shah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL GOSH Institute of Child Health
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 4 days
Research summary
Hypoglycaemia or low blood glucose is common presentation in young children. There are many reasons for this including genetic aetiology. When a child has a positive diagnosis of Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia (HH), the blood glucose levels should be monitored frequently to avoid hypoglycaemic brain injury. Blood glucose and oxygen are the main fuel for the brain cells to function. Therefore it is vital to monitor and maintain normal blood glucose concentration in children with HH. Most of the brain development happens between 0-2yrs of age. Current management includes regular blood glucose monitoring require frequent pricking of feet/finger causes pain and discomfort to children with HH. Bedside blood glucose monitoring is crucial and this helps us to detect hypoglycaemia and thereby prevent brain injury. In this current method we are not monitoring blood glucose continuously and there is a real danger of late detection of hypoglycaemic episode and unable to prevent brain injury. This could be avoided by doing continuous monitoring of blood glucose. The authors propose to use real-time CGM and compare the readings with peripheral blood glucose. This has been well supported in the literature but there has been no study in children with HH.
A pilot study will be conducted using a real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measuring glucose in patients with HH, comparing its accuracy with the currently used capillary blood glucose monitoring. It is proposed that if found accurate this will not only improve the quality of life of infants and children with HH, avoiding recurrent needle-pricks; but also will predict possible hypoglycaemia trends allowing for rapid treatment-initiation, and possibly preventing hypoglycaemic brain injury. In this patient group, with the intensity of frequent blood glucose monitoring, CGM is more cost-effective compared with capillary blood glucose monitoring, significant amount of nursing time also will be saved.REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2114
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion