Frailty and glycaemia in older adults with type 1 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A cohort study to investigate frailty and glycaemic control in older adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus
IRAS ID
325332
Contact name
Jonathan Golding
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study will look at people over the age of 65 with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM).
People with T1DM require insulin injections to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. High or low blood glucose levels can cause unpleasant symptoms and longer term health problems. As people get older, changes in weight, appetite, physical activity and memory can affect the amount of insulin someone needs and/or their ability to look after their own T1DM. Collectively these changes are known as frailty. A particular problem is low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia). Hypoglycaemia is dangerous, increasing the risk of falls, hospital admissions and even death. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia will usually trigger the patient to take in sugar and modify their insulin. Older adults may lose these symptoms meaning these episodes may go unrecognised.We suspect that older people with more changes associated with frailty are likely to have more fluctuations in their glucose levels and be at greater risk of hypoglycaemia. This has not yet been proven in a trial.
In this study, a blood test will be used to assess insulin production. Frailty assessment will involve: quality of life and physical activity questionnaires; and physical tests such as grip strength and walking speed to assess for frailty. A continuous glucose monitor (a small device attached to the skin) will then be applied and worn by the participant for 10 days. During this time the participant will carry on monitoring their glucose levels as usual and adjusting their insulin doses. The participant will not see the data. Data will be analysed to see if frailty is associated with more episodes of hypoglycaemia. A second research visit will reassess frailty to see if glycaemia affects progression towards frailty in individuals with T1DM.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SW/0057
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion