RecruitingPhase 1

Continuous Ketone Monitoring in People With Type 1 Diabetes Using SGLT2 Inhibitors

Canada24 participantsStarted 2024-12-05

Plain-language summary

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. In the absence of insulin, the body is unable to effectively use glucose for energy, resulting in high blood sugar levels. This leads to a lifelong need for intensive insulin therapy to manage blood sugar and prevent complications arising from elevated blood glucose levels. When insulin is low, the body produces ketone bodies. If ketone levels rise too high, they can lead to the dangerous condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis remains a leading cause of mortality in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes. Sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin, are effective in lowering blood sugar but can also increase ketone levels, raising the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Empagliflozin is approved for type 2 diabetes and has demonstrated benefits in type 1 diabetes, including improved blood sugar control at lower doses and reduced risks of chronic kidney disease and mortality at higher doses. However, its use in type 1 diabetes is still off-label due to the heightened risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Using empagliflozin at a commercial dose safely is desirable to maximize its potential renal benefits in type 1 diabetes. While there are measures to monitor ketone levels, current methods, such as finger prick tests, often detect issues too late to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis. Continuous ketone monitoring offers real-time tracking of ketone levels, which could enable timely interventions to maintain safe levels. Moreover, there is currently no data on continuous ketone metrics in individuals with type 1 diabetes using sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. We aim to understand the dynamics of ketone levels in people with type 1 diabetes using empagliflozin, including in challenging situations such as during exercise and low-carbohydrate diets while on sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. To this end, we will conduct an open- label, single-arm, outpatient study where 24 participants with type 1 diabetes will use continuous ketone monitoring for a 4-week run-in, followed by empagliflozin 2.5 mg for four weeks and then empagliflozin 10 mg for nine weeks. Participants will perform an exercise sub-study during the fourth week of the continuous ketone monitoring run-in and during the eighth week of empagliflozin 10 mg use. Certain participants will be invited to undergo a low-carbohydrate diet during the last week of empagliflozin 10 mg use. The results, if positive, may lead to i) novel long-term (6 months) data on ketone levels in those with type 1 diabetes using empagliflozin, including individuals on multiple daily injections and closed-loop therapy across a wide range of body mass index, ii) data on the relationship between empagliflozin, exercise, low-carbohydrate diets, and type 1 diabetes, and iii) the creation of important metrics for ketone thresholds that have not yet been characterized. Furthermore, we hope this preliminary study will inform future research to investigate the use of continuous ketone monitoring to allow for the safe use of higher doses of sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in people with type 1 diabetes.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Adults ≥ 18 years old. * A T1D diagnosis for at least one year, as per their treating physician in agreement with the investigator's judgment (confirmatory C-peptide and antibodies will not be required). * HbA1c level of \< 11% within the last six months. * Current use of intensive insulin therapy, either multi-daily injection or closed-loop insulin pump therapy, with no plan to change during the study. * Current use of CGM, either real-time or intermittent. * Active avoidance of pregnancy during the trial, which includes effective contraception for any individuals of childbearing potential, who are sexually active. * Ability to consume an average of more than 50 g of carbohydrates per day. * Use of a compatible phone to allow for download of the CKM sensor application. Exclusion Criteria: * DKA or severe hypoglycemia within the last six months. * Current or recent use of any anti-hyperglycemic agent other than insulin (≤ one month for GLP1-RA, ≤ one week for all others). * Current or ≤ one-month use of supraphysiological doses of glucocorticoids. * Body mass index \< 20 kg/m2. * Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 as per CKD-EPI formula with creatinine levels measured within the last two months.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Number of events ≥ 0.6 mmol/L, ≥ 0.8 mmol/L ≥ 1.5 mmol/L, ≥ 3.0 mmol/L that last for more than one hour

Timeframe: 17 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06753994

SponsorMcGill University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-01-01

Contact for this trial

Linden Perz, Bachelor of Medical Sciences

5144045621 linden.perz@mail.mcgill.ca

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Diabetes trials