Technological Improvements in the management of type 1 diabetes (T1D), including insulin analogs, insulin pump therapy, and most recently, continuous glucose monitoring, are still not sufficient to normalize glucose levels in most people with T1D. It is likely that no manual, """"""""open-loop"""""""" therapeutic insulin regimen will be able to optimally control glycemia in patients with T1D, and biological islet-cell replacement is presently unfeasible. """"""""Closed-loop"""""""" automated artificial pancreas systems, consisting of an insulin pump to precisely deliver variable amounts of insulin, a continuous glucose sensor to accurately determine the glucose levels, and effective algorithms to determine insulin delivery rates based on real-time glucose readings, remains the most promising intervention to reduce hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic exposures. Short-duration hospital-based studies in adults and adolescents have demonstrated feasibility of this approach. However, deficiencies in current closed-loop approaches have become apparent. Present methods of subcutaneous insulin delivery are not sufficiently rapid to prevent meal-related increases in blood glucose levels, and persistent elevations in plasma insulin levels are associated with a risk of subsequent hypoglycemia. Most importantly, inpatient studies cannot realistically replicate the variability of meals and activities inherent in the usual home environment. The objectives of this research project are twofold: (1) to optimize the performance of closed-loop systems using strategies to either accelerate subcutaneous insulin delivery or delay carbohydrate absorption, thereby allowing improved prandial glucose control and potentially limiting hypoglycemia;and (2) to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of closed-loop delivery in the ambulatory environment, using a stepwise approach that gradually increases utilization of remote computerized and wireless communication techniques and decreases reliance on traditional methods of subject monitoring. The planned experiments will build on our expertise in insulin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and glucose counter-regulation and benefit from our ongoing industry collaborations. The proposed studies are novel, important, and likely to advance our understanding not only of closed-loop control of T1D, but also its potential use as a treatment for hypoglycemia unawareness.

Public Health Relevance

For the approximately 1 in 700 Americans with type 1 diabetes, recommended intensive treatments are difficult, burdensome, and frequently insufficient to prevent long-term complications and morbidity. Development of automated feedback, glucose-controlled, insulin delivery systems that would effectively regulate blood sugar levels would lead to improvements in patient outcomes and quality of life, and potentially, reduction in societal health care costs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK085618-04
Application #
8326165
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-2 (O2))
Program Officer
Arreaza-Rubin, Guillermo
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2013-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$667,735
Indirect Cost
$248,299
Name
Yale University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Sherr, Jennifer L; Patel, Neha S; Michaud, Camille I et al. (2016) Mitigating Meal-Related Glycemic Excursions in an Insulin-Sparing Manner During Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery: The Beneficial Effects of Adjunctive Pramlintide and Liraglutide. Diabetes Care 39:1127-34
Ang, Kathleen H; Tamborlane, William V; Weinzimer, Stuart A (2015) Combining glucose monitoring and insulin delivery into a single device: current progress and ongoing challenges of the artificial pancreas. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 12:1579-82
Sherr, Jennifer L; Cengiz, Eda; Palerm, Cesar C et al. (2013) Reduced hypoglycemia and increased time in target using closed-loop insulin delivery during nights with or without antecedent afternoon exercise in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care 36:2909-14
Cengiz, Eda; Weinzimer, Stuart A; Sherr, Jennifer L et al. (2013) Acceleration of insulin pharmacodynamic profile by a novel insulin infusion site warming device. Pediatr Diabetes 14:168-73
Weinzimer, Stuart A; Sherr, Jennifer L; Cengiz, Eda et al. (2012) Effect of pramlintide on prandial glycemic excursions during closed-loop control in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care 35:1994-9
Weinzimer, Stuart A (2012) Closed-loop systems: diversity and natural selection. Diabetes Care 35:2111-2
Weinzimer, Stuart A (2012) Continuous glucose monitoring in young children: satisfaction without success? Diabetes Technol Ther 14:753-5
Ruiz, Jessica L; Sherr, Jennifer L; Cengiz, Eda et al. (2012) Effect of insulin feedback on closed-loop glucose control: a crossover study. J Diabetes Sci Technol 6:1123-30
Kanderian, Sami S; Weinzimer, Stuart A; Steil, Garry M (2012) The identifiable virtual patient model: comparison of simulation and clinical closed-loop study results. J Diabetes Sci Technol 6:371-9
Weinzimer, Stuart A (2012) Closed-loop artificial pancreas: current studies and promise for the future. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 19:88-92

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