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CompletedNCT00607646Updated Sep 12, 2019

Hypoglycemia Associated Autonomic Failure in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Placebo in Type 1 Diabetes, sponsored by University of Maryland, Baltimore. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-09-12.

Sponsored by University of Maryland, Baltimore · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Other

Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Elevations of plasma cortisol, a stress hormone, during prior episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) appear to be responsible for the deficient responses during subsequent hypoglycemia. Our specific aim is to determine if dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone with anti-corticosteroid actions, can prevent hypoglycemia associated autonomic failure in type 1 diabetic volunteers.

Read the detailed description

DHEA is the acronym for dehydroepiandrosterone, a steroid hormone produced naturally from cholesterol in the adrenal glands of males and females. It is also sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement, and seems to have anticorticosteroid effects. DHEA antagonizes the effects of corticosterone on hippocampal function in rats and reduces responses to neural stress in mice. In our lab we have found that administration of the DHEA to rats during antecedent hypoglycemia, preserves counter-regulatory responses to subsequent hypoglycemia. The purpose of this study is to determine if the same response occurs in humans.

02

Conditions studied

  • Type 1 Diabetes

Keywords

  • hypoglycemia
  • dehydroepiandrosterone
03

In context

Pure Autonomic Failure

56 studies on the registry are indexed under Pure Autonomic Failure; 11 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 50 is above the median of 44 across 41 interventional studies indexed under Pure Autonomic Failure.

Browse Pure Autonomic Failure studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Maryland, Baltimore is the lead sponsor of 687 studies on the registry; 130 are open to participants now.

Of its 90 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 63 (70%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • 28 (14 males, 14 females) Healthy volunteers aged 18-45 yr.
  • 28 (14 males, 14 females) Type 1 diabetic patients aged 18-45 yr.
  • HbA1c \< 11.0%
  • Has been diagnosed Type 1 DM
  • No major diabetic tissue complications (i.e. history of retinopathy, neuropathy, stasis ulcers, etc)
  • Body mass index \< 40kg/m-2

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • pregnancy

Medical history-

  • Hepatic Failure/Jaundice
  • Renal Failure
  • Acute Cerebrovascular/ Neurological deficit

Physical Exam-

  • Pneumonia
  • Fever greater than 38.0 C
  • Blood labs according to protocol
05

Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
50 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    1

    Hyperinsulinemic (high dose insulin) hypoglycemic clamp studies with oral administration of DHEA or placebo prior to each clamp x 2 on day 1. Day 2 hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Participant randomized to either DHEA or placebo for baseline trial (arm 1) and 6 weeks treatment.

    Drug: Dehydroepiandrosterone

  • Experimental
    2

    Following 6 weeks randomized treatment, Day 1 hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic clamps x 2 with DHEA or placebo dose given prior to each clamp. Day 2 hypoglycemia with prior dose of randomized treatment.

    Drug: Dehydroepiandrosterone

  • Experimental
    Arm 3 (optional)

    Individuals will be asked to return after at least 2 months and repeat the trial they did not complete (for example, placebo if they were in the DHEA trial before). Again Day 1 would consist of two hyperinsulinemic clamps with placebo or DHEA given orally. Day 2 hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic clamp with oral administration of placebo or DHEA.

    Drug: Placebo

  • Experimental
    Arm 4

    Following 6 weeks randomized treatment, Day 1 hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic clamps x 2 with DHEA or placebo dose given prior to each clamp. Day 2 hypoglycemia with prior dose of randomized treatment.

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugDehydroepiandrosterone

    Placebo tablets or tablets containing DHEA will be given orally before each hyperinsulinemic clamps on day 1 (x 2). Placebo tablets or tablets containing DHEA will be given orally before Day 2 hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic clamp x 1.

    Also known as: DHEA

  • DrugPlacebo

    Placebo oral administration prior to each clamp period x2 on day 1. Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia on day 2.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in level of catecholamines in blood from baseline

    Time frame: 6 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore
    Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 12, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00607646
Lead sponsor
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Collaborators
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Responsible party
Stephen N. Davis, MBBS (Professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 6, 2008
Start date
Oct 2010
Primary completion
Oct 9, 2018
Completion
Oct 9, 2018
Last update
Sep 12, 2019

Study contacts

Stephen N. Davis, MD
principal investigator · University of Maryland, Baltimore

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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