Single- and Dual-Hormone Artificial Pancreas for Overnight Glucose Control in Type 1 Diabetes.

CONTEXT: The added benefit of glucagon in artificial pancreas systems for overnight glucose control in type 1 diabetes has not been fully explored. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of dual-hormone (insulin and glucagon) artificial pancreas, single-hormone (insulin alone) artificial pancreas, and conventional insulin pump therapy. DESIGN: This study was a three-center, three-arm, open-label, randomized, crossover controlled trial involving three interventions, each applied over a night after a high carbohydrate/high fat meal and a second after exercise to mimic real-life glycemic excursions. SETTING: The study was conducted in a home setting. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight type 1 diabetes participants (21 adults and seven adolescents) participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Dual-hormone artificial pancreas, single-hormone artificial pancreas, and conventional pump therapy was activated from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM. MAIN OUTCOME: The main outcome was a proportion of time in target (4-8 mmol/L) by continuous glucose monitoring from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Analysis was by intention to treat. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) percentage of time-in-target glucose range was 47% (36%-71%) for conventional therapy, higher on both single-hormone (76% [65%-91%], P < .001) and dual-hormone artificial pancreas (81 [68%-93%], P < .001). The median (interquartile range) time spent below 4 mmol/L was 14% (4%-28%) for conventional therapy, lower on both single-hormone (5% [0%-13%], P = .004) and dual-hormone artificial pancreas (1% [0%-8%], P < .001). There were 14 hypoglycemic events on conventional therapy compared with six incidences on the single-hormone artificial pancreas (P = .059) and three incidences on the dual-hormone artificial pancreas (P = .017). None of these outcomes differed significantly between single- and dual-hormone configurations. CONCLUSIONS: Single- and dual-hormone artificial pancreas systems both provided better glucose control than conventional therapy. Although the dual-hormone configuration did not increase overnight time-in-target glucose levels, an effect on lowering hypoglycemia risk cannot be ruled out.

Outpatient overnight glucose control with dual-hormone artificial pancreas, single-hormone artificial pancreas, or conventional insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: an open-label, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Additional benefits of the dual-hormone (insulin and glucagon) artificial pancreas compared with the single-hormone (insulin alone) artificial pancreas have not been assessed in young people in outpatient unrestricted conditions. We evaluated the efficacy of three systems for nocturnal glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We did a randomised, three-way, crossover trial in children aged 9-17 years with type 1 diabetes attending a diabetes camp in Canada. With use of sealed envelopes, children were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio with blocks of six to different sequences of the three interventions (single-hormone artificial pancreas, dual-hormone artificial pancreas, and conventional continuous subcutaneous insulin pump therapy). Each intervention was applied for 3 consecutive nights. Participants, study staff, and endpoint assessors were not masked. The primary outcome was the percentage of time spent with glucose concentrations lower than 4·0 mmol/L from 2300 h to 0700 h. Analysis was by intention to treat. A p value of less than 0·0167 was regarded as significant. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02189694. FINDINGS: Between June 30, 2014, and Aug 9, 2014, we enrolled 33 children of mean age 13·3 years (SD 2·3; range 9-17). The time spent at a glucose concentration lower than 4·0 mmol/L was median 0% (IQR 0·0-2·4) during nights with the dual-hormone artificial pancreas, 3·1% (0·0-6·9) during nights with the single-hormone artificial pancreas (p=0·032), and 3·4% (0-11·0) during nights with conventional pump therapy (p=0·0048 compared with dual-hormone artificial pancreas and p=0·32 compared with single-hormone artificial pancreas). 15 hypoglycaemic events (<3·1 mmol/L for 20 min measured by sensor then confirmed with capillary glucose <4·0 mmol/L) were noted during nights with conventional pump therapy compared with four events with the single-hormone system and no events with the dual-hormone system. None of the assessed outcomes varied with the order in which children and young adults were assigned interventions. INTERPRETATION: The dual-hormone artificial pancreas could improve nocturnal glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Longer and larger outpatient studies are now needed. FUNDING: Canadian Diabetes Association, Fondation J A De Sève.

Glucose-responsive insulin and glucagon delivery (dual-hormone artificial pancreas) in adults with type 1 diabetes: a randomized crossover controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with type 1 diabetes do not achieve their glycemic targets. We aimed to assess the efficacy of glucose-responsive insulin and glucagon closed-loop delivery for controlling glucose levels in adults with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized crossover trial involving 15 adults with type 1 diabetes, comparing standard insulin-pump therapy with dual-hormone, closed-loop delivery. Patients were admitted twice to a clinical research facility and received, in random order, both treatments. Each 15-hour visit (from 1600 to 0700) included an evening exercise session, followed by a medium-sized meal, a bedtime snack and an overnight stay. During visits that involved closed-loop delivery, basal insulin and glucagon miniboluses were delivered according to recommendations based on glucose sensor readings and a predictive dosing algorithm at 10-minute intervals. During visits involving standard insulin-pump therapy (control visits), patients used conventional treatment. RESULTS: Dual-hormone closed-loop delivery increased the percentage of time for which patients' plasma glucose levels were in the target range (median 70.7% [interquartile range (IQR) 46.1%-88.4%] for closed-loop delivery v. 57.3% [IQR 25.2%-71.8%] for control, p = 0.003) and decreased the percentage of time for which plasma glucose levels were in the low range (bottom of target range [< 4.0 mmol/L], 0.0% [IQR 0.0%-3.0%] for closed-loop delivery v. 10.2% [IQR 0.0%-13.0%] for control, p = 0.01; hypoglycemia threshold [< 3.3 mmol/L], 0.0% [IQR 0.0%-0.0%] for closed-loop delivery v. 2.8% [IQR 0.0%-5.9%] for control, p = 0.006). Eight participants (53%) had at least 1 hypoglycemic event (plasma glucose < 3.0 mmol/L) during standard treatment, compared with just 1 participant (7%) during closed-loop treatment (p = 0.02). INTERPRETATION: Dual-hormone, closed-loop delivery guided by advanced algorithms improved short-term glucose control and reduced the risk of hypoglycemia in a group of 15 adults with type 1 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT01297946.