Helping people with type 1 diabetes regain awareness of dangerous lows
Official title: Utilizing an RCT Approach to Compare the Efficacy and Sustainability of Technological and Psycho-Educational Interventions to Improve Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes.
Funded at University of Sheffield · NIH-11603067 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A UK study tests two different approaches to help adults with type 1 diabetes recognize and respond to low blood sugar by comparing a high-tech insulin system with targeted education.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Sheffield NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sheffield, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 25, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $93,814 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK135119-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11603067 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 1 diabetes who have impaired hypoglycemia awareness, including those who have used a closed-loop system but still struggle.
✕Less likely to help
People without impaired hypoglycemia awareness or without type 1 diabetes are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you have type 1 diabetes and struggle with knowing when your sugar is dropping, this project tests two strategies over about two years. Participants are adults who either have impaired awareness of lows or who still struggle after using a smart insulin system, and they’ll be randomly assigned to different treatment arms at multiple centers. The researchers will compare a hybrid closed-loop system with glucose-awareness training, and in another group compare a targeted education program against the education-plus-system approach. The goal is to see which approach best restores normal counterregulatory responses and practical awareness of hypoglycemia, with follow-up assessments up to 24 months.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help people with type 1 diabetes prevent severe lows by restoring their ability to notice and react to dangerous drops in blood sugar.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that both technology-enabled and educational approaches can reduce hypoglycemia, but responses vary among individuals.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Sheffield
Sheffield, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heller, Simon Richard — University of Sheffield
- Study coordinator: Heller, Simon Richard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Technological and Educational Approaches to Restore Hypoglycemia Awareness in Type 1 Diabetes
A two-arm study in adults with type 1 diabetes tests whether high-tech glucose control plus education or targeted training can help people regain awareness of low blood sugar.
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Techniques for restoring awareness of low blood sugar in adults with type 1 diabetes
A randomized trial compares different approaches to help adults with type 1 diabetes recognize when their blood sugar is dipping so they can act quickly.
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Treating impaired hypoglycemia awareness in type 1 diabetes with targeted education and technology
This study tests two treatment approaches to help adults with type 1 diabetes who often don’t realize their blood sugar is getting too low, using a mix of technology and education in two large groups.
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Understanding how hypoglycemia awareness changes in adults with type 1 diabetes and how automated insulin delivery and exercise might help restore it
This study will look at adults with type 1 diabetes to see how their awareness of low blood sugar evolves over time and whether automated insulin delivery and high-intensity exercise can help restore that awareness.
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Understanding how impaired hypoglycemia awareness develops in type 1 diabetes and how automated insulin delivery and exercise might help restore it
This study looks at adults with type 1 diabetes who struggle to sense hypoglycemia and tests whether automated insulin delivery and exercise can help restore their awareness.
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Improving awareness of hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes with targetted tech and education
A study tests two treatments to help adults with type 1 diabetes who frequently misread signs of low blood sugar, using technology and education over 12 months with follow-up.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.