Investigating how certain brain neurons affect awareness of low blood sugar
Official title: Orexin glucose-inhibited neurons and hypoglycemia unawareness
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11046629 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some people with diabetes don't notice when their blood sugar gets too low, using a special animal model to find out how repeated low blood sugar episodes affect the brain, with the hope of discovering new ways to help those individuals recognize and manage their condition better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $660,060 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135857-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11046629 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who experience episodes of hypoglycemia or have hypoglycemia unawareness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have diabetes or those who do not experience hypoglycemia are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition where individuals with diabetes fail to recognize dangerously low blood sugar levels. Using a newly developed animal model, the study will explore how repeated episodes of low blood sugar impair the brain's ability to respond to these critical situations. The research aims to identify specific brain neurons that may play a role in this process, which could lead to new strategies for improving awareness and management of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments that help patients better recognize and respond to low blood sugar episodes, potentially reducing the risk of severe hypoglycemia.
How similar studies have gone: While the mechanisms of hypoglycemia awareness have been studied, this specific approach using a novel animal model is relatively new and has not been extensively tested in prior research.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Routh, Vanessa H — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Routh, Vanessa H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Helping people with type 1 diabetes regain awareness of dangerous lows
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.
-
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.
-
Glucagon Pump Therapy for PBH in People After Bariatric Surgery
A new approach uses a patch pump and smart control to deliver glucagon during meal-related lows in adults who had bariatric surgery and developed dangerous hypoglycemia.
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.