Restoring low-blood-sugar awareness in adults with Type 1 diabetes
Official title: The Biostatistics Research Center for the Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia Consortium
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11319785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to use modern diabetes technology and care to help adults with Type 1 diabetes who have trouble sensing low blood sugar regain that awareness and stronger bodily responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,102,600 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK135126-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with Type 1 diabetes who have impaired awareness of hypoglycemia and are willing to follow diabetes-technology based management plans are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people with Type 2 diabetes, or adults who already reliably sense low blood sugar are unlikely to benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
You would join a multi-center effort that uses continuous glucose monitoring and up-to-date diabetes management to reduce dangerous low-glucose episodes while keeping overall blood sugar control. The study will track time-in-range, time spent in hypoglycemia, and other glucose patterns from wearable devices, and measure how your body reacts to low blood sugar. A central biostatistics team will analyze data across all sites to understand who improves and why. Results will help shape which treatments and technologies best restore low-sugar awareness for different people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce dangerous, unrecognized low-blood-sugar episodes and lower the risk of severe events like fainting or coma for people with impaired awareness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows continuous glucose monitoring and careful avoidance of hypoglycemia can sometimes restore awareness, but results vary and this consortium seeks to understand that variability.
Where this research is happening
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Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chinchilli, Vernon M — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Chinchilli, Vernon M
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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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.
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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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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.