Restoring the ability to notice low blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes
Official title: University of Minnesota Clinical Center for the Restoration of Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11319759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project helps people with type 1 diabetes who can’t feel low blood sugar avoid lows and try a hybrid closed‑loop insulin system to see if their ability to notice hypoglycemia comes back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $826,620 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK135130-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with type 1 diabetes who have impaired awareness of hypoglycemia or a history of recurrent severe lows and who can use continuous glucose monitoring and insulin delivery devices.
✕Less likely to help
People without impaired hypoglycemia awareness, those with type 2 diabetes, or those unable/unwilling to use pump/CGM technology are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a randomized trial enrolling about 650 people with type 1 diabetes who have impaired awareness of hypoglycemia. For 12 months, some participants will receive focused hypoglycemia‑avoidance education plus a hybrid closed‑loop insulin delivery system while others receive current standard care. The research team will track blood glucose, hormone responses, metabolic tests, and questionnaires to find out which factors (for example age, diabetes duration, and glucose patterns) are linked to regaining awareness. The University of Minnesota center is part of a consortium coordinating the protocol and standardized testing across participating sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help people with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia regain warning symptoms, lower the risk of severe lows, and improve safe glucose control.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows hypoglycemia avoidance and hybrid closed‑loop systems reduce low blood‑sugar events, but restoring awareness varies between people, so this trial builds on prior successes to find who benefits.
Where this research is happening
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University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seaquist, Elizabeth R. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Seaquist, Elizabeth R.
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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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.
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.