Understanding Brain Changes from Low Blood Sugar in Type 2 Diabetes
Official title: Brain Vascular Signatures in Drug-induced Recurrent Hypoglycemia and Associated Cognitive Dysfunction
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11083684 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how repeated episodes of low blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes affect their brain and thinking abilities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $419,203 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK138939-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11083684 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for individuals with Type 2 diabetes who experience recurrent episodes of low blood sugar and are concerned about their cognitive health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Type 2 diabetes or those who do not experience medication-induced low blood sugar may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people with Type 2 diabetes experience low blood sugar, often due to medication, which can lead to serious problems and affect their memory and thinking. When low blood sugar happens often, it can even make it harder to notice when it's happening, increasing the risk of severe episodes and cognitive decline, including dementia. This project uses a new head-mounted imaging technique to get a very detailed look at blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain. By observing these brain changes during thinking tasks, we hope to better understand the link between low blood sugar and cognitive issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand how low blood sugar impacts the brain, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or manage cognitive decline in people with Type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: This project introduces a novel imaging technique to visualize brain vascular changes, offering a new approach to a complex problem that has been challenging to study with existing methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yun-Sheng — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yun-Sheng
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Brain blood flow patterns linked to hypoglycemia and thinking problems in diabetes
A study is testing a new brain-imaging technique to see how recurrent low blood sugar affects brain blood flow and thinking in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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Investigating how low blood sugar affects brain function and cognition in diabetes patients
This study is looking at how low blood sugar episodes affect thinking and memory in people with Type 2 diabetes by using a special imaging technique to see how blood flow in the brain changes during mental tasks.
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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.
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.