Understanding why people with type 1 diabetes may lose awareness of low blood sugar
Official title: Elucidating the heterogeneity of impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes
Funded at University of Leicester · NIH-11538453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant works with people who have type 1 diabetes to understand why some lose the ability to notice dangerous low blood sugar and how newer insulin delivery tech might help restore that awareness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Leicester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Leicester, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 25, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $6,647 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK135128-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11538453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with type 1 diabetes who experience impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) and are using or switching to advanced insulin delivery technologies.
✕Less likely to help
If someone does not struggle with hypoglycemia awareness or is not using CGM/advanced insulin delivery, they may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
People with type 1 diabetes sometimes don’t recognize hypoglycemia early, which can lead to severe lows. The project will create and test new tools to measure awareness more accurately in real-world, CGM-guided care. It also looks at how switching to advanced hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery affects the body’s responses to low blood sugar over time. The research is organized into several focused studies to pinpoint factors that help restore awareness and to validate better assessment methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better ways to detect and restore awareness of dangerous lows, improving safety and quality of life for people with type 1 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous tools lack sensitivity in CGM-enabled care, so this project aims to improve measurement and understanding beyond existing methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Leicester
Leicester, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choudhary, Pratik — University of Leicester
- Study coordinator: Choudhary, Pratik
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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How the pancreas environment affects insulin-producing cells in type 1 diabetes
Researchers are studying how the surrounding tissue of the pancreas and its proteins influence insulin-producing cells in people with type 1 diabetes.
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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.
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.