Investigating how insulin affects the brain in people with type 2 diabetes and those at risk

Zentrale Insulinsensitivität Bei Personen Mit Typ-2-Diabetes Sowie Bei Personen Mit erhöhtem Risiko für Die Entwicklung Von Typ-2-Diabetes

This study is testing how insulin affects the brain and thinking skills in people with type 2 diabetes and those at risk for it.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 180 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University Hospital Tuebingen (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Tübingen)
• Trial ID: NCT05856877 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study explores the effects of insulin on the central nervous system and its relationship with insulin sensitivity and cognitive function in individuals with type 2 diabetes and those at risk of developing it. By administering human nasal insulin and a placebo, researchers aim to measure central nervous insulin sensitivity and assess cognitive performance across different diabetes risk clusters. The study seeks to understand how central insulin resistance correlates with metabolic health and cognitive abilities. This could provide insights into new treatment strategies for managing diabetes and its complications.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last 10 years or those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, such as those with prediabetes.

Not a fit: Patients with type 1 diabetes or those without any risk factors for type 2 diabetes will likely not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved management strategies for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes by targeting central insulin sensitivity.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of targeting central insulin sensitivity is novel, related studies have shown promising results in understanding the role of insulin in metabolic and cognitive functions.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. manifest diabetes mellitus type 2 with initial diagnosis ≤ 10 years ago, defined as

   * a fasting blood glucose greater than 126 mg/dl and/or
   * a blood glucose greater than 200 mg/dl at the 120 minute time point in the oral glucose tolerance test with 75 g glucose and/or
   * an HbA1c greater than 6.5%
2. or a currently existing increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, defined as

   * prediabetes, defined as

     * elevated fasting blood glucose (IFG), fasting blood glucose between 100 and 125 mg/dl) and/or
     * impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 120-minute oral glucose tolerance test blood glucose between 140 and 199 mg/dl) and/or
     * HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4% with
   * and/or at least one of the following factors indicating an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus:

     * previously existing prediabetes and/or
     * recent-onset gestational diabetes, and/or
     * positive family history (1st degree family members) for type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or
     * BMI greater than 27 kg/m2
3. or no manifest diabetes mellitus type 2 and no currently existing increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes (control group: BMI 18.5 to 24.5 kg/m2)
4. female and male (1:1), voluntary adults
5. at least 18 years old and able to give consent
6. understanding of study explanations and instructions
7. consent to information in case of unexpected proven pathological findings.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Only in subjects without manifest diabetes mellitus type 2: Taking medications that affect sugar metabolism (e.g., antidiabetic medications or glucocorticoids).
* Diabetes mellitus type 1 or Latent autoimmune diabetes in the adult (GAD and/or IA2 antibodies positive)
* MODY (Maturity onset Diabetes of the Young)
* Decompensated diabetes mellitus type 2 (HbA1c greater than 9.6% and/or fasting blood glucose \> 230 mg/dl)
* BMI \< 18.5 or \> 45 kg/m2
* Individuals wearing non-removable metal devices in or on the body such as:

  * pacemakers
  * artificial heart valves
  * metal prostheses
  * implanted magnetic metal parts (screws, plates from surgery)
  * coils
  * metal splinters/garnet chips
  * fixed braces
  * retainers going over more than four teeth
  * acupuncture needle
  * Insulin pump
  * intraport
  * Tattoos, eye shadow, etc.
* there is a pregnancy or pregnancy cannot be excluded
* breastfeeding women
* Individuals with impaired temperature sensation and/or increased sensitivity to heating of the body.
* symptomatic coronary heart disease, heart failure greater than NYHA 3, previous heart attack
* Condition following stroke
* Individuals with hearing disease or increased sensitivity to loud sounds
* Persons with claustrophobia (fear of place)
* Minors or subjects incapable of giving consent
* Subjects who have had an operation less than 3 months ago
* Acute illness or infection within the last 4 weeks
* Severe neurological or psychiatric diseases, e.g. severe depression (at least 29 points according to BDI II), schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
* Use of centrally acting drugs
* Known presence of malignant disease within the last 5 years
* Diseases of the pancreas
* Systemic infection (CRP \> 1 mg/dl)
* Following bariatric surgery
* Antibiotic therapy within the last 4 weeks prior to study inclusion
* No consent to be informed about incidentally discovered pathological findings
* Participation in interventional trials and receipt of investigational medication in the last 30 days
* Severe diabetic complications such as chronic kidney disease (KDIGO CKD greater than G4) or severe proliferative retinopathy
* Subjects with hemoglobin levels Hb\<10.5g/dl (for women), Hb\<11.5g/dl (for men)
* Other medical conditions that, in the opinion of an investigator, may jeopardize the success of the study or indicate that the subject may be at risk of harm
* Allergic diseases to any of the substances used

Where this trial is running

Tübingen

• University Hospital Tübingen — Tübingen, Germany (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Stephanie Kullmann, Prof.

Conditions Central Insulin Resistance; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; PreDiabetes