Effect of Glycemic Variability on Autonomic Tone in Hospitalized Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Glycemic variability has been associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with hyperglycemia. However, it is unknown how modulation of glycemic variability would impact outcomes. One possibility is that glycemic variability could impact autonomic tone. In particular, heart rate variability (HRV) measurement is a sensitive marker for measuring autonomic tone, and aberrations in HRV have been associated with mortality. The current randomized pilot study will compare the effects of continuous intravenous (IV) insulin and subcutaneous basal bolus insulin on glycemic variability and autonomic tone in hospitalized non-critically ill patients with diabetes. Non-critically ill patients who are hyperglycemic or are requiring at least 20 units of insulin per day will be included. Patients with conditions that preclude accurate HRV readings (such as atrial fibrillation or paced rhythms) will be excluded. Patients randomized to intravenous insulin will receive the therapy for 24 hours according to our standard hospital guideline. Patients randomized to subcutaneous (SQ) insulin will receive basal bolus therapy using insulin analogues. All therapies will begin between 8 and 10 AM. Patients will undergo repeated heart rate variability recordings during the 24 hour period. Blood draws will be collected at baseline and at 24 hours for measurement of catecholamines, insulin, and c-peptide. Glycemic variability will be measured using a continuous subcutaneous glucose monitor and reported as coefficient of variation. The primary outcome measure is low frequency-to-high frequency power spectrum ratio of heart rate variability.

1. Glycemic variability is associated with unfavorable changes in autonomic tone, as assessed by low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) HRV ratio, independent of changes in overall glycemia.
2. Short-term increases in glycemic variability, followed by more prolonged glycemic stability are observed in generalized hospitalized patients treated with intravenous insulin compared to standardized basal bolus therapy. LF/HF HRV differs among subjects receiving intravenous compared to subcutaneous insulin.
3. Glycemic variability differs among subjects receiving intravenous compared to subcutaneous insulin

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes; Inpatient
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Subcutaneous Insulin; Drug: Intravenous insulin

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
      • The Ohio State University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 and above
• Admitted to a general medicine or medicine subspecialty service
• Insulin use (>20 units/day) or hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is defined as glucose greater than 180 mg/dL on at least 2 occasions separated by at least 4 hours apart.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Hospital stay expected less than 48 hours
• Inability to consent
• Pregnancy
• Prisoners
• Previous participation
• Autonomic neuropathy
• Conditions that preclude accurate heart rate variability monitoring: atrial fibrillation, frequent ectopy, congestive heart failure, paced heart rhythms
• Conditions which require lower dose insulin algorithms: end stage renal or liver disease

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Subcutaneous Insulin	Drug: Subcutaneous Insulin; basal bolus insulin using carb counting technique and insulin analogues
Experimental: Intravenous insulin	Drug: Intravenous insulin; 24 hr IV insulin administered according to hospital guideline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference Between Heart Rate Variability Between Intravenous and Subcutaneous Group	difference in mean low frequency/high frequency heart rate variability (LF/HF HRV)at 6 hour. 2 patients were excluded who did not have usable LF/HF HRV data at 6 hours. These patients remained in the study as they did have other measures.	6 hour

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kathleen Dungan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 2, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 2, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): August 4, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 4, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 11, 2013
• Last Verified: November 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: diabetes; hospital; glycemic variability; autonomic tone
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Hypoglycemic Agents; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Insulin; Insulin, Globin Zinc
• Other Study ID Numbers: CCTS869

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No