FLuctuATion Reduction With inSULin and Glp-1 Added togetheR (FLAT-SUGAR) (FLAT-SUGAR)

December 22, 2023 updated by: Jeff Probstfield, University of Washington

FLAT-SUGAR: FLuctuATion Reduction With inSULin and Glp-1 Added togetheR

Results of recent studies using standard long and short acting insulin therapy (Basal - Bolus or BBI) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have not shown benefits to lower risks for heart attacks, strokes, or eye, nerve and kidney problems. Some studies also show a long time between the start of treatment and signs of benefit. This has led to a review of current ways to normalize blood glucose control with basal bolus insulin and how to make blood glucose better. Improving blood sugar with insulin therapy usually causes weight gain, more high sugar levels after meals, and more low blood sugars. Early studies suggest that when people take long-acting insulin and metformin, they have fewer blood sugar extremes when they also take a new type of medicine called glucagon-like polypeptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist named exenatide (Byetta), instead of meal-time insulin. This means there might be a better way to treat Type 2 diabetes.

Participants are asked to take part in an eight month study to find out if middle-aged and older people with Type 2 diabetes who have added risk factors for heart disease can even out their blood sugar levels. They will start on long-acting insulin, mealtime insulin, and metformin, if they are not already on these medications. Their kidney function tests must be normal and they must not be allergic to metformin. Then, after a 2 month run-in phase, they must be willing to be assigned by chance into one of two groups. This means that they will have a 50/50 chance (like flipping a coin) of being in either group. Half of them will be started on the new medicine known as Byetta rather than the meal-time insulin and the other half will remain on the meal-time insulin during the next 6 months (26 weeks) to see which group has more steady blood sugars. They will be asked to use a continuous blood sugar monitoring system called DexCom. A sensor is inserted under the skin in the same areas the insulin is injected. The DexCom can check their blood sugars 24 hours of the day and night and will be worn until 7 days of recordings are collected. In the same 7 day period, they will also be asked to wear a Holter or Telemetry monitor that will record their heart beats and rhythm which will be compared to the blood sugar readings. They will also use home glucose meters to check their glucose levels about 3 to 4 times a day. The study will take place at 12 centers in the United States and enroll about 120-130 people.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Recent medical endpoint studies employing conventional basal bolus insulin therapy (BBI) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been disappointing, showing either inconsistent or no effect of treatments on risks for micro- or macro-vascular events, or a long interval between treatment initiation and evidence of clinical benefit. In fact, one trial has suggested that treating glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) to lower targets may even lead to harm. This has raised the possibility that more aggressive glucose lowering approaches lead to harm that overwhelms benefit in those with T2DM. Potential explanations for these results include three closely related physiologic processes: glycemic variability, weight gain and hypoglycemia. Too much variability of glucose, especially post-prandial hyperglycemia, poses the dilemma of how to achieve near-normal mean glucose and HbA1C levels without causing insulin-induced hypoglycemia and/or weight gain. All three of these processes have been linked to worsening systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, and to increased renal and cardiovascular risks.

Fortunately, new tools are available that allow us to assess the severity of glycemic variability (continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM), and to investigate the mechanisms through which it may lead to cardiovascular risk (e.g., systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, sensitive measures of diabetic renal disease, and Holter or Telemetry monitoring for hypoglycemia-induced arrhythmias). In addition, preliminary studies have suggested that replacement of rapid-acting analogue (RAA) in traditional BBI with the glucagon-like polypeptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, exenatide, may substantially reduce glycemic variability without a strong tendency to increase body weight or hypoglycemia.

This research trial, "FLuctuATion reduction with inSUlin and Glp-1 Added togetheR (FLAT-SUGAR)", by using these new methods to optimize glycemic control while limiting unwanted adverse effects, will be a definitive comparative effectiveness trial. This trial is designed to address the following primary hypothesis:

In middle aged and older individuals with T2DM and additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and on a background therapy of basal insulin (insulin glargine) and metformin, the addition of the GLP-1 analogue, exenatide, reduces glycemic variability more than the addition of a rapid-acting-analogue (RAA) (insulin aspart, insulin glulisine or insulin lispro) during an active treatment period of 26 weeks.

The primary outcome measure will be the change in the coefficient of variation of continuous glucose readings, as assessed by CGM. Importantly, FLAT-SUGAR will plan, a priori, to assess glycemic variability using CGM. Secondary trial goals will be to explore potential between-group differences in complications that may result from glycemic variability, including hypoglycemia, systemic inflammation and oxidant stress, diabetic renal disease, weight gain and cardiac arrhythmias. If, as we expect, FLAT-SUGAR demonstrates that CGM provides objective verification of reduced glycemic variability in T2DM with the new GLP-1 agonist-based regimen, the main goal of the trial will be accomplished. If reduced variability is associated with lower risks of adverse events of inflammation, albuminuria progression, weight gain, hypoglycemia, and/or cardiac arrhythmia, a long term clinical comparative effectiveness trial powered to evaluate medical outcomes will be justified.

In order to conduct FLAT-SUGAR, a randomized, controlled, multicenter, open-label investigator-initiated trial, the primary funding is supported by Sanofi-Aventis US with donations of other medications and devices by several other companies. The Sponsor-Investigator is the University of Washington, which will also be the Operation Center (OC).The Data Center (DC) is the University of Texas at Houston School of Public Health. There will be 12 clinical sites with diabetes and CGM expertise to screen and enroll qualified participants for approximately 8-10 weeks of a run-in period, then ultimately randomize, and follow 120 total participants for an active treatment period of 26 weeks.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

102

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • California
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92109
        • So Calif. Permanente Medical Group
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33136
        • University of Miami
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30309
        • Atlanta Diabetes Associates
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
        • Joslin Diabetes Center
    • Minnesota
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55416
        • International Diabetes Center
    • Missouri
      • Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
        • Washington University
    • New York
      • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14209
        • Kaledia Health of Western New York
    • North Carolina
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27713
        • Diabetes Care Center
    • Oregon
      • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239
        • Oregon Health and Science University
    • Vermont
      • Colchester, Vermont, United States, 05446
        • University of Vermont
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98105
        • University of Washington
      • Spokane, Washington, United States, 99202
        • Washington State University Spokane, College of Pharmacy Spokane WA 99202 USA

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. T2DM for >12 months defined according to current ADA criteria
  2. C-peptide >0.5 ng/mL-after informed consent has been signed, samples will be drawn fasting and sent to a central lab
  3. Participants must be on insulin therapy. Diabetes, Blood Pressure & Lipid therapy must be stable (in both dose and agent) for ≥3 months (dose of any 1 drug has not changed by more than 2-fold, & new agents not been added within the previous 3 months)
  4. HbA1c 7.5-8.5% for enrollment
  5. Age at enrollment (screening): 40-75 years (inclusive) when there is a history of cardiovascular disease (defined in 'a'), or 55 to 75 years (inclusive) when there is not a history of cardiovascular disease but 2 or more risk factors (with or without treatment) are present (defined in 'b')

    a) Established cardiovascular disease defined as presence of one of the following: i. Previous myocardial infarction (MI). (most recent must be > 3 months prior enrollment) ii. Previous stroke. (most recent must be >3 months prior enrollment) iii. History of coronary revascularization (e.g., coronary artery bypass graft surgery, stent placement, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or laser atherectomy)(most recent must be > 3 months prior enrollment) iv. History of carotid or peripheral revascularization (e.g., carotid endarterectomy, lower extremity atherosclerotic disease atherectomy, repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, femoral or popliteal bypass). (most recent must be >3 months prior enrollment) v. Angina with either ischemic changes on a resting ECG, or ECG changes on a graded exercise test (GXT), or positive cardiac imaging study vi. Ankle/brachial index <0.9 vii. LVH with strain by ECG or ECHO viii. >50% stenosis of a coronary, carotid, renal or lower extremity artery. ix. Urine albumin to urine creatinine ratio of >30 mg albumin/g creatinine in 2 samples, separated by at least 7 days, within past 12 months) [Target of 50% of study cohort] or b) Increased CVD risk defined as presence of 2 or more of the following: i. Untreated LDL-C >130 mg/dL or on lipid treatment ii. Low HDL-C (<40 mg/dL for men and <50 mg/dL for women) iii. Untreated systolic BP >140 mm Hg, or on antihypertensive treatment iv. Current cigarette smoking v. Body mass index 25-45 (Asian populations 23-45) kg/m2

  6. No expectation that participant will move out of clinical center area during the next 8 months, unless move will be to an area served by another trial center
  7. Ability to speak & read English

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. The presence of a physical disability, significant medical or psychiatric disorder; substance abuse or use of a medication that in the judgment of the investigator will affect the use of CGM, wearing of the sensors, Holter or Telemetry monitor, complex medication regimen, or completion of any aspect of the protocol
  2. Cannot have had any cardiovascular event or interventional procedure, (MI, Stroke or revascularization) or been hospitalized for unstable angina within the last 3 months
  3. Inability or unwillingness to discontinue use of acetaminophen products during CGM use
  4. Inability or unwillingness to discontinue use of all other diabetes agents other than insulin & metformin during trial (including insulin pump participants who will need to convert to BBI)
  5. Intolerance of metformin dose <500 mg/day
  6. Inability or unwillingness to perform blood glucose testing a minimum of 3 times/per day
  7. Creatinine level ≥1.5 for males or 1.4 for females
  8. ALT level ≥ 3 times upper limit of normal
  9. Current symptomatic heart failure, history of NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure at any time, or ejection fraction (by any method) < 25%
  10. Inpatient psychiatric treatment in the past 6 months
  11. Currently participating in an intervention trial
  12. Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as collagen vascular diseases or inflammatory bowel disease
  13. History of pancreatitis
  14. BMI >45kg/m2
  15. For females, pregnant or intending to become pregnant during the next 7 months

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Insulin Glargine, metformin, exenatide
Approximately 60 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) participants will be instructed on an American Heart Association/American Diabetes Association (AHA/ADA) meal plan. Insulin Glargine, metformin and exenatide will used as a combination strategy to control individual glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1Cs) between 6.7 and 7.3% throughout the trial. The use of exenatide makes this the intervention arm
Glargine-injectable, variable, once daily (QD), 6 months
Other Names:
  • Basal insulin
Metformin-oral, up to 1000mg, twice daily (BID), 6 months
Other Names:
  • Generic metformin
Injectable, 5mcg, twice daily (BID), 6 months
Other Names:
  • Byetta
  • Glucagon-like polypeptide-1-agonist (GLP-1-agonist)
Active Comparator: glargine, metformin, prandial insulin
Approximately 60 type 2 DM participants will be instructed in AHA/ADA meal plan. Insulin Glargine, metformin and one of 3 prandial insulins will be used as combination strategy to control individual HbA1Cs between 6.7 and 7.3%. Prandial Insulins (aspart, glulisine or lispro). The use of the short acting insulins make this the control arm
Glargine-injectable, variable, once daily (QD), 6 months
Other Names:
  • Basal insulin
Metformin-oral, up to 1000mg, twice daily (BID), 6 months
Other Names:
  • Generic metformin
Aspart or glulisine or lispro
Other Names:
  • Aspart or glulisine or lispro

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Coefficient of Variation at 26 Weeks Minus Coefficient of Variation at Baseline
Time Frame: At baseline, 6 months of intervention
The change in the coefficient of variation (CV) of continuous glucose readings, as assessed by Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
At baseline, 6 months of intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Hypoglycemia
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Severe hypoglycemia-documented glucose <50mg/dl (participant journal), and hypoglycemic attacks requiring hospitalization, or treatment by emergency personnel.
26 weeks
Weight Change During Trial
Time Frame: Baseline vs 26 weeks
Weight in kg at 26 weeks minus weight at baseline.
Baseline vs 26 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HbA1C Levels
Time Frame: Baseline vs 26 weeks
% of glycosylated hemoglobin in whole blood at 26 weeks
Baseline vs 26 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 17, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 1, 2012

First Posted (Estimated)

February 2, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 29, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 22, 2023

Last Verified

December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data available from the authors

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Starting 6 months after publication

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Written request to the investigators

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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