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Diabetic autonomic neuropathy does not impede improvement in hypoglycaemia awareness in adults: Sub-study results from the HypoCOMPaSS trial

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Stuart Little, Professor James Shaw

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2024 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.Aims: Impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH) increases the risk of severe hypoglycaemia in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). IAH can be reversed through meticulous avoidance of hypoglycaemia. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) has been proposed as an underlying mechanism contributing to IAH; however, data are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) on IAH reversibility inT1DM. Methods: Participants with T1DM and IAH (Gold score ≥4) recruited to the HypoCOMPaSS (24-week 2 × 2 factorial randomised controlled) trial were included. All underwent screening for cardiac autonomic function testing at baseline and received comparable education and support aimed at avoiding hypoglycaemia and improving hypoglycaemia awareness. Definite CAN was defined as the presence of ≥2 abnormal cardiac reflex tests. Participants were grouped according to their CAN status, and changes in Gold score were compared. Results: Eighty-three participants (52 women [62.7%]) were included with mean age (SD) of 48 (12) years and mean HbA1c of 66 (13) mmol/mol (8.2 [3.3] %). The mean duration of T1DM was 29 (13) years. The prevalence of CAN was low with 5/83 (6%) participants having definite autonomic neuropathy with 11 (13%) classified with possible/early neuropathy. All participants, regardless of the autonomic function status, showed a mean improvement in Gold score of ≥1 (mean improvement −1.2 [95% CI −0.8, −1.6]; p < 0.001). Conclusions: IAH can be improved in people with T1DM, and a long duration of disease, with and without cardiac autonomic dysfunction. These data suggest that CAN is not a prime driver for modulating IAH reversibility.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Arshad MF, Walkinshaw E, Solomon AL, Bernjak A, Rombach I, Little SA, Shaw JAM, Heller SR, Iqbal A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Diabetic Medicine

Year: 2024

Pages: epub ahead of print

Online publication date: 13/05/2024

Acceptance date: 17/04/2024

Date deposited: 29/05/2024

ISSN (print): 0742-3071

ISSN (electronic): 1464-5491

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Inc

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15340

DOI: 10.1111/dme.15340

PubMed id: 38741266


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Diabetes UK

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