Flash glucose monitoring in older patients with memory problems

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Flash glucose monitoring in older patients with memory problems and diabetes: a feasibility study

  • IRAS ID

    221757

  • Contact name

    Katharina Mattishent

  • Contact email

    k.mattishent@uea.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of East Anglia

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    Patients with memory problems can have difficulties in managing and monitoring diabetes. Medication for diabetes can provoke excessively low blood sugars (commonly known as 'hypos') needing recognition and treatment.

    New technology (flash glucose monitoring) may help in keeping a closer eye on blood sugars. Small (coin-sized) sensors (fitted for up to 2 weeks) can constantly record sugar levels. Patients (or carers) do not need to remember to do finger prick testing. No one has tested this technology to help patients with memory problems and diabetes.

    This study will explore whether people aged 65 and older with memory problems and diabetes can tolerate using the flash glucose monitoring system for two weeks.

    We will recruit up to 20 patients for this study identify and invite potential participants whilst they are in hospital (the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital).

    Patients will be shown how to wear the flash glucose monitoring system, which will be used about one month AFTER discharge from hospital. This will give participants time to recover from their last hospital admission and get back into a normal day to day routine.

    The key questions are:

    1. Numbers of people with memory problems (or dementia) and hypos who may potentially be eligible for the feasibility study?
    2. How many will subsequently agree to take part?
    3. Can we successfully record blood sugar readings with the Flash Glucose monitor, and, if so, how many recordings can be obtained in the two-week period?
    4. Do participants drop out from the study, and do they have adverse events?
    5. What is the participants’/carers’ experience in using the device?

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    17/EE/0388

  • Date of REC Opinion

    4 Dec 2017

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion