Hypo, social cognition and cardiac conduction Version 3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of hypoglycaemia on social cognition and cardiac conduction in adults with type 1 diabetes.
IRAS ID
152813
Contact name
Supriya Mathur
Contact email
Research summary
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is a common side-effect of insulin treatment in people with diabetes and deprivation of glucose in the brain results in rapid deterioration in cognitive function (brain function). Social cognition, an aspect of cognitive function, is involved in interpreting facial expressions, gestures or speech. If we find that hypoglycaemia affects social cognition, it could explain why people with hypoglycaemia often become resistant to help. Knowledge of this effect of hypoglycaemia can be used to educate relatives of people with diabetes who may suffer this problem.
Our study also aims to examine the effect of hypoglycaemia on the heart rhythm. Previous studies have shown that small changes often occur in the electrocardiogram (or tracing of the heart rhythm) during hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia has this effect by causing changes in blood potassium (a type of salt or electrolyte) levels. Other electrolytes (magnesium and calcium) are also known to affect the heart rhythm in other circumstances. We want to study whether hypoglycaemia affects the blood levels of these other electrolytes.
Adults aged 18 to 40 years with type 1 diabetes will be eligible for this study which will be conducted in the Clinical Research Facility, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The study is funded by the department of diabetes’ research fund and participants will be recruited from the diabetes clinics of the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Participants will be given insulin and glucose intravenously to accurately control their blood glucose levels which will be checked at least every 5 minutes to ensure that severe hypoglycaemia does not occur. Each participant will undergo this procedure twice (separated by at least 2 weeks); once while hypoglycaemic and the second time with a normal blood glucose level. Social cognition tests will be administered using a laptop, hand held tablet computer and paper. A continuous electrocardiographic monitor will be attached at the start of the study to monitor the heart rhythm. Blood will be taken at various time points to measure levels of electrolytes.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
14/WA/1052
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion