Very Frequently Sampled Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (VFSOGTT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reproducibility, acceptability and feasibility of advanced assays for beta cell function
IRAS ID
349257
Contact name
Nway Htun Kyi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) starts as an autoimmune disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Over time, this leads to the body struggling to control blood sugar levels. T1D is most common in children and young people.
In 2022, the FDA approved the first therapy, teplizumab (Tzield), to delay the need for insulin in people aged 8 and older who are at high risk of developing T1D. This treatment is expected to become available in the UK by 2025.
To support research into delaying or preventing T1D, it’s crucial to have reliable and accurate methods to track changes in the insulin-producing cells over time. These methods must be sensitive enough to detect small changes and suitable for repeated use, especially in children. Understanding how these cells work and measuring their function consistently during the early stages of disease can help us better understand the disease and evaluate new treatments.
This project focuses on identifying a reliable marker for monitoring the progression of T1D by assessing the reproducibility of specific tests. Healthy children and young people aged 5–18 who have relatives with T1D will be invited to participate. Each participant will undergo a very frequently sampled oral glucose tolerance test (VFSOGTT) twice within 2–3 weeks. In this test, participants drink a sugary drink, and blood samples are taken at regular intervals using a cannula to monitor how their bodies respond to sugar.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/1641
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion