Ketoacidosis in type 2 diabetics on SGLT-2 inhibitors

ISRCTN ISRCTN96827601
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN96827601
Secondary identifying numbers P0922
Submission date
08/09/2016
Registration date
12/09/2016
Last edited
12/09/2016
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. Insulin is the hormone made by beta-cells in the pancreas and controls the amount of glucose in the blood. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 where the pancreas does not produce any insulin and type 2. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin for it to work properly or the body cells do not react properly to insulin (insulin resistance). A person is more likely to develop diabetes if they are overweight, do not do a lot of exercise, eat an unhealthy diet or are an older person. Type 2 diabetes is an increasing problem worldwide. There is now a new type of treatment that has been shown to work well at preventing serious complications of type 2 diabetes. The treatment is a medication that works by allowing the kidneys to pass sugar from the blood into the urine, thereby reducing the amount of sugar in the blood. These drugs have been shown to be very good at controlling the blood sugar, helping to lose weight and may in fact help protect against heart disease. More and more people will probably be started on this treatment because of these benefits. There have been some reports of a complication called ketoacidosis in people with type 2 diabetes on this treatment. Ketoacidosis commonly occurs in people with type 1 diabetes where there is no insulin available. The cells in the body cannot use sugar as energy and start breaking down fats, making a chemical called ketones as a by-product. High levels of ketones can cause a condition called acidosis when the blood becomes very acidic and this can be life-threatening. It does not normally occur in type 2 diabetes but may occur more frequently if people with type 2 diabetes are on this treatment. In this study, investigators will check the levels of ketones in people with type 2 diabetes who are on the new treatment. This will be done firstly when the patients are well, as they join the study, and also when they become unwell. The results of the study will then be looked at to see if ketoacidosis is a common complications or a rare complication of the new treatment.

Who can participate?
Adults (aged at least 18) with type 2 diabetes and being treated with SGLT2i

What does the study involve?
Potential participants for this study have already been on the new SGLT2i treatment for a time before joining the study. During the study period, each participant is asked to provide blood samples when they first join (and they feel well) and again when they feel unwell. The researchers then look t the results of the study to find out whether ketoacidosis is common in people on the treatment who feel unwell.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefit is that if the test for ketoacidosis is confirmed, a patients treatment can be looked at again to see whether it’s a good idea to continue with the treatment. There are no risks apart from the inconvenience of the extra blood test

Where is the study run from?
Southend University Hospital (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2016 to November 2017

Who is funding the study?
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Who is the main contact?
Dr Gowrie Balasubramaniam

Contact information

Dr Gowrie Balasubramaniam
Scientific

Department of Acute Medicine and Nephrology
Southend University Hospital
Southend
SS0 0RY
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-4935-7233

Study information

Study designProspective observational cohort study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeDiagnostic
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleKetoacidosis in type 2 diabetics on SGLT-2 inhibitors: a prospective observational cohort study
Study objectivesOne complication of SGLT2i treatment that is unusual in type 2 diabetics is ketoacidosis. This occurs when the amount of sugar available for cells is low and so fats are used as fuel, this releases ketones as a waste product. Ketones are an acid and it is normal to have low levels sometimes, during periods of starvation or alcohol excess. When the levels get too high, they can case a condition called acidosis which can be life-threatening.

This complication is common in type one diabetics who have no insulin production in their body and no way of getting sugar into cells. The diagnosis of ketoacidosis comprises of having a high sugar reading, along with high levels of ketones and acid in the blood. However, there have been reports of ketoacidosis in type 2 diabetics on SGLT2i4,5,6. Even though the number of cases reported from the studies is low, this may be due to the confusion with the diagnostic criteria as the sugar levels may not become very high. This type of ketoacidosis is called euglycaemic ketoacidosis, and it is unclear how prevalent this is in patients taking SGLT2i.

We want to undertake a prospective observation cohort study of patient on SGLT2i to see what the levels of ketones in their blood is when they are recruited to the study, and also when they become unwell during the period of the study.
Ethics approval(s)Pending
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedType 2 diabetes mellitus
InterventionPotential participants for this study have already been on SGLT2i treatment for a time prior to enrollment and are identified when they attend their usual primary care or secondary care appointment as per their usual diabetes care.

During the study period, ketone levels are measured for each participant via analysis of blood samples . Measurements will be taken as at the start of the study (when they are feeling well) and again if they become unwell (i.e. if ketoacidosis develops).

Ketone levels are measured by blood analysis, either using a pin prick test or blood test. Urine results are recorded if obtained.

The researchers then use this information to see whether ketoacidosis is a common complication or a rare complication of this treatment.

There is no follow up of participants after the study is complete.
Intervention type
Primary outcome measureNumber of episodes of ketoacidosis, from blood analyses using samples taken via a pin prick test or blood test. Measured at baseline and when the participant is feeling unwell during the study period.
Secondary outcome measuresN/A
Overall study start date01/05/2016
Completion date01/11/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants60 (estimated)
Key inclusion criteria1. Patients with type 2 diabetes taking SGLT2i
2. Age > 18
3. Able to give consent
Key exclusion criteriaParticipants that do not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment01/11/2016
Date of final enrolment01/11/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Southend University Hospital
Prittlewell Chase
Westcliff-on-Sea
Southend
SS0 0RY
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Prittlewell Chase
Westcliff-on-Sea
Southend
SS0 0RY
England
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05fa42p74

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/11/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planTo be published in peer reviewed journals
IPD sharing plan