Electrical stimulation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN57388369 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN57388369 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov number | NCT02082145 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 18415 |
- Submission date
- 18/03/2015
- Registration date
- 20/03/2015
- Last edited
- 14/08/2020
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Peripheral neuropathy is the name given for a group of conditions in which the nerves of the peripheral nervous system are damaged. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, burning, stabbing and shooting pain in the affected areas, problems with balance and co-ordination and muscle weakness (particularly in the feet). It most commonly affects the arms and legs and often affects people with diabetes (20-50%). It has a major impact on day to day living, and treatments for it are currently limited to pain control. A new device, Geko™ , has been developed that might mimic the effect of exercise. This has been shown to help to slow down progression of peripheral neuropathy.
The device is about the size of a man’s wrist watch and when attached to the leg and switched on it produces gentle electrical impulses. These impulses cause the calf muscle pumps to twitch, and it is this twitching that increases the flow of blood in the lower legs – mimicking the blood flow normally achieved by walking but without having to move or exert energy. We believe it is this increased blood flow to the leg nerves that will help the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this study is to see whether Geko™ can alleviate or cure diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Who can participate?
Adults (at least 18) with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.
What does the study involve?
The study lasts 10 weeks. Participants are required to attend Charing Cross Hospital a total of 2 times, and each visit will last around 1 hour. During the first visit participants have a medical history and examination taken by a doctor. They are asked about and are tested for other things that can cause similar problems in leg nerves (such as high alcohol intake, HIV, and syphilis). Any positive findings are discussed with the participant directly by a doctor on the team. We can then discuss with them what they would like done with that information. The participant in question would not be able to participate in the trial beyond this point. Eligible participants then have an ultrasound scan of their legs, and they are then randomly allocated into one of two groups. Those in group 1 wear the Geko™ device every day for ten weeks. Those in group 2 do not wear a device. We look at the nerve test of each participants legs measured at the start of the study, and repeat this at the end of the study. We compare the two groups to each other. Participants have blood (around 10ml/1 tablespoon) and urine samples taken at the beginning and end of the study (2 times in total), for us to look at markers of blood vessel function and clotting. In between visits to the hospital each participant in group 1 is given a supply of devices that we would like them to wear every day for 4 or more hours per day. They are asked to keep a diary of how long each device is activated for, and how comfortable they find the device. We ask each participant to let us know if they become unwell, or get admitted to hospital for any reason. We also ask them to fill in a quality of life questionnaire at the beginning and end of the study.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
We know from previous studies that the Geko™ device increases blood flow in healthy people. We expect it to do the same for participants, including the blood supply to the nerves in their leg. There may be a positive effect on their peripheral neuropathy, although we do not know yet if this will be the case. We can provide participants with a taxi ride to and from the department when they attend. We do not anticipate any risk. The device has been through the national testing process and has a CE mark. Its use in this study is under licence. The product is not licensed for use in pregnancy. Female participants interested in our study have to undergo a urinary pregnancy test before progressing any further. Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not take part. Activation of the device causes small impulses to travel through the skin to make the foot and calf twitch. It may be an odd sensation but should not hurt. In the past some people have had a skin reaction to the jelly used to apply the device to the leg. If this happens we recommend using a slightly different application site for the device to give the skin a rest.
Where is the study run from?
Charing Cross Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2014 to June 2015
Who is funding the study?
Imperial College London (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Miss Katherine Williams
Contact information
Scientific
Charing Cross Hospital
NHLI
The Reynolds Building
St. Dunstans Road
London
W6 8RP
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-3572-8777 |
|---|
Study information
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Process of Care, Treatment |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Electrical stimulation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a randomised controlled trial |
| Study acronym | NERVES |
| Study hypothesis | We are studying the effect of a medical device which enhances blood flow in the legs. We have seen cases where diabetics have found some relief from pain in their legs whilst using the device. We postulate that this device may modify or reverse diabetic peripheral neuropathy - therefore we are carrying out a clinical trial. |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES Committee London - Dulwich, 31/01/2014, ref: 13/LO/1844 |
| Condition | Topic: Diabetes; Subtopic: Both; Disease: Neuropathy, Diabetic Control, Device studies, Diabetic foot |
| Intervention | Geko device: Small self-adhesive neuromuscular stimulator, applied to the skin Study Entry : Single Randomisation only |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Pharmaceutical study type(s) | |
| Phase | |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | |
| Primary outcome measure | Nerve conduction testing; Timepoint(s): Week 0 and week 10 |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Disease specific and generic quality of life questionnaires, week 0 and week 10 2. Blood and urine for metabolic profiling, week 0 and week 10 |
| Overall study start date | 01/10/2014 |
| Overall study end date | 01/06/2015 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned Sample Size: 20; UK Sample Size: 20 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. 18+ years old 2. Diabetes as defined by WHO diagnostic criteria on best medical therapy 3. Diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy present, confirmed by nerve conduction testing 4. Both genders 5. Lower Age Limit 18 years |
| Participant exclusion criteria | 1. Pregnancy 2. Pacemaker 3. Metal implants in the legs (below knee) |
| Recruitment start date | 01/10/2014 |
| Recruitment end date | 01/06/2015 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
The Reynolds Building
St. Dunstans Road
London
W6 8RP
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
International Centre for Circulatory Health
59 North Wharf Road
London
W2 1LA
England
United Kingdom
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/056ffv270 |
|---|
Funders
Funder type
Government
Government organisation / Universities (academic only)
- Alternative name(s)
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Imperial College London, UK, Imperial College London, London, England, Imperial College London in United Kingdom, imperialcollege, ICL
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in repository |
| Publication and dissemination plan | We will publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal according to best practice. We will make every effort to ensure this happens within one year of trial closure |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic results | 14/08/2020 | No | No | ||
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No |
Editorial Notes
14/08/2020: Added ClinicalTrials.gov link to basic results (scientific).
23/07/2019: ClinicalTrials.gov number added. No publications found in PubMed, verifying study status with principal investigator.
09/08/2017: No publications found in PubMed, verifying study status with principal investigator.
