Adolescence can be a challenging time to manage type 1 diabetes (T1D). Many teenagers with T1D experience higher than recommended blood glucose levels, which can mean an increased risk of complications later in life. The clinical trial ATTEMPT (Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Treatment with SGLT2i for Hyperglycemia & Hyperfiltration), led by Dr. Farid Mahmud, endocrinologist and researcher at The Hospital for Sick Children, is aiming to address this challenge.
Studies of therapies which aim to improve glycemic control in teens with T1D is critical to improving the lives of youth living with diabetes. One approach to improve glycemic control is through adjunct-to-insulin therapy – i.e. taking another drug alongside usual insulin treatment.
The ATTEMPT trial is studying the safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin in teens. Dapagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor, a class of oral medications approved for type 2 diabetes that stop glucose in the blood from being absorbed by the kidneys and instead encouraging glucose to be released in urine. SGLT2 inhibitors such as dapagliflozin can improve blood sugars and decrease kidney pressure, called hyperfiltration. By alleviating glucose absorption in the kidneys, these drugs can also help prevent long term damage to these organs.
This trial is one of the many innovative trials participating in CTO Stream, which streamlines ethics review for multi-site research in Ontario. Dr. Mahmud and his research team are seeking participants aged 12-18 years with established T1D in the Greater Toronto Area (Hospital for Sick Children) and Southwestern Ontario (Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre) who may be eligible to participate in ATTEMPT. This clinical trial will determine how this therapy can benefit and be used effectively in adolescents with T1D.
To learn more about the study please contact attempt.study@sickkids.ca.
Learn more about CTO Stream here.