Fake Carbs Practice With AID System - MiniMed 780G in Children and Adolescents With T1D.
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Basic parameters: 7 years — 19 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Greece
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
"Fake Carbs" Practice in the Glycemic Outcomes in Children and Adolescents Using AID System: A Cross-over Observational Study
Overview
Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) systems, such as the MiniMed 780G, have significantly improved glycemic outcomes in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) management. The MiniMed 780G, an Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop (AHCL) system, features autocorrection boluses and unique insulin adjustment technologies. While effective, the system requires user input for meal announcements. Some individuals attempt to "trick" the system by entering "fake carbs" to prompt additional insulin corrections. However, clinical evidence suggests this practice does not improve glycemic outcomes. This study, conducted in Athens, Greece, will involve 40 children and adolescents (ages 7-18) with Type 1 Diabetes who have been using the MiniMed 780G system for over 6 months. The open-label, crossover design explores the impact of 'fake carbohydrates' on glycemic control. Participants will be split into two groups: one starts with 'fake carbohydrates' and then stops, while the other does the reverse. Over two weeks, their glycemic outcomes will be monitored and compared, with exclusions for severe diabetes complications or serious diabetic events This study hypothesizes that using "fake carbs" does not enhance glycemic control. Findings are expected to provide evidence-based insights to optimize diabetes management and improve clinical guidance for HCL system users.
Detailed description
Aim of the Study To compare glycemic control outcomes in individuals with T1D using the MiniMed™ 780G system during periods when 'fake carbohydrates' are used versus periods when this strategy is not employed.
Definition: Fake Carbohydrates As a Fake Carbs practice is defined the practice when the user enters fake quantity of carbohydrates in order to trigger the system to suggest and deliver a bolus insulin with the aim to correct hyperglycemia.
Study Design and Participants This is a prospective, open-label, randomized, crossover trial conducted at the Diabetes Center of the General Hospital "P. \& A. Kyriakou" in Athens, Greece.
Sample Size
* Total Participants: 40 children and adolescents * Age Range: 7-18 years Inclusion Criteria * Diagnosis of T1D * Using the MiniMed™ 780G system for ≥6 months * Habitual use of fake carbohydrates in daily management Exclusion Criteria * Severe diabetes-related complications * Recent episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or severe hypoglycemia Randomization and Group Allocation
Participants will be randomized into two groups based on their prior use of fake carbohydrates:
Group 1 (FC1): Continue using fake carbohydrates for 2 weeks, followed by discontinuation for 2 weeks.
Group 2 (FC2): Discontinue use of fake carbohydrates for 2 weeks, followed by resumption for 2 weeks.
Each intervention phase will be preceded by a 2-week run-in period to allow algorithm adaptation. A 2-week washout period between crossover phases will follow the same adaptation rationale.
Baseline and Ongoing Assessments
* Clinical and Demographic Data * Age, sex, T1D duration, weight, height * HbA1c measured via HPLC (Menarini) on a single analyzer All data retrieved from hospital electronic medical records
MiniMed™ 780G System Data
Review of pump settings during run-in phase
Settings optimized using:
* Target glucose: 100 mg/dL * Active Insulin Time: 2 hours
Fake Carbohydrates Logbook
Participants will maintain a log recording:
* Time, amount, and context of fake carbohydrate entries * Real meals and blood glucose levels * Any episodes of hypoglycemia following fake CHO entries
Outcome Measures
* Primary Outcome Time in Range (TIR 70-180 mg/dL) over each 2-week intervention phase * Secondary Outcomes Time below range (\<70 mg/dL) and time above range (\>180 mg/dL) Total daily insulin dose Frequency and severity of hypoglycemia System usage data (auto-mode %, correction boluses) Number and frequency of meal and fake CHO entries Adverse events (e.g., severe hypoglycemia, DKA)
Data Collection Tools CareLink™ Software: Used for glycemic data at baseline, week 2, and week 4 Participant logbooks for qualitative assessment of FC practices
Data Analysis Within-subject comparisons will be conducted due to crossover design Descriptive statistics for demographic and baseline characteristics Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for primary and secondary outcomes Repeated-measures ANOVA for longitudinal outcomes
Expected Impact This study will provide the first structured evaluation of the widely used but clinically unverified practice of entering 'fake carbohydrates' in AHCL systems. It will inform clinicians on whether this strategy improves or undermines glycemic control and support evidence-based recommendations for pump users and healthcare providers.
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Time In Range [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Change in Time in Tight Range [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Change in Time Below Range [Time frame: 2 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (12)
- Changes between groups in GMI [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in Time Above Range [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Change in mean sensor glucose [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Change in Standard Deviation of glucose [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in Coefficient of Variation for glucose [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in number of announced carbs [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in total daily insulin dose [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in insulin Auto-basal rate [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in insulin Auto-correction [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in insulin Manual bolus [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in number of severe hypoglycemia episodes [Time frame: 2 weeks]
- Changes in the number of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) events [Time frame: 2 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Participants aged 7-18 years
- T1D >6 months
- on MiniMed 780G system in automode.
Exclusion criteria
- Participants with significant diabetes complications
- Participants with severe episode of diabetic ketoacidosis in the last 6 months
- Participants with hypoglycemia in the last 6 months.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-crossover
Study locations
Greece · 3 centers
- Athens General Children's Hospital "Pan. & Aglaia Kyriakou" — Athens
- Athens, Attiki — Athens
- Diabetes Center — Athens
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07179471 · 10862