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Safety of Low and Very Low Carbohydrate Diets in Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Nemours Children's Health logo

Nemours Children's Health

Status

Completed

Conditions

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Child, Only
Diet Modification

Treatments

Other: Low carbohydrate diet
Other: Very low carbohydrate diet

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT03862521
LowCHOT1D

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety of short-term (6 month) low or very-low carbohydrate diets in prepubertal children 2 to <12 years old with type 1 diabetes. Participants will be randomized to either low carbohydrate diet (carbohydrate makes up 30-39% of total daily calories) or very-low carbohydrate diet (carbohydrates are 20-29% of total daily calories). The investigators will evaluate metabolic effects of these diets by measuring the counter-regulatory hormone response to hypoglycemia at baseline and again at 3 months. Other outcomes include diabetes control as measured by HbA1c, growth and weight gain, lipid profiles, and body composition.

Full description

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety of short-term (6 month) low or very-low carbohydrate diets in prepubertal children 2 to <12 years old with type 1 diabetes. Participants will be randomized to either low carbohydrate diet (carbohydrate makes up 30-39% of total daily calories) or very-low carbohydrate diet (carbohydrates are 20-29% of total daily calories). The investigators will evaluate metabolic effects of these diets by measuring the counter-regulatory hormone response to hypoglycemia at baseline and again at 3 months. Other outcomes include diabetes control as measured by HbA1c, growth and weight gain, lipid profiles, and body composition.

Participants will be admitted to the Clinical Research Center at baseline and 3 months. Gradual reduction in serum glucose to under 80 mg/dL will be achieved by an increase in their insulin infusion rate through their insulin pump. Plasma glucose, catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine), glucagon, and serum ketones are measured at baseline and after glucose is below 80 mg/dL. All subjects will have lipid evaluation and body composition (DXA scan) at baseline and 6 months. Subjects' growth will be evaluated by comparing their height and weight z-score before and after the 6 months of diet intervention. Change in growth velocity will also be assessed. During the study, participants not already using continuous glucose monitoring will be placed on Dexcom G5 to monitor blood sugars regularly. Subjects will also be monitoring serum ketones at home regularly.

Enrollment

16 patients

Sex

All

Ages

2 to 11 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Prepubertal children 2 to <12 years old (i.e., before 12th birthday)
  • Type 1 diabetes for at least 6 months
  • Patients must be using insulin pump therapy
  • Not presently on low carbohydrate diet

Exclusion criteria

  • On low or very low carbohydrate diet
  • History of endocrine or metabolic disorder that could affect counter-regulation (well-controlled hypothyroidism is acceptable if on stable dose of l-thyroxine for ≥3 months)
  • History of metabolic disorder affection lipid metabolism
  • Severe hypoglycemic event in past 3 months

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

None (Open label)

16 participants in 2 patient groups

Low carbohydrate diet group
Experimental group
Description:
Low carb diet, carbohydrates make up 30-40% of total daily calories.
Treatment:
Other: Low carbohydrate diet
Very low carbohydrate diet
Experimental group
Description:
Very low carb diet, carbohydrates make up 20-29% of total daily calories.
Treatment:
Other: Very low carbohydrate diet

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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