Recovery of Hypoglycemia Awareness in Long-standing Type 1 Diabetes: A Multicenter 2 x 2 Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Insulin Pump With Multiple Daily Injections and Continuous With Conventional Glucose Self-monitoring (HypoCOMPaSS)

OBJECTIVE To determine whether impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) can be improved and severe hypoglycemia (SH) prevented in type 1 diabetes, we compared an insulin pump (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [CSII]) with multiple daily injections (MDIs) and adjuvant real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT) with conventional self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A 24-week 2 x 2 factorial randomized controlled trial in adults with type 1 diabetes and IAH was conducted. All received comparable education, support, and congruent therapeutic targets aimed at rigorous avoidance of biochemical hypoglycemia without relaxing overall control. Primary end point was between-intervention difference in 24-week hypoglycemia awareness (Gold score). RESULTS A total of 96 participants (mean diabetes duration 29 years) were randomized. Overall, biochemical hypoglycemia (<= 3.0 mmol/L) decreased (53 +/- 63 to 24 +/- 56 min/24 h; P = 0.004 [t test]) without deterioration in HbA(1c). Hypoglycemia awareness improved (5.1 +/- 1.1 to 4.1 +/- 1.6; P = 0.0001 [t test]) with decreased SH (8.9 +/- 13.4 to 0.8 +/- 1.8 episodes/patient-year; P = 0.0001 [t test]). At 24 weeks, there was no significant difference in awareness comparing CSII with MDI (4.1 +/- 1.6 vs. 4.2 +/- 1.7; difference 0.1; 95% CI -0.6 to 0.8) and RT with SMBG (4.3 +/- 1.6 vs. 4.0 +/- 1.7; difference -0.3; 95% CI -1.0 to 0.4). Between-group analyses demonstrated comparable reductions in SH, fear of hypoglycemia, and insulin doses with equivalent HbA1c. Treatment satisfaction was higher with CSII than MDI (32 +/- 3 vs. 29 +/- 6; P = 0.0003 [t test]), but comparable with SMBG and RT (30 +/- 5 vs. 30 +/- 5; P = 0.79 [t test]). CONCLUSIONS Hypoglycemia awareness can be improved and recurrent SH prevented in long-standing type 1 diabetes without relaxing HbA1c. Similar biomedical outcomes can be attained with conventional MDI and SMBG regimens compared with CSII/RT, although satisfaction was higher with CSII.