Study recruitment: Understanding type 1 diabetes through the menstrual cycle

A statement from the research team said: “Premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes often experience changes in blood glucose control related to their menstrual cycle. These natural hormone fluctuations can make diabetes management difficult, especially since current AID systems are not designed to adjust insulin delivery in response to these monthly hormonal changes.

“The TIMES study was developed to gain robust scientific insights into how insulin requirements and blood glucose control change during the menstrual cycle. The multinational study is being conducted in a decentralised manner and includes a total of 350 women, approximately 50 each in Switzerland, Denmark, the UK, the US, and Germany. As this is a decentralised study, all study-related activities take place online or at the participants’ homes. It is not necessary to visit a clinic or medical centre.

“Our goal is to identify typical patterns in insulin requirements and blood glucose levels, including time in range, hypo- and hyperglycaemia, during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. We also want to understand which factors, such as premenstrual symptoms or the level of physical activity, significantly influence or characterise these fluctuations.”

Researchers added: “We ask participants to collect data on their diabetes management and menstrual cycle over six menstrual cycles (participation can therefore last up to seven months). You will be asked to complete several questionnaires. You will also be asked to provide or upload data from your AID system, including information on glucose levels, insulin doses and carbohydrate intake. We will provide you with a Garmin smartwatch, which you should wear throughout the study (including at night), and you will need to perform ovulation tests to determine your ovulation in each cycle (up to 10 ovulation tests per month).”

If you are interested in participating, find more information on the study click here

NOTE: DRWF will from time-to-time advise readers of ‘calls to participate’ in diabetes and related health research studies. It should not necessarily be considered that the charity is in any way connected to the study or the group issuing the call for participants. If we are involved in any way, we will make this known. We will only share external calls where we have confirmed that the study holds ethics committee approval, and the study is specific to diabetes and related health. Taking part in a medical research study is a big step and further helpful information can be found via the National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Trials Guide.