Exercise and the Menstrual Cycle in Type 1 Diabetes

NCT ID: NCT05188014

Last Updated: 2025-07-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 15 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-03-15
• Study Completion Date: 2026-08-30

Brief Summary

Female participants with type 1 diabetes using oral contraceptives will be asked to wear a continuous glucose monitor for at least three days on two separate occasions (once during the last week of active pills and once during the no pill/placebo pill phase of the menstrual cycle). An exercise session (45 minutes of aerobic exercise at 60% VO2peak on a cycle ergometer) will take place at 5 pm on the second day of glucose monitoring.

Detailed Description

Pre-test measures: Interested participants will be invited to the Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory on the main campus of the University of Alberta. They will be asked questions related to their menstrual cycle, physical activity levels and medication. Blood pressure will also be measured to assess their eligibility. Where participants are eligible, anthropometric characteristics will be measured using standard protocols. A blood sample will be drawn for assessment of HbA1c. Participants will perform an incremental treadmill test to volitional exhaustion. Indirect calorimetry will be used to assess oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production to determine the participant's aerobic capacity.

Testing sessions: Participants will perform two testing sessions separated by at least 5 days. One session will take place during the last week of active pill consumption of monophasic hormonal contraceptives. The second session will take place during the placebo pill consumption phase (i.e. menses). Participants will be asked to arrive at the lab at around 4:00 pm for both sessions, which will be randomly assigned. During the sessions, participants will be asked to perform 45 minutes of aerobic exercise on an ergonomic cycle ergometer at 60% of the participant's pre-determined aerobic capacity. Blood samples will be drawn at baseline, at the end of exercise, and an hour post-exercise via an IV catheter. Participants will be asked to match their daily food and insulin intake as closely as possible from one testing session to the next for the day before, day of and day after the testing session. They will also be asked to avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol intake.

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor will be subcutaneously inserted by one of the investigators (trained by a group from the CGM manufacturer) into the anterior abdominal area of the participant in the morning of the day prior to each testing session. The participant will wear the CGM for at least 24 hours before the exercise session, and at least 24 hours after the exercise session.

Conditions

Type 1 Diabetes

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

All participants

All participants will be in a single study arm.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Luteal Phase Aerobic Exercise

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform 45 minutes of moderate (60% VO2peak) aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer during the last week of active pill consumption.

Follicular Phase Aerobic Exercise

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform 45 minutes of moderate (60% VO2peak) aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer within 5 days of starting their menses.

Interventions

Luteal Phase Aerobic Exercise

Participants will perform 45 minutes of moderate (60% VO2peak) aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer during the last week of active pill consumption.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Follicular Phase Aerobic Exercise

Participants will perform 45 minutes of moderate (60% VO2peak) aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer within 5 days of starting their menses.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• type 1 diabetes diagnosed for at least 1 year
• regular menses
• using monophasic oral contraceptives
• residing in Edmonton, Alberta and able to visit the lab at the University of Alberta

Exclusion Criteria

• HbA1c > 9.9%
• frequent and unpredictable hypoglycemia
• change in insulin management strategy within two months of the study
• use of an automated insulin delivery system
• blood pressure > 140/95
• history of cardiovascular disease
• severe peripheral neuropathy
• active proliferative retinopathy
• use of medications (other than insulin) that would affect blood glucose levels
• any musculoskeletal condition that would contraindicate exercise (e.g. sprain, strain, joint injury, etc.)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Alberta

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Alberta Diabetes Institute

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Canada

Facility Contacts

Jane E Yardley, PhD

Role: primary

jane.yardley@ualberta.ca

7806791688

Other Identifiers

Pro0083867

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id