Oral Galactose as a Substrate for Post-Exercise Skeletal Muscle Glycogen Repletion in Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes
Key facts
- Where
- Aarhus, DenmarkSee the 2 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 20 and 70 years old?
Source: NCT07774780, who can take part
Where in Denmark
- Aarhus UniversitetAarhus, DenmarkNo longer taking part
- steno diabetes center AarhusAarhus, DenmarkNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Aarhus
- Trial code
- NCT07774780
- Record updated
- 19 August 2026
- Original description
This Ph.D. project investigates whether orally ingested galactose can be taken up by skeletal muscle and the heart in response to exercise or hyperinsulinemia, and whether it may serve as a viable nutritional strategy for individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D).Read full original descriptionShow less
This Ph.D. project investigates whether orally ingested galactose can be taken up by skeletal muscle and the heart in response to exercise or hyperinsulinemia, and whether it may serve as a viable nutritional strategy for individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Although exercise provides significant health benefits for people with T1D, it is often associated with substantial glucose fluctuations and an increased risk of hypoglycemia. Conventional carbohydrate strategies based on glucose may further exacerbate glycemic instability due to the rapid increase in blood glucose levels. In contrast, galactose is metabolized more slowly and may therefore provide a more stable energy source during and after exercise.
Previous research has demonstrated that intravenously administered galactose is taken up by human skeletal muscle, with uptake increasing during exercise, suggesting a mechanism that may be at least partly insulin-independent. Building on these findings, this project aims to determine whether similar uptake occurs when galactose is ingested orally.
This study uses a randomized controlled design and applies non-invasive 18F-FDGal PET imaging to quantify galactose uptake in skeletal muscle and cardiac tissue. The findings may contribute to improving dietary recommendations for individuals with T1D, particularly in relation to maintaining stable blood glucose levels during and after physical activity.
Inclusion: Healthy or T1D; BMI 18,5-30 kg/m2; Singed informed consent.
Exclusion: Participation in other studies involving ionizing radiation within the last 6 months; Clinically significant heart, lung, kidney, liver, endocrine, or malignant disease based on information collected during the initial screening visit as well as blood tests; Lack of awareness of hypoglycemia episodes; Blood donation within the last 3 months; Smoking; Alcohol or substance abuse; Claustrophobia; Inability to train one leg for one hour.