CGM-guided Patch Pump vs Basal-Bolus Injection for Steroid-Induced Hyperglycemia in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: SHIP Trial

Summary

This exploratory randomized controlled trial evaluates whether a CGM-guided temporary patch pump (CareLevo CSII) reduces glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia (GIH) compared to a Lantus-based basal-bolus injection (MDI) regimen in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and type 2 diabetes or prediabetes receiving high-dose systemic corticosteroids (methylprednisolone 48 mg/day). Patients with SSNHL are treated with high-dose oral corticosteroids as standard of care, which often causes significant postprandial hyperglycemia - particularly in patients with pre-existing diabetes or prediabetes. No randomized trial has investigated the optimal insulin delivery strategy for this specific clinical scenario. All enrolled participants undergo a 2-night inpatient admission (Day 1-3) for safe insulin initiation and device education, followed by outpatient management (Day 4-14). All participants wear a CareSens Air continuous glucose monitor (CGM, 15-day sensor) throughout Day 1-14. Participants meeting insulin activation criteria are randomized 1:1 to: * Arm A (CSII): CareLevo patch pump using a steroid-wave basal profile and carbohydrate-band meal bolus via the app's bolus calculator (CGM-integrated, IOB-adjusted) * Arm B (MDI): Insulin glargine U-100 (Lantus) qAM plus Fiasp prandial bolus via pen using a pre-printed dose table with identical carbohydrate-band algorithm Both arms use identical glycemic targets, carbohydrate-band bolus algorithm (ICR/ISF identical), and correction rules. The primary difference is insulin delivery (patch pump vs. pen injection) and basal profile (steroid-wave CSII vs. flat glargine). The primary outcome is 24-hour CGM Time Above Range (TAR) \>180 mg/dL averaged over the 9-day high-dose steroid period (Day 1-9).

Timeline

Start

2026-08

Primary completion

2028-06

Completion

2028-12

Publications

• Results American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes*. 16. Diabetes Care in the Hospital: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2026. Diabetes Care. 2026 Jan 1;49(Supplement_1):S339-S355. doi: 10.2337/dc26-S016.
• Results Chang LL, Umpierrez GE, Inzucchi SE. Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized, Non-Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med. 2022 Sep 15;387(11):1040-1042. doi: 10.1056/NEJMclde2204691. No abstract available.
• Results Anderson RT, Skovlund SE, Marrero D, Levine DW, Meadows K, Brod M, Balkrishnan R. Development and validation of the insulin treatment satisfaction questionnaire. Clin Ther. 2004 Apr;26(4):565-78. doi: 10.1016/s0149-2918(04)90059-8.
• Results Cho JH, Suh S. Glucocorticoid-Induced Hyperglycemia: A Neglected Problem. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2024 Apr;39(2):222-238. doi: 10.3803/EnM.2024.1951. Epub 2024 Mar 27.
• Results Chandrasekhar SS, Tsai Do BS, Schwartz SR, Bontempo LJ, Faucett EA, Finestone SA, Hollingsworth DB, Kelley DM, Kmucha ST, Moonis G, Poling GL, Roberts JK, Stachler RJ, Zeitler DM, Corrigan MD, Nnacheta LC, Satterfield L. Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss (Update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019 Aug;161(1_suppl):S1-S45. doi: 10.1177/0194599819859885.
• Results Kleinhans M, Albrecht LJ, Benson S, Fuhrer D, Dissemond J, Tan S. Continuous Glucose Monitoring of Steroid-Induced Hyperglycemia in Patients With Dermatologic Diseases. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2024 Jul;18(4):904-910. doi: 10.1177/19322968221147937. Epub 2023 Jan 5.
• Results Achanta M, Kasetti P, Fortune-Ely M, Ross T, Magos T, Manjaly JG. Adverse Effects of Steroid Therapy in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Scoping Review. Clin Otolaryngol. 2025 Sep;50(5):821-830. doi: 10.1111/coa.14339. Epub 2025 May 30.

Drugs

Indications