New drink helps adults with type 1 diabetes recover faster from hypos

A new UK study has found that Klario®, a first‑in‑class hypo recovery drink, helps adults with type 1 diabetes recover faster from hypoglycaemia than standard glucose‑only treatments, with more stable glucose levels and fewer recurrent hypos.

The clinical results, from a 12‑week randomised study analysing more than 1,000 hypo episodes, will be presented in a keynote oral session at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference (DUKPC) 2026 in Liverpool today at 5pm.

To support people living with diabetes and their families, the team behind Klario® is also hosting a free online “Results Day” seminar on Friday, April 24, at 12.30pm to explain the findings in a patient‑friendly way and answer questions about hypo recovery in everyday life.

Hypoglycaemia remains a daily reality for many people with type 1 diabetes, with some experiencing 100 to 200 episodes a year related to insulin therapy.

While hypos are usually treated with fast‑acting carbohydrate, many people describe a “hypo hangover” of brain fog and fatigue that can last for hours after glucose has returned to target, affecting work, sleep, social life and sport.

Klario®, developed by London‑based Flow Health Science together with leading diabetes specialists, is designed to address this gap.

The 150 ml drink combines the recommended 15 g of fast‑acting carbohydrate with an additional ‘adaptive energy’ source, beta‑hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which is better able to fuel the brain, with the aim of supporting complete recovery after a hypo – not just correction of blood glucose.

Professor David Russell‑Jones, Senior Diabetologist and Principal Investigator on the study, said hypoglycaemia remains a critical therapeutic challenge despite advances in insulins, pumps and continuous glucose monitoring.

He said: “For decades, hypo treatment has focused almost exclusively on raising glucose levels. These results suggest that by supporting brain energy metabolism more efficiently, we can reduce the burden of recurrent episodes and improve the quality of daily life for patients.”

In the 12‑week randomised study in adults with type 1 diabetes, Klario® was compared with standard glucose‑only products used for self‑treatment of hypos, with more than 1,000 episodes recorded and analysed.

Key outcomes included:

• Improved post‑hypo Time‑in‑Range, a key measure of time spent with glucose in the target range, compared with standard glucose‑only treatments
• A 27 per cent reduction in recurrent hypoglycaemic episodes with Klario®
• Faster self‑reported recovery, with more participants able to resume normal daily activities sooner.

Participants using Klario® reported meaningful benefits in day‑to‑day life, including faster relief of hypo symptoms, reduced “hypo hangover” effects such as fatigue and brain fog, and feeling more in control when managing episodes.

One participant, Julia, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 50 years, described how the product changed her usual “crash pattern”.

She said: “My blood sugar rose and stayed on target. I usually have a crash pattern where you go up and down all day – a nightmare. I haven’t had that with Klario®.”

Another participant, Thomas, highlighted the impact at work, saying: “The fatigue and brain fog definitely improved.

“It made a huge difference at work; I could actually go about my day instead of being ‘written off’ for the afternoon.”

The full study is published open access in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Klario® is described as a potential “new standard of care” for hypo recovery in an independent commentary by Professors Louis Monnier and David Owens in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

The authors highlighted the mechanism‑driven approach of combining fast‑acting carbohydrate with BHB‑based adaptive energy to better support brain metabolism during and after hypoglycaemia.

Klario® is available in the UK as a 150 ml ready‑to‑drink product designed to be portable and easy to use during the day, at night or around exercise, with an “Original” flavour developed to avoid the sickly sweetness and chalky texture often reported with conventional gels and tablets.

Klario® is available online at www.myklario.com, which also hosts practical information and shared experiences around living with hypos.

Following the Diabetes UK Professional Conference oral presentation on Thursday, April 23, Flow Health Science will hold a free online “Results Day” seminar on Friday, April 24, at 12.30pm for people living with diabetes, families and carers.

Sign up here – www.myklario.com/resultsday

The session will:

• Explain the study design and findings in clear, everyday language
• Explore what the results could mean for managing hypos in real life, including work, sleep, sport and social activities
• Include a Q&A with clinicians and the Klario® team.

Flow Health Science is a London‑based company focused on “advanced nutrition”- clinically proven, mechanism‑driven foods designed for specific health and performance needs, with measurable outcomes.

Klario® is its first product to launch, with additional assets in development for other health and performance indications.

The company was founded by Dr Richard Littlewood and is led by CEO Georgia Myers, supported by an advisory board with expertise across clinical medicine, consumer health and food innovation.

For more information about Klario® or the clinical study, visit www.myklario.com orwww.flowhealthscience.com.