Rate of the “burnt-out diabetes” phenomenon in patients on peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

AimsIn some diabetes patients on dialysis, glycemic control improves spontaneously, leading to normal HbA1c levels; this phenomenon is known as “burnt-out diabetes.” Glycated albumin (GA) might be a better indicator of glycemic control than HbA1c in hemodialysis patients, but it has not been assessed in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. MethodsThis study involved diabetes patients on PD, with HbA1c level and antidiabetes therapy records. First, the “burnt-out diabetes” phenomenon was investigated in patients with HbA1c measurements alone (HbA1c cohort). Then, it was investigated in patients with both HbA1c and GA measurements (GA cohort). ResultsA total of 1296 patients were included in the HbA1c cohort. When “burnt-out diabetes” was defined as HbA1c < 6.0% without treatment, it was noted in 269 patients (20.8%). A total of 413 patients were subsequently included in the GA cohort. “Burnt-out diabetes,” using the same definition, was found in 73 patients (17.7%). However, when defined as HbA1c < 6.0% and GA < 16.0% without treatment, “burnt-out diabetes” was found in 45 patients (10.9%). ConclusionsAlthough the “burnt-out diabetes” phenomenon was present in 17.7% of patients with diabetes on PD based on HbA1c, the rate was significantly decreased to 10.9% when taking GA into account.