Insulin Users Research Articles

The effect of metformin use on the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with type 2 diabetes: data from the UK biobank

Abstract Objective The present study aims to investigate the protective role of metformin against atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients treated with other antidiabetic medications. Methods We included 10,011 participants with T2DM from the UK biobank database, with a follow-up for new diagnoses of AF and stroke recorded until 2023. We employed logistic regression analysis and competing risk models to assess the association between metformin use and the incidence of AF or stroke. Results The cross-sectional analysis revealed that, compared with the use of other antidiabetics, metformin was associated with a lower prevalence of AF (odds ratio [OR] 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57–0.89) and stroke (OR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.56–0.86). In the competing risk model, compared to other antidiabetics, metformin may reduce the risk of AF (sub-hazard ratio [SHR] 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75–0.98) and stroke (SHR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.44–0.86) (Figure 1). Subgroup analysis indicated a significantly lower incidence of AF or stroke in patients under 65 years of age (SHRs were 0.80, 95% CI:0.67-0.96 for AF and 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.81 for stroke) and in female patients (SHRs were 0.65, 95% CI:0.52-0.81 for AF and 0.53, 95% CI: 0.30-0.91 for stroke). Notably, metformin significantly reduced the incidence of AF in non-insulin users (SHR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.66-0.97) and the incidence of stroke in insulin users (SHR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35-0.87) (Figure 2). Conclusion Our findings suggest that metformin use, in comparison to other antidiabetic medications, is associated with a reduced risk of AF and stroke, especially in non-insulin users for AF and insulin users for stroke.

Switching from Premixed Insulin to Insulin Degludec/Insulin Aspart for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Implications of a Real-World Study on Insulin Degludec Dosing.

When switching from premixed insulin to insulin degludec/aspart (IDegAsp), IDegAsp usually starts at the same dose as the premixed insulin according to limited clinical experience or at a dose according to clinician discretion. The dose of insulin degludec used in the real world after switching has been poorly investigated. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes who switched from premixed insulin to IDegAsp from October 2016 to December 2023. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare changes in insulin dose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and postprandial blood glucose (PBG) before and after switching. Sixty-six patients with prior low-ratio premixed insulin and 22 with prior mid-ratio premixed insulin were included. Among the low-ratio insulin users, the total daily dose of insulin degludec (IDeg) decreased by 21.43% and 19.05% at 3 and 6months, respectively, after switching, compared with prior basal insulin dose (both p < 0.001). Conversely, among mid-ratio insulin users, the IDeg daily dose increased by 10.71% and 32.14% at 3 and 6months, respectively, after switching, compared with prior basal insulin dose (both p < 0.001). In all patients, HbA1c levels decreased by 0.70%, FBG decreased by 1.00mmol/l, and PBG decreased by 1.61mmol/l after 6months of switching (all p < 0.05); the total daily insulin dose and injection frequency significantly decreased after switching (both p < 0.05); age and disease duration did not affect IDegAsp effects on HbA1c reduction. In the setting of transition to IDegAsp from premixed insulin, the dose of basal insulin in the premixed formulation can be a valuable reference for adjusting insulin degludec dose. IDegAsp is superior to premixed insulin in blood glucose control with reduced total daily dose and injection frequency. IDegAsp could be the best choice for the management of diabetes in elderly patients.

The Association of Glycemic Control Medication Regimens and Preoperative Fructosamine Among Total Joint Artrhoplasty Patients.

Although glycated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) has classically been used for glycemic control screening before surgery, fructosamine, a short-term glucose variability indicator, has been reported to be a more accurate predictor of postoperative periprosthetic joint infection among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Given the variability of diabetic medication management, this study aims to identify the associated effect of glycemic control medication regimen (GCMR) on the incidence rate and associated odds of abnormal preoperative fructosamine levels among diabetic primary total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty patients. Between 2017 and 2018, consecutive series of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty patients were identified, and the final cohort included only diabetic patients. All patients reported preoperative HbA1c and fructosamine levels. GCMR categories included insulin, metformin, and other. Independent risk of GCMR and abnormal fructosamine levels (>293 µmol/L) were identified using multivariable logistic regression, while controlling for preoperative baseline factors including HbA1C. Among 420 patients, 15.7% (66/420) were diabetic, of whom 22.7% (15/66) reported an abnormal fructosamine level. Among patients requiring GCMR, 24.0% (18/75), 56.0% (42/75), and 77.7% (58/75) reported using insulin, other, and metformin, respectively. Multivariable logistic regressions demonstrated that insulin-dependent patients with DM reported a 1.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.096 to 30.213, P = 0.716) increased odds of abnormal fructosamine levels compared with nonactive GCMR patients, whereas patients managed with metformin and other glycemic control medications reported a protective 0.48 (95% CI, 0.418 to 5.407, P = 0.549) and 0.32 (95% CI, 0.216 to 4.508, P = 0.393) decreased odds of abnormal fructosamine levels, respectively. In this study, insulin and other GCMR medications exhibited a trend for increased and decreased odds of having abnormal preoperative fructosamine levels while controlling for baseline HbA1c level compared with patients with DM without active GCMR. This association may be explained by multifactorial short-term glucose variability in insulin users, indicating the continued need and optimization of short-term glycemic variations instead of HbA1c.

The risk of cancer among insulin glargine users in Lithuania: A retrospective population-based study.

The aim of this study was to determine the association between insulin glargine usage and the potential increase in cancer risk among the Lithuanian population diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The cohort of insulin users was established by identifying all male and female patients diagnosed with T2DM, as recorded in the National Health Insurance Fund database between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2012. The risk of cancer among insulin glargine users was compared with the risk in non-glargine insulin users. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). The overall cancer risk for all sites combined showed no significant difference (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.67-1.05). Although a general decrease in the risk of cancers was observed at most sites for glargine users, the use of insulin glargine was associated with a non-significant increase in the risk of mouth and pharynx, stomach, non-melanoma skin, breast, cervical, ovarian, and central nervous system cancers. There was a tendency for a lower risk of colon, rectum, rectosigmoid, and anus cancer among glargine users (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.18-1.12, p = 0.09). Our research contributes to the growing body of evidence showing that insulin glargine is not associated with an increased risk of all cancers or specific types of cancer.

Transportation, storage and injection practices of insulin among patients with diabetes mellitus attending a medical clinic at a tertiary care centre in Sri Lanka

Background: Failure to maintain the cold chain during the transportation and storage of insulin and incorrect techniques of insulin injection lead to fluctuations of glycaemic control and complications among patients with diabetes mellitus. Objective: The study assessed transportation, storage, and injection practices of insulin among diabetic patients. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 consecutive diabetic patients on regular insulin attending a follow-up medical clinic at National Hospital, Colombo. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on patients’ socio-demographic factors, insulin transportation methods, storage, and injection practices. Results: All the study participants (age 59 SD±11.5; males 44.5%; females 55.5%) were on premixed insulin while 15% (n=30) used additional soluble insulin. The majority (56%) failed to maintain the cold chain during transportation while 1.5% (n=3) stored insulin in the freezer compartment. Only 33.5% (n=67) had glucometers at home to monitor their glucose levels and 27% failed to comply with the recommended dosage. Only 52.5% (n=105) adhered to the correct timing recommended. The majority (95.5%; n=191) practiced rotation of the injection site and 32% (n=64) rolled the vial between palms before injection. A minority (24.5%) failed to clean the injection site while 63.5% (n=127) practiced pinching of the skin fold before injection. All 6 steps of insulin injection were correctly practiced by 6.5% (n=13) denoting significant lapses in their knowledge and technique. Conclusion: A significant number of insulin users follow incorrect transportation and injection practices. Interventions are required to improve them

7800 Real World Incidence Of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) &amp; Genital Tract Infections (GTI) With SGLT2 Inhibitors Alone Or In Combination With DPP4 Inhibitors In Patients With T2D In India

Abstract Disclosure: A. Gupta: None. N. Singh: None. S. Phatak: None. A.N. Singh: None. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are associated with urinary and genital tract infections (UTI and GTI), as they increase glucose availability in these areas, fostering bacterial growth. A study found a 26% lower occurrence of UTI and GTI in patients using a combination of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) and SGLT2i compared to those on SGLT2i alone. (1) The present study assessed whether patients receiving SGLT2i were at increased risk of significant UTIs &amp; GTIs compared with those using a combination of SGLT2i &amp; DPP-4i. A cross-sectional, multicenter, real-world study was conducted that enrolled patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) from 15th June to 30th September 2023 across 42 sites in India. The recorded data encompassed demographic information, glycemic parameters, medication use &amp; information on hygiene practices. The sample considered for this analysis is those on SGLT2i &amp; with or without DPPi. [Note – all patients are on other OHAs besides SGLT2i or DPP4i]. Of 10,179 patients, 2,123 were on only SGLT2i (Group A), and 8,052 were on SGLT2i and DPP4i (Group B). Group A showed a significantly higher incidence of UTI (9.09% vs. 6.11%) and GTI (6.64% vs. 5.2%). Elderly patients, especially those aged 60-69 and &amp;gt;70, exhibited higher UTI and GTI rates in Group A. In both genders, the incidence of UTI was higher in Group A (7.93%-males &amp; 10.53%-females) than in Group B (5.41%-males &amp; 7.11%-females). Amongst males, the incidence of GTI was significantly higher in Group A (5.63%) than in Group B (4.12%). In females, no significant difference was noted. Two models were developed to assess the impact of SGLT2i and insulin usage on UTI and GTI likelihood. Propensity score matching addressed confounding variables like age, gender, BMI, and comorbidities. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis focused solely on medication variables. The odds of developing UTI were calculated for various medication possibilities. As against ‘No SGLT2i’, Group A has 2.24 (CI 1.69-2.96) times higher odds of UTI, while Group B has 1.45 (CI 1.15-1.72) times. or GTI, Group A shows 3.18 (CI 2.23-4.53) times higher odds, and Group B has 2.48 (CI 1.90-3.25) times, as against ‘No SGLT2i’. In summary, DPP-4 &amp; SGLT2 inhibitors combination therapy decreases the incidence of UTI &amp; GTI linked to SGLT2i. Reference: (1) Fadini et al. DPP4i moderate the risk of GTI &amp; UTI associated with SGLT2i. Diab Obes Metab. 2018 Mar;20(3):740-744. Presentation: 6/2/2024

6680 GLP-1 Agonists in Type 1 Diabetes - Indications and Use

Abstract Disclosure: P. Panjawatanan: None. N. Radovanovic: None. R.J. Comi: None. Introduction: Insulin therapy is the mainstream treatment in patients with Type 1 diabetes. The use of insulin, though mimicking normal physiology, is associated with weight gain. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists are a class of antidiabetic medication that lowers blood sugar levels and helps promote weight loss. We propose that GLP-1 agonists can reverse the trend of weight gain and help lower hemoglobin A1C (A1C) levels in patients with Type 1 diabetes who were gaining weight. Method: A retrospective chart review was performed at a single institution’s endocrine practice over five years. Patients with Type 1 diabetes with concomitant GLP-1 agonists used for at least one year were included. Observed outcomes were the change in A1C, weight, and basal insulin use compared at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months using mixed models repeated measures. The result was reported as estimated means (95%CI). Statistical significance was determined by a p-value less than 0.05. Results: There were 49 patients included in the study. The mean age was 44.7 years old. There were 32 females (65.3%) and 17 males (34.7%). The mean duration of diabetes was 24.6 years. Thirty-five patients (71.4%) used insulin pumps, and fourteen (28.6%) were on multiple daily injections. Overall, patients had been gaining an average of 2.0 kg per year. After the treatment with GLP-1 agonists, weight was significantly reduced at 12 months (90.0 kg (95%CI 84.9-95.1), p&amp;lt;0.001) compared to baseline (97.6 kg (95%CI 92.7-102.5)). The A1C was significantly improved at 12 months (7.6% (95%CI 7.2-7.9), p&amp;lt;0.001) compared to the baseline (8.2% (95%CI 7.9-8.6)). Total daily basal dose was significantly reduced at 12 months (35.8 units (95%CI 29.8-41.9), p&amp;lt;0.001) compared to the baseline (39.2 units (95%CI 33.3-45.1)). The improvement in the parameters was more pronounced at 6 months after treatment but persisted at 12 months. Conclusion: Weight gain is a consequence of insulin usage in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, which considerably impacts treatment outcomes and the development of comorbidities. We conclude that GLP-1 agonists are helpful to reverse the trend of weight gain and help lower A1C levels in patients with Type 1 diabetes who require life-long insulin treatment. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Estimating diabetes mellitus incidence using health insurance claims data: A database-driven cohort study.

Type II diabetes mellitus is a global public health challenge, necessitating robust epidemiological investigations. The majority of evidence reports prevalence as estimations of incidence requiring longitudinal cohort studies that are challenging to conduct. However, this has been addressed by the secondary use of existing health insurance claims data. The current study aimed to examine the incidence of type II diabetes mellitus using existing claims and ledger data. The National Health Insurance and medical care system databases were used to extract type II diabetes mellitus (defined as ICD10 codes E11$-14$) claims data over a period of 5 years for individuals over 40 years old living in one city in Japan. Prevalence was calculated, and insured individuals whose data could be tracked over the entire study period were included in the subsequent analyses. Therefore, annual incidence was calculated by estimating differences in prevalence by year. Data analyses were stratified by sex and age group, and a model analysis was conducted to account for these variables. Overall, the prevalence, diabetes medication usage, and insulin usage were 26.3%, 12.1%, and 2.0%, respectively. Annual incidence of type II diabetes mellitus ranged between 1.2% and 4.6%. Both prevalence and incidence tended to be higher in males and peaked around 60-80 years old. The overall annual incidence was estimated at 3.03% (95% CI: 2.21%-3.85%). The annual incidence was not always associated with a low risk, indicating a consistent risk from middle age onward, although the level of risk varied with age. The current study successfully integrated existing claims and ledger data to explore incidence, and this methodology could be applied to a range of injuries and illnesses in the future.

Exploring disparities: A comparative analysis of insulin-naïve, regular users, and inertia patients among type 2 diabetes mellitus outpatients in India

ABSTRACT Introduction: Insulin utilization pattern varies greatly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Clinical inertia in treatment intensification hinders glycemic control in T2DM management. This study investigated insulin prescription trends and various predictors among insulin naive, user, and insulin inertia (II) patients in T2DM. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of T2DM patient records from the diabetes clinic at a tertiary care center was conducted. Data on socio-demographics, anthropometry, disease characteristics, comorbidities, adherence, and medication prescribing patterns were collected. Analysis was done using tests of significance, odds ratio (OR), and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 950 records were analyzed, with 17.3% of patients identified as insulin users (IU), 70.9% being insulin-naïve (IN), and 11.8% having II. IUs had significantly higher glycemic levels including HbA1c, fasting, postprandial, and random blood sugars compared to the other groups. Higher HbA1c levels were associated with significantly increased odds of insulin usage (OR: 3.46, confidence interval (CI): 1.94–6.16), while individuals taking sulfonylureas had lower odds of insulin usage (OR: 0.27, CI: 0.08–0.91). A significant association was also seen with the total number of oral antidiabetic drugs prescribed (four drugs; OR: 15.6, and five drugs; OR: 9.1). Other factors did not show a significant association. The regression model showed HbA1c level as low as 7.9% could indicate a future insulin requirement in 22% of patients. Conclusion: The study outlines differences in characteristics and parameters among T2DM patients who require or do not require insulin and highlights the challenges in insulin initiation in Indian T2DM patients. Findings on II underscore the need for timely treatment intensification.

A Long-Term Retrospective Real-World Evidence to Understand the Pattern of Insulin Prescription in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Evaluating the Role of Insulin Initiation

Abstract Aims and Objective: To evaluate the prescription pattern of insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) and the trend of glycemic control in people with diabetes (PwD) with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a tertiary care center in India. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional observational study included clinic records of 647 PwD collected at three different time points (2011, 2015, and 2019). Population characteristics, patterns of glycemic parameters, and trends of antidiabetic medication were analyzed. Results: PwD population was similar in terms of anthropometric and clinical variables. Dysglycemia was observably higher in the 2015 population (mean HbA1C = 8.37 ± 1.8%) compared with the 2011 population (6.4 ± 0.4%) and stabilized in the 2019 population (8.35 ± 1.9%) compared with the 2015 population. This correlated with the trend of increase in basal and bolus insulin prescriptions as more subjects were initiated on insulin to address the higher dysglycemia in 2015 than in 2011 and were later titrated in 2019. The proportion of subjects with uncontrolled diabetes increased marginally in 2015 (50.9%) compared with 2011 (45.6%) and decreased significantly in 2019 (34.1%) compared with 2015. This correlated with the additive increases of premix insulin, sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) prescriptions. Conclusion: We observed a judicious usage of insulin prescriptions correlating with the higher need for PwD to be initiated with basal insulin to counter the increasing trend of dysglycemia, followed by more premix insulin prescriptions to address stabilized dysglycemia. Optimal diabetes control can be partly attributed to dysglycemia stabilization by insulin initiation and usage of newer OADs, such as SGLT2i and DPP4i.

The influence of insulin on diabetic retinopathy and retinal vessel parameters in diabetes

AimTo investigate the associations between insulin use and diabetic retinopathy (DR), and retinal vascular parameters in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).MethodsA total of 6,374 T2DM patients, consisting of 2,231 patients receiving insulin alone and 4143 patients without any hypoglycemic medication, were included in cross-sectional analyses. Among those without DR at baseline, 791 patients were followed for three years in longitudinal analyses. Fundus photography was taken to diagnose DR and calculate central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE), arteriolar-to-venular ratio (AVR), and vascular tortuosity. Inverse probability treatment-weighted analyses were performed.ResultsAfter adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, T2DM duration, smoking, and alcohol use, insulin users showed a higher risk of DR (odds ratio (OR) = 2.27, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 2.08–2.48, P < 0.001), larger CRVE (β = 3.92, 95%CI = 2.46–5.37, P < 0.001), smaller AVR (β=-0.0083, 95%CI=-0.0121- -0.0046, P < 0.001), and larger vascular curvature (β = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.05–0.33, P = 0.008). After 3 years, insulin users had a higher risk of developing DR (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.37–2.73, P = 0.002), and greater change in CRVE (β = 3.92, 95%CI = 0.96–6.88, P = 0.009).ConclusionsThe impact of insulin on the retinal microvasculature provides support for linking insulin to the increased risk of DR, as well as cardiovascular events in T2DM.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and the risk of Parkinson disease in real-world patients with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes increases the risk of Parkinson disease (PD). Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a new glucose-lowering therapeutic class, have shown neuroprotective effects in mechanistic studies. However, the association between SGLT2 inhibitors and PD risk in real-world populations with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear. The aim was to assess the association between SGLT2 inhibitors and the risk of PD in older populations with T2D. This retrospective cohort analysis used Medicare claims data from 2016 to 2020 to identify fee-for-service beneficiaries ≥65 years diagnosed with T2D and without pre-existing PD. The initiation of an SGLT2 inhibitor was compared with that of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor. The outcome was the first incident PD ever since the date initiating either an SGLT2 inhibitor or a DPP4 inhibitor. We employed a 1:1 propensity score matching to balance the baseline covariates between treatment groups, including sociodemographics, comorbidities and co-medications. We applied Cox regression models to assess the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors versus DPP4 inhibitors on incident PD. Of 89 330 eligible Medicare beneficiaries (mean age: 75 ± 7 years, 52% women), 0.6% (n = 537) had incident PD over the follow-up. After 1:1 propensity matching, the PD incidence was 2.5 and 3.5 events per 1000 person-years in the SGLT2 inhibitor group and DPP4 inhibitor group, respectively. The SGLT2 inhibitor group was associated with a significantly lower risk of incident PD than the DPP4 inhibitor group (hazard ratio: 0.70 [95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.89]). There is a potential trend that the risk reduction in incident PD was profound in non-Hispanic Black individuals and insulin users. Compared to DPP4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with a significantly lower risk of incident PD in older populations with T2D.

Association Between Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Exposure and Intraocular Pressure Change: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Intraocular Pressure Change

This study evaluates the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists on intraocular pressure (IOP). Retrospective clinical cohort study. The University of California Health Data Warehouse was queried for patients exposed to GLP-1R agonists or other oral antidiabetics. A total of 1247 glaucoma surgery and treatment naïve eyes of 626 patientson GLP-1R agonists and 1083 glaucoma surgery and treatment naïve eyes of 547 patients on other oral antidiabetics were included. Index date was defined as the date of first exposure to the medication. Eyes with at least one pre-exposure and one post-exposure tonometry records within 365 days of the index date were included. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted. Eyes were excluded upon exposure to glaucoma hypotensive medication or glaucoma surgery. The primary outcome measure was ∆IOP after exposure, which was analyzed using a paired t test and generalized estimating equations (GEE) RESULTS: The median age was 66.2 years [IQR = 18.3]; 607 (51.7%) were female, and 667 (56.9%) were Caucasian. Median pre-exposure IOP, hemoglobin A1c, and body mass index were 15.2 mm Hg [IQR = 3.8], 7.5 [IQR = 2.4], and 29.8 [IQR = 9.4], respectively. A total of 776 individuals (66.1%) had diabetes, with the median number of active oral antidiabetics being 1.0 [IQR = 1.0], and 441 (37.5%) being insulin users. Several pre-exposure characteristics differed between the groups. The mean ∆IOP was -0.4 ± 2.8 mm Hg (paired t test P < .001) and -0.2 ± 3.3 mm Hg (paired t test P = .297) in the GLP-1R agonist and other antidiabetics groups, respectively. Pre-exposure IOP was the only independent predictor of ΔIOP in multivariable GEE. Sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Although GLP-1R agonists were significantly associated with a decrease in IOP in the paired analysis, they were not associated with ΔIOP in multivariable GEE. Moreover, the difference in ΔIOP between the two groups was small.

Prevalence and Impact of Psychological Disorders on Pharmacotherapy of Diabetic Patients in Low Resource Settings: A Prospective Assessment in Primary Healthcare Settings.

Prevalence of psychological disorders among individuals with diabetes is significantly higher as compared to the general population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and impact of psychological disorders on pharmacotherapy of diabetes patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted at two primary care hospitals in Pakistan from April to June 2023. The nine-item Patient Health Care Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale was used to assess depression in the study's population, and its effects on pharmacotherapy of diabetes. Chi-square test was used to evaluate relationship between ordinal variables/categorical variables and depression whereas; Student's t-test was used to assess the relationship between numerical variables with depression. A total of 320 patients were assessed, comprising 120 (37.5%) males and 200 (62.5%) females, with a mean age of 52.5 (SD±11.8) years. The average duration of diabetes is 7.0 (SD±5.4). The average PHQ-9 score was 8.3 (SD±5.5). Depression was found to be prevalent in 43.7% of the study population. Gender (female) (p-value 0.002), advanced age (p-value 0.002), lower income (p-value 0.001), education levels (p-value 0.001), longer duration of diabetes (p-value 0.001), poor diabetes control according to BSR value (p-value 0.001), usage of injectable insulin (p-value 0.005), and concomitant diseases (p-value 0.001) were found to be independently linked with depression. Significant association was observed between depression and treatment adherence (p-value 0.0025), number of missed doses (p-value 0.045), and difficulty in diabetes management (p-value 0.0015). Our study highlights significant prevalence of depression in study population and the prevalent depression negatively impacts on treatment adherence. It also revealed that depression complicates diabetes management resulting in poor medication adherence, poor diabetes control and diabetes related complications, making diabetes control more challenging and difficult.

Too good to be true: Are GLP-1 receptor agonists the new metformin?

Recently, a health-care database study showed that persons with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) had a significantly lower risk of 10 out of 13 obesity-related cancers than patients taking insulin (Wang L, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 7: e2421305). For some cancers, hazard ratios <0.5 were reported. This is reminiscent of studies published >10 years ago showing that people with type 2 diabetes taking metformin had a lower risk of many types of cancer than those not taking metformin. In some studies, also risk reductions of >50 % were reported.The strong effects observed in the metformin studies were explained by time-related biases, in particular, immortal time bias. In the current GLP-1 RA study, it was striking that the curves for the cumulative incidence of several cancers in GLP-1 RA and insulin users diverged immediately after therapy onset. This indicates that there is most likely a time-related bias: insulin is given at much later stages of type 2 diabetes than GLP-1 RA.The current study suggests that one should be sceptical about database results when spectacular risk reductions are reported. Time-related bias should always be considered as an alternative explanation.

Health Outcome Changes in Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes After a State-Level Insulin Copayment Cap

Many insulin users ration doses due to high out-of-pocket costs. Starting January 2020 with Colorado, 25 states and the District of Columbia enacted laws that cap insulin copayments. To estimate the association of Colorado's $100 copayment cap with out-of-pocket spending, medication adherence, and health care services utilization for diabetes-related complications. In this cohort study using Colorado's All-Payer Claims Database, nonelderly insulin users with type 1 diabetes were analyzed from January 2019 to December 2020. Outcome changes were compared in the prepolicy and postpolicy period among individuals continuously enrolled in state-regulated and non-state-regulated plans using difference-in-differences regressions. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on individuals' prepolicy spending (low: never ≥$100 out-of-pocket vs high: ≥$100 out-of-pocket cost at least once). Data were analyzed from June 2023 to May 2024. Enrollment in state-regulated health insurance plans subject to the copayment cap legislation. Adherence to basal and bolus insulin treatment was evaluated using the proportion of days covered measure, out-of-pocket spending reflected prescription cost for a 30-day supply, and health care utilization for diabetes-related complications was identified using primary diagnosis codes from medical claims data. The panel included 1629 individuals with type 1 diabetes (39 096 person-months), of which 924 were male (56.7%), 540 (33.1%) had 1 or more comorbidities, and the mean (SD) age was 40.6 (15.9) years. Overall, the copayment cap was associated with out-of-pocket spending declines of $17.3 (95% CI, -$27.3 to -$7.3) for basal and $11.5 (95% CI, -$24.7 to $1.7) for bolus insulins and increases in adherence of 3.2 (95% CI, 0.0 to 6.5) percentage points for basal and 3.3 (95% CI, 0.3 to 6.4) percentage points for bolus insulins. Changes in adherence were associated with increases within the prepolicy high-spending group (basal, 9.9; 95% CI, 2.4 to 17.4 percentage points; bolus, 13.0; 95% CI, 5.1 to 20.9 percentage points). The policy was also associated with a mean reduction of -0.09 (95% CI, -0.16 to -0.02) medical claims for diabetes-related complications per person per month among high spenders, a 30% decrease. In this cohort study of Colorado's insulin copayment cap among individuals with type 1 diabetes, the policy was associated with an overall decline in out-of-pocket spending, an increase in medication adherence, and a decline in claims for diabetes-related complications only among insulin users who spent more than $100 in the prepolicy period at least once.

State Out-Of-Pocket Caps On Insulin Costs: No Significant Increase In Claims Or Utilization.

Nearly all patients with type 1 diabetes and 20-30percent of patients with type 2 diabetes use insulin to manage glycemic control. Approximately one-quarter of patients who use insulin report underuse because of cost. In response, more than twenty states have implemented monthly caps on insulin out-of-pocket spending, ranging from $25 to $100. Using a difference-in-differences approach, this study evaluated whether state-level caps on insulin out-of-pocket spending change insulin usage among commercially insured enrollees. The study included 33,134 people ages18-64 who had type 1 diabetes or who used insulin to manage type 2 diabetes with commercial insurance coverage that was subject to state-level oversight and was included in the 25percent sample of the IQVIA PharMetrics database during 2018-21. Insulin out-of-pocket caps did not significantly increase quarterly insulin claims for enrollees who had type 1 diabetes or who used insulin to manage type 2 diabetes. State-level caps on insulin out-of-pocket spending for commercial enrollees did not significantly increase insulin use; that may be in part because of out-of-pocket expenses being lower than cap amounts.

Colorado Insulin Copay Cap: Lower Out-Of-Pocket Payments, Increased Prescription Volume And Days' Supply.

In 2020, Colorado became the first state to cap out-of-pocket spending for insulin prescriptions, requiring fully insured health plans to cap out-of-pocket spending at $100 for a thirty-day supply. We provide the first evidence on the association of Colorado's Insulin Affordability Program with patient out-of-pocket spending, the amounts paid by plans per insulin prescription, and prescription filling. Using statewide claims data from the period 2018-21, we focused on the first two years that the copay cap law was in effect. We found that Colorado's Insulin Affordability Program was associated with significant reductions in out-of-pocket spending for insulin prescriptions, with the mean out-of-pocket payment per thirty-day supply falling nearly in half (from $62.59 to $35.64). Average plan payments increased slightly more ($31.39) than the decrease in out-of-pocket spending, as the total amount paid per prescription increased by about 1percent. The average insulin user realized annual savings of $184, while the mean number of fills and the mean days' supply per year increased by 4.2percent and 11.4percent, respectively.

Shedding more than weight: Metabolic and bariatric surgery and the journey to insulin independence in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) imposes a significant health burden, necessitating lifelong pharmacological interventions, with insulin being one of the cornerstone therapies. However, these regimens are associated with health risks and psychological stressors. This study aimed to examine the rates of insulin-treated T2D remission and cessation or reduction in the dosage of insulin therapy after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of insulin-treated T2D who underwent primary laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) with a minimum of 3 and up to 5 years of follow-up. The average daily dose for each type of insulin, measured in units, was calculated at annual intervals. ResultsAmong 287 patients included, 201 (70%) underwent RYGB, 66 (23%) underwent SG, and 20 (7%) underwent BPD/DS. The average follow-up period was 4.6 ± 0.7 years. At 5 years follow-up, the mean total weight loss was the highest in the BPD/DS subgroup at 37.5% ± 11.6%. Insulin usage decreased significantly from complete dependency at baseline to 36.2% just 1 year postoperatively, and the use of noninsulin antidiabetic drugs decreased from 79.4% initially to 26.1%. These results were sustained throughout the study period. The subgroup analysis indicated that, 5 years after surgery, T2D remission was the highest after BPD/DS (73.7%) compared with RYGB (43.2%) and SG (23.3%) (P < .001). ConclusionMBS is a transformative approach for achieving significant remission in insulin-treated T2D and reducing insulin requirements. Our findings reinforce the efficacy of these surgical interventions, particularly highlighting the promising potential of procedures that bypass the proximal small intestine, such as BPD/DS and RYGB.

Non-exercise estimated cardiorespiratory fitness and incident type 2 diabetes in adults

Aim(s)To examine the association between non-exercise estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) and incident type 2 diabetes. MethodsIn a sample of 13,616 men and women without diabetes at baseline, incident type 2 diabetes were determined as fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 7 mmol/l (126 mg/dL), self-report, or insulin usage at follow-up. eCRF was calculated in metabolic equivalents (METs) at baseline using sex-specific algorithms, including physical activity, smoking status, age, body mass index, waist circumference, and resting heart rate. Cox regression models were performed, and hazard ratios (HRs), 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), and p values were reported. ResultsEach 1-MET unit increase in eCRF was associated with an 11 % lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (p < 0.0001). Men in the upper and middle eCRF tertiles were at 46 % (95 % CI, 0.42–0.68) and 29 % (95 % CI, 0.57–0.88) lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes compared to the lower eCRF tertile (p < 0.0001). For women, there were no significant findings between eCRF tertiles and incident type 2 diabetes (p ≥ 0.11 for all). ConclusionsHigher eCRF was associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes in men. Further research needs to examine the association between eCRF and type 2 diabetes in women.