Pharmacological Treatment Of Diabetes Research Articles

Evaluación de aspectos clínicos relacionados con la amputación de miembros inferiores en personas que viven con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en México

Introduction: Diabetes continues to be a leading cause of disability and death in the world's population. About 25% of people with diabetes will develop an ulcer in one of their lower pelvic limbs. Objective: The present study evaluates the clinical aspects related to lower pelvic limb amputation in a cohort of patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study, conducted in collaboration between the Mexican Institute of Social Security and the School of Pharmacy of the Autonomous University of Morelos State, involved a review of records of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at the Regional General Hospital "Ignacio García Téllez". One hundred clinical and electronic records were selected based on inclusion criteria, which included age over 18 years, affiliation at the study site, diabetes evolution of at least 10 years, pharmacological treatment for diabetes and diagnosis of diabetic foot with complete healing or amputation as an outcome. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA and ethical approval was obtained. Results: Patients with optimal glycemic control by quantifying their fasting glucose levels (<130 mg/dl) as well as their glycated hemoglobin values (< 7%) had a lower frequency of amputations (p˂0.001; Chi2) compared to those patients without adequate glycemic control. Conclusions: Being male, glycosylated hemoglobin values greater than 7% and mean fasting glucose values greater than 130 mg/L were found to increase the likelihood of having a lower extremity amputation.

Sex and age differences in the use of medications for diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors among 25,733 people with diabetes.

To determine sex and age differences in the use of medications for diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in people with diabetes in Australia. Pharmaceutical claims data of participants in the 45 and Up Study who self-reported having diabetes before 2013, were alive on 1st January 2013 and had at least one medication dispensing record between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2019 were analysed. Annual sex and age-specific percentages of participants supplied specific medications were estimated for years 2013 to 2019. Percentages were reported for any glucose lowering medications and by drug class, any lipid modifying agents, and any blood pressure lowering medications. Altogether 25,733 participants (45.2% women) with diabetes were included. The percentage of participants who were supplied with glucose lowering medications was consistently lower in women compared to men. In both sexes, the percentage of participants who were supplied with glucose lowering medications was lowest among those aged ≥75 years and this decreased over time. Similar findings were observed for lipid modifying agents and blood pressure lowering medications. The use of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors increased substantially in participants aged <75 years since it became available in 2013. However, no sex differences were observed in its use among people with hospital-recorded history of cardiovascular disease. Practitioners should be aware of possible sex disparities in the pharmacological treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in people with diabetes in Australia. There is a possible time lag between reporting of research findings and uptake of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors prescribing in individuals with diabetes and high cardiovascular risk in clinical practice, nevertheless, the result observed was consistent with the management guidelines at the time of the study.

Treatment burden and perceptions of glucose-lowering therapy among people living with diabetes

AimsAddress treatment burden and general perceptions of pharmacological treatment in patients with diabetes. MethodsWe surveyed adult patients with diabetes cared for in a tertiary academic medical center about: i) knowledge about the impact of glucose-lowering medication use on diabetes control and complications, ii) common beliefs about natural medicine and insulin use, iii) attitudes towards glucose-lowering medications, iv) burden of treatment, v) general knowledge of diabetes pharmacological treatment, and vi) perceptions of shared decision-making. ResultsTwo hundred-four participants completed the survey. While most (90%) agreed that adherence to medication would control diabetes and improve quality of life, 30–40% were not certain that it would translate to fewer disease complications. About one of three thought medications could be harmful (29.4%). Over 50% agreed or was unsure that natural remedies were as good/better than prescribed medications. About 30% acknowledged difficulties taking their diabetes medications and monitoring blood glucose, and over 50% were concerned about treatment costs. Nearly 30% denied receiving a detailed explanation from their clinician regarding their disease and is treatment. ConclusionsOur results highlight the importance of patient education regarding pharmacological treatment for diabetes, and eliciting sources of distress and treatment burden among patients with diabetes.

Post-transplant Diabetes Mellitus in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Study.

De novo post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common complication after kidney transplant (KT). Most recent studies are single center with various approaches to outcome ascertainment. In a multicenter longitudinal cohort of 632 nondiabetic adult kidney recipients transplanted in 2010-2013, we ascertained outcomes through detailed chart review at 13 centers. We hypothesized that donor characteristics, such as sex, HCV infection, and kidney donor profile index (KDPI), and recipient characteristics, such as age, race, BMI, and increased HLA mismatches, would affect the development of PTDM among KT recipients. We defined PTDM as hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5%, pharmacological treatment for diabetes, or documentation of diabetes in electronic medical records. We assessed PTDM risk factors and evaluated for an independent time-updated association between PTDM and graft failure using regression. Mean recipient age was 52±14 years, 59% were male, 49% were Black. Cumulative PTDM incidence 5 years post-KT was 29% (186). Independent baseline PTDM risk factors included older recipient age (P<0.001) and higher BMI (P=0.006). PTDM was not associated with all-cause graft failure (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.10; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.55), death-censored graft failure (aHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.53 to 1.37), or death (aHR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.84 to 2.05) at median follow-up of 6 (interquartile range, 4.0-6.9) years post-KT. Induction and maintenance immunosuppression were not different between patients who did and did not develop PTDM. PTDM occurred commonly, and higher baseline BMI was associated with PTDM. PTDM was not associated with graft failure or mortality during the 6-year follow-up, perhaps due to the short follow-up time.

Patterns of care of subjects with type 1 and type 2 diabetes according to their cardiovascular risk

AIM OF THE STUDY To explore the distribution by cardiovascular risk groups according to the classification promoted by the ESC (European Society of Cardiology) of subjects with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes cared for by Italian diabetologists and to describe the quality indicators of care, with particular regard to cardiovascular risk factors. DESIGN AND METHODS The study is based on data extracted from electronic medical records of patients treated at the 258 diabetes centers participating in the Annals AMD initiative and active in the year 2018. Patients with T1D or T2D were stratified by cardiovascular risk, in accordance with the recent ESC guidelines. General descriptive indicators and measures of intermediate outcomes, intensity/appropriateness of pharmacological treatment for diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors, presence of other complications and overall quality of care were evaluated. RESULTS Overall, 29,368 adults with T1D and 473,740 subjects with T2D were evaluated. Among subjects with T1D: 64.7% were at very high cardiovascular risk, 28.5% at high risk and the remaining 6.8% at moderate risk. Among subjects with T1D at very high-risk: 54.7% had retinopathy, 29.0% had albuminuria, 7.3% had a history of major cardiovascular event, 47.3% had organ damage, 48.9% had three or more risk factors, and 70.6% had a diabetes duration of over 20 years. Among subjects with T2D: 78.5% were at very high cardiovascular risk, 20.9% at high risk and the remaining 0.6% at moderate risk. Among those with T2D at very high risk: 39.0% had organ damage, 89.1% had three or more risk factors, 18.7% had a previous major cardiovascular event, 26,4% had retinopathy, 39.5% had albuminuria. With regard to the glucose-lowering drugs: the use of DPPIV-i increased markedly as cardiovascular risk increased; the use of secretagogues also increased and, although within low percentages, also the use of GLP1-RA tended to increase. The use of SGLT2-i is also still limited, and only slightly higher in subjects with very high cardiovascular risk. In both types of diabetes, the overall quality of care, as summarized by the Q score values, tended to be lower as the level of cardiovascular riskincreased. CONCLUSIONS The analysis of a large population such as that of the AMD Annals database allowed to highlight the characteristics and quality indicators of care of subjects with T1D and T2D in relation to cardiovascular risk classes. A large proportion of subjects appear to be at high or very high risk. Glucose-lowering drug therapies seem not to be adequately used with respect to the potential advantages in terms of reduction of cardiovascular risk of some drug categories (GLP1-RA and SGLT2-i) and, conversely, with respect to the potential risks related to the use of other pharmacological classes (sulfonylureas). Several actions are necessary to optimize care and improve the quality of care for both subjects with T1D and T2D. KEY WORDS type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular risk; quality indicators of care.

Znaczenie nutrigenomiki w profilaktyce i wspomaganiu leczenia cukrzycy

Streszczenie Cukrzyca jest przewlekłą chorobą o charakterze metabolicznym, objawiającą się hiperglikemią. Szacuje się, że chorobą dotkniętych jest około 422 mln osób na całym świecie. Duże nadzieje w profilaktyce i wspomaganiu leczenia farmakologicznego cukrzycy wiążę się z nową dyscypliną nauki jaką jest nutrigenomika. Dziedzina ta w oparciu o doniesienia naukowe z fizjologii, bromatologii, genomiki, proteomiki, biochemii, czy epigenetyki poszukuje i wyjaśnia na poziomie molekularnym interakcje genów ze składnikami żywności. W artykule przedstawiono najważniejsze informacje na temat wpływu składników bioaktywnych obecnych w żywności (związków polifenolowych, aminokwasów, witamin, kwasów tłuszczowych) na ekspresję genów związanych z wydzielaniem/działaniem insuliny i metabolizmem glukozy w organizmie. W artykule omówiono najważniejsze funkcje genów docelowych, które wykazują istotny wpływ na patogenezę rozwoju cukrzycy, a także przedstawiono modele eksperymentalne wykorzystywane w badaniach empirycznych. Ponadto przedstawiono znaczenie epigenetyki w rozwoju cukrzycy typu 2 oraz podstawowe informacje z diagnostyki i różnicowania cukrzycy i stanów przedcukrzycowych.

Cardiovascular risk and missed opportunities for treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes presenting with very premature coronary artery disease

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a major cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF), and comprehensive risk factor management reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events. Purpose To assess 1) prevalence of T2D among patients presenting with newly diagnosed very premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and its impact on CVRFs and extent of atherosclerosis; 2) effectiveness of glucose and lipid control in T2D patients before presentation with CAD. Methods We studied patients with angiographically proven CAD with stenosis of ≥50% who presented at the age of ≤50 years for males and ≤55 years for females. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥7 mmol/L, haemoglobin (Hb)A1C ≥6.5% or diagnosis or treatment of T2D before or at presentation with CAD. CVRFs were defined as dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, current smoking, and family history of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). Values are reported as mean (±SD), median (interquartile range) or percentages. Results From 417 premature CAD patients, 112 (26.9%) had T2D at the time of presentation with CAD. In 27 (24.1%) patients, T2D was newly diagnosed at presentation with CAD. Age of diagnosis of T2D was 41.3 (±6.9) years old. Patients with T2D had higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (83.0% vs 63.3%, p&amp;lt;0.001), hypertension (65.2% vs 40.3%, p&amp;lt;0.001), and obesity (56.3% vs 34.8%, p&amp;lt;0.001), higher cumulative number of CVRFs per person (2.8 (±1.2) vs 2.0 (±1.2), p&amp;lt;0.001) and less favourable lipid profiles, with higher levels of triglycerides (3.3 (2.1–4.7) vs 2.3 (1.5–3.4) mmol/L, p=0.001) and lower HDL-cholesterol (0.9 (±0.3) vs 1.1 (±0.3) mmol/L). Prevalence of smoking (32.1% vs 24.9%, p=0.14) and family history of premature CVD (43.8% vs 39.7%, p=0.45), levels of LDL-cholesterol (3.7 (±1.4) vs 3.8 (±1.2) mmol/L, p=0.23) and lipoprotein(a) (206 (99–819) vs 200 (99–700) mg/L, p=0.57) were not significantly different between groups. T2D patients had a greater prevalence of 3-vessel disease (35.7% vs. 22.2%, p=0.006) and were less likely to receive revascularization (70.5% vs 83.9%, p=0.002). Prior to presentation with CAD, 31 (27.7%) of T2D patients received insulin, 42 (37.5%) received oral hypoglycemic drugs, and 12 (10.7%) received no pharmacological treatment for diabetes. Only 23 (27.1%) of them achieved HbA1C ≤7% at the time of presentation with CAD (Figure 1). Among all T2D patients, 35 (31.3%) received treatment with statins and 16 (14.3%) reached guideline-recommended lipid targets of LDL cholesterol ≤2 mmol/L and/or non-HDL cholesterol ≤2.6 mmol/L. Conclusion Among patients with very premature CAD, T2D was common, was previously unrecognized in up to one quarter, and was associated with a greater burden of CVRFs and more extensive CAD at presentation. Few patients with T2D achieved guideline-recommended lipid or glucose targets. These data point to the need for improvements in screening and comprehensive CVRF treatment of T2D in order to reduce the burden of premature CAD. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Canadian Institutes of Health Research. St. Paul's Hospital Foundation and the Vancouver General Hospital Foundation

Polypharmacy and Pharmacological Treatment of Diabetes in Older Individuals: A Population-Based Study in Quebec, Canada.

Our objectives were to describe the use of pharmacological treatments in older adults with diabetes and to identify the factors associated with the use of a combination of hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering agents. Using the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System, we conducted a population-based cohort study among individuals aged 66–75 years with diabetes in 2014–2015. We described the number of medications and the classes of medications used and calculated the proportion of individuals using at least one medication from each of these classes: hypoglycemics, antihypertensives and lipid-lowering agents. We identified the factors associated with the use of this combination of treatments by performing robust Poisson regressions. The 146,710 individuals used an average of 12 (SD 7) different medications, mostly cardiovascular (91.3% of users), hormones, including hypoglycemic agents (84.5%), and central nervous system medications (79.8%). The majority of individuals (59%) were exposed to the combination of treatments and the factor most strongly associated was the presence of cardiovascular comorbidities (RR: 1.29; 99% CI: 1.28–1.31). Older individuals with diabetes are exposed to a large number of medications. While the use of the combination of treatments is significant and could translate into cardiovascular benefits at the population level, the potential risk associated with polypharmacy needs to be documented.

Association between sleep duration and executive function differs between diabetic and non-diabetic middle-aged and older adults

Executive function is defined as a set of cognitive skills that are necessary to plan, monitor, and execute a sequence of goal-directed complex actions. Executive function is influenced by a variety of factors, including habitual sleep duration and diabetes. In the present study, we investigated in 18,769 Swedish adults (mean age: 61 y) the association between executive function, diabetes, and self-reported sleep duration. We observed a significant interaction between diabetes and sleep duration for the Trail Making Test (TMT) ratio (P < 0.01). This ratio is a measure of executive function where higher values indicate worse performance. Among diabetic participants (n = 1,523), long (defined as ≥9 h per day) vs. normal sleep duration (defined as 7–8 hours per day) was associated with a higher TMT ratio (P < 0.05). Similar significant results were observed in diabetic individuals without pharmacological treatment for diabetes (n = 1,062). Among non-diabetic participants (n = 17,246), no association between long sleep duration and the TMT ratio was observed (P > 0.05). Instead, short (defined as <7 h per day) vs. normal sleep duration was linked to a higher TMT ratio (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the association between sleep duration and executive function differs between diabetic and non-diabetic middle-aged and older adults. Based on the cross-sectional design of the study, no firm conclusions can be drawn on the causality of the relations.

Will undocumented migrants contribute to change epidemiology, presentation and pharmacologic treatment of diabetes in Western countries?

AimsMigrants from countries in which health and social conditions are unsatisfactory, and their offspring, are becoming a growing component of the western population. Available health data show that their morbidity is at least comparable to that of the host country population, with a significant contribution of chronic diseases as diabetes.The possibility that diabetes shows different features in undocumented migrants is the hypothesis that we tried to investigate in this study. MethodsWe retrospectively analysed the data of 413 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM): 222 patients followed in a diabetes clinic at a University Hospital and 191 undocumented migrants cared for by a Charity in Milan, Italy. ResultsWe found that the onset of the disease was earlier in migrants; they showed a significant lower body mass index (BMI) and had lower socioeconomic conditions. They had a worse glycaemic control. The pattern of complications was also different between the two groups, with cardiovascular complications more frequent in Italians.Finally, also pharmacologic treatment differed significantly. ConclusionsAge of onset, clinical manifestations and complications of T2DM in undocumented migrants and natives may show significant differences. This is important for both epidemiological and clinical reasons.If these preliminary observations are confirmed by larger studies, we can conclude that undocumented migrants should be screened for T2DM earlier than natives, and that therapies should be tailored to the specific features of their disease.

Pharmacologic Treatment of Diabetes in Pregnancy

Diabetes affects 6% to 9% of pregnancies, with gestational diabetes mellitus accounting for more than 90% of cases. Pregestational and gestational diabetes are associated with significant maternal and fetal risks; therefore, screening and treatment during pregnancy are recommended. Recommendations regarding the preferred treatment of diabetes in pregnancy have recently changed, with slight differences between American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recommendations. Our review discusses the diagnosis, management, and treatment of pregestational and gestational diabetes with the oral hypoglycemic agents metformin and glyburide as well as insulin. We also review the evidence for the safety and efficacy of these medications in pregnancy. Articles were obtained from PubMed, the ACOG Practice Bulletin on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, and the SMFM statement on the pharmacological treatment of gestational diabetes. Insulin does not cross the placenta and has an established safety profile in pregnancy and is therefore considered a first-line treatment for gestational diabetes. Metformin and glyburide have also been shown to be relatively safe in pregnancy but with more limited long-term data. Regarding maternal and fetal outcomes, metformin is superior to glyburide and similar to insulin. Insulin is the preferred pharmacologic treatment according to ACOG. However, SMFM has stated that outcomes with metformin are similar, and it may also be considered as first-line therapy. Both agree that the available data show that metformin is safer and superior to glyburide, and glyburide is no longer recommended as a first-line therapy for the treatment of gestational diabetes.

A multidisciplinary approach to the management of NAFLD is associated with improvement in markers of liver and cardio-metabolic health

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a globally prevalent health problem, associated in its more severe forms with increased liver-related and cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. We established a multidisciplinary metabolic...

Gastric Bypass Surgery Reduces De Novo Cases of Type 2 Diabetes to Population Levels: A Nationwide Cohort Study From Sweden.

The aim of this study was to determine long-term changes in pharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes after primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, in patients with and without pharmacological treatment of diabetes preoperatively. Several studies have shown that gastric bypass has good effect on diabetes, at least in the short-term. This study is a nationwide cohort study using Swedish registers, with basically no patients lost to follow-up during up to 7 years after surgery. The effect of RYGB on type 2 diabetes drug treatment was evaluated in this nationwide matched cohort study. Participants were 22,047 adults with BMI ≥30 identified in the nationwide Scandinavian Surgical Obesity Registry, who underwent primary RYGB between 2007 and 2012. For each individual, up to 10 general population comparators were matched on birth year, sex, and place of residence. Prescription data were retrieved from the nationwide Swedish Prescribed Drug Register through September 2015. Incident use of pharmacological treatment was analyzed using Cox regression. Sixty-seven percent of patients with pharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes before surgery were not using diabetes drugs 2 years after surgery and 61% of patients were not pharmacologically treated up to 7 years after surgery. In patients not using diabetes drugs at baseline, there were 189 new cases of pharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes in the surgery group and 2319 in the matched general population comparators during a median follow-up of 4.6 years (incidence: 21.4 vs 27.9 per 10,000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.67-0.89; P < 0.001). Gastric bypass surgery not only induces remission of pharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes but also protects from new onset of pharmacological diabetes treatment. The effect seems to persist in most, but not all, patients over 7 years of follow-up.

Hordenine protects against hyperglycemia-associated renal complications in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes and associated metabolic diseases has dramatically increased. Pharmacological treatment of diabetes is still limited. Hordenine (HOR), a phenethylamine alkaloid, is a natural constituent in many plants. The present study was designed to explore the possible anti-diabetic effect of HOR in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Combined treatment of HOR and insulin significantly reduced fasting and postprandial blood glucose level in diabetic mice. HOR and insulin did not show evident protective effect against structural and functional injuries of pancreas. Renal histological and functional injuries were significantly improved by HOR or insulin treatment. Moreover, combined treatment of HOR and insulin resulted in a more significant amelioration of renal histological and functional injuries in diabetic mice. HOR induced a decrease of renal IL-1α/β and IL-6 expression, and a reduction of Col1α1 and MMP9 expression and PAS-stained mesangial expansion in glomeruli of diabetic mice. In diabetic mice, HOR significantly decreased Nrf2 expression and increased hnRNPF and hnRNPK expression in kidney. Moreover, HOR showed a synergistic effect with insulin on the expression of these regulators. Renal ROS level and TBARS content in diabetic mice were decreased by HOR. The reduction of renal expression of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic mice was inhibited by HOR and insulin. Furthermore, HOR and insulin function synergistically to play an antioxidant role against oxidative injury in diabetic nephropathy. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, we, for the first time, found the anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic role of HOR in combination with insulin. HOR functions synergistically with insulin and prevents diabetic nephropathy. However, the molecular mechanism of the synergistic effect of HOR and insulin needs to be elucidated.

Associations between immigrant status and pharmacological treatments for diabetes in U.S. adults.

Although treatment disparities in diabetes have been documented along racial/ethnic lines, it is unclear if immigrant groups in the United States experience similar treatment disparities. Our objective was to determine whether immigrant status is associated with differences in pharmacological treatment of diabetes in a nationally representative sample of adults with diabetes. We were specifically interested in differences in treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) and insulin. Respondents were 2,260 adults from National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2012 with a self-reported diabetes diagnosis. Immigrant status was indicated by birth within (U.S.-born) or outside (foreign-born) the 50 U.S. States or Washington, DC. Multinomial logistic regression analyses examined associations between immigrant status and (a) treatment with OHAs only and (b) treatment with insulin only or insulin and OHA combination therapy, using no treatment as the reference group. Adjusting for demographics, diabetes severity and duration, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CVD risk factors, being foreign-born versus U.S.-born was not associated with treatment with OHAs only (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.97, 2.60]). However, being foreign-born was associated with decreased odds (OR = 0.53; 95% CI [0.28, 0.99]) of treatment with insulin. Pharmacological treatment of diabetes differs along immigrant status lines. To understand these findings, studies capturing the processes underlying treatment differences in diabetes among immigrants are needed. Findings raise the possibility that integrating information about a patient's immigrant status, in addition to racial/ethnic identity, may be an important component of culturally sensitive diabetes care. (PsycINFO Database Record

Pair Feeding, but Not Insulin, Phloridzin, or Rosiglitazone Treatment, Curtails Markers of β-Cell Dedifferentiation in db/db Mice.

β-Cell failure is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Among several cellular biological mechanisms of cellular dysfunction, we and others have recently proposed that dedifferentiation of β-cells can explain the slowly progressive onset and partial reversibility of β-cell failure. Accordingly, we provided evidence of such processes in humans and experimental animal models of insulin-resistant diabetes. In this study, we asked whether β-cell dedifferentiation can be prevented with diet or pharmacological treatment of diabetes. db/db mice, a widely used model of insulin-resistant diabetes and obesity, were either pair fed or treated with the Sglt inhibitor phloridzin, the insulin-sensitizer rosiglitazone, or insulin. All treatments were equally efficacious in reducing plasma glucose levels. Pair feeding and phloridzin also resulted in significant weight loss. However, pair feeding among the four treatments resulted in a reduction of β-cell dedifferentiation, as assessed by Foxo1 and Aldh1a3 immunohistochemistry. The effect of diet to partly restore β-cell function is consistent with data in human diabetes and provides another potential mechanism by which lifestyle changes act as an effective intervention against diabetes progression.

Non-communicable disease risk factors and treatment preference of obese patients in Cape Town.

BackgroundInsights into the characteristics of treatment seekers for lifestyle changes and treatment preferences are necessary for intervention planning.AimTo compile a profile of treatment-seeking obese patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or NCD risk factors and to compare patients who choose group-based (facility-based therapeutic group [FBTG]) versus usual care (individual consultations) treatment.SettingA primary healthcare facility in Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsOne hundred and ninety-three patients were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Ninety six chose FBTG while 97 chose usual care. A questionnaire, the hospital database and patients’ folders were used to collect data. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. STATA 11.0 was used for descriptive statistics and to compare the two groups.ResultsThe subjects’ mean age was 50.4 years, 78% were women and of low education levels and income, and 41.5% had type 2 diabetes, 83.4% hypertension and 69.5% high cholesterol. Mean (s.d.) HbA1c was 9.1 (2.0)%, systolic BP 145.6 (21.0) mmHg, diastolic BP 84.5 (12.0) mmHg, cholesterol 5.4 (1.2) mmol/L), body mass indicator (BMI) 39.3 (7.3) kg/m2 and waist circumference 117 (12.6) cm). These figures were undesirable although pharmacological treatment for diabetes and hypertension was in place. Only 14% were physically active, while TV viewing was > 2h/day. Mean daily intake of fruit and vegetables (2.2 portions/day) was low while added sugar (5 teaspoons) and sugar-sweetened beverages (1.3 glasses) were high. Usual care patients had a higher smoking prevalence, HbA1c, number of NCD risk factors and refined carbohydrate intake, and a lower fruit and vegetable intake.ConclusionTreatment seekers were typically middle-aged, low income women with various modifiable and intermediate risk factors for NCDs. Patients choosing usual care could have more NCD risks.

Medication adherence and quality of life among the elderly with diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE:to investigate the factors related to medication adherence and its relation to Health- Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in elderly people with diabetic retinopathy.METHOD: one hundred (n=100) elderly outpatients with diabetic retinopathy taking antihypertensives and/or oral antidiabetics/insulin were interviewed. Adherence was evaluated by the adherence proportion and its association with the care taken in administrating medications and by the Morisky Scale. The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was used to evaluate HRQoL. RESULTS: most (58%) reported the use of 80% or more of the prescribed dose and care in utilizing the medication. The item "stopping the drug when experiencing an adverse event", from the Morisky Scale, explained 12.8% and 13.5% of the variability of adherence proportion to antihypertensives and oral antidiabetics/insulin, respectively. CONCLUSION: there was better HRQoL in the Color Vision, Driving and Social Functioning domains of the NEI VFQ-25. Individuals with lower scores on the NEI VFQ-25 and higher scores on the Morisky Scale presented greater chance to be nonadherent to the pharmacological treatment of diabetes and hypertension.

Pharmacological treatment of diabetes in older people.

The pharmacological management of diabetes in older people is complex and challenging. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the individual beyond the diabetes itself. Through the ageing years, the older individual presents with diabetes-related and non-related comorbidities and complications, develops functional limitations and psychological issues, and may lack social support and access to care. A disturbance in these categories, known as the four geriatric domains, will negatively affect diabetes self-management and self-efficacy, leading to poor outcomes and complications. Furthermore, older people with diabetes may be more interested in the management of other chronic conditions such as pain or impaired mobility, and diabetes may be lower in their list of priorities. Proper education must be provided to the older individual and caregivers, with continuous monitoring and counselling, especially when pharmacological interventions offer risks of side effects, adverse reactions and interactions with other medications. Informed shared medical decisions will help to improve adherence to the regimen; however, such discussions ought to be based on the best evidence available, which is unfortunately limited in this age group. We performed a review focused on pharmacological agents and summarize current evidence on their use for the treatment of diabetes in older people. We encourage clinicians to investigate and incorporate the four geriatrics domains in the selection and monitoring of these agents.

Effects of fasting blood glucose levels and blood pressure and treatment of diabetes and hypertension on the incidence of cardiovascular disease: a study of 740 patients with incident Type 2 diabetes with up to 30 years' follow-up.

To analyse the effects of hyperglycaemia and hypertension and treatment of diabetes and hypertension on cardiovascular disease incidence in patients with Type 2 diabetes with up to 30 years of follow-up. A total of 740 patients with incident Type 2 diabetes were registered at the Laxå Primary Health Care Centre, Sweden between 1972 and 2001. Annual data on mean fasting blood glucose, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, and type of diabetes and hypertension treatment were obtained from patient records, and information on cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and stroke events was obtained from national registers. During the follow-up period, cumulative cardiovascular disease incidence increased significantly with male sex (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.21-1.82), number of previous cardiovascular disease events (hazard ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.08-1.18), age, per year (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.07), mean fasting blood glucose, per mmol/l (hazard ratio 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10) BMI (hazard ratio 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06), mean arterial blood pressure, per mmHg (hazard ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), and decreased significantly with metformin treatment (hazard ratio 0.58, 95% CI 0.38-0.90) and sulfonylurea (hazard ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.55-0.97). Cumulative myocardial infarction incidence increased significantly with male sex, number of previous myocardial infarction events, mean fasting blood glucose level, BMI, age and mean arterial blood pressure, and decreased with metformin treatment. Cumulative stroke incidence increased with number of previous stroke events, age and mean arterial blood pressure. The cumulative incidence of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction increased with number of previous events and presence of hyperglycaemia and hypertension and decreased with pharmacological treatment of diabetes. A higher number of previous stroke events increased the cumulative incidence of stroke but no protective effect of pharmacological treatment was observed.