Recommended HbA1c Target Research Articles

Tailored care by diabetes nurses is not enough to overcome disparities in the regulation of type 2 diabetes between Dutch natives and ethnic minority groups

Background: Differences in diabetes regulation between patients from different ethnic background have been described. This may be reduced by regular visits to a diabetes nurse (RVDN) with the same mother tongue. We explored whether equal access to diabetes-related care, including RVDN with the same mother tongue, may result in similar diabetes regulation among ethnic minorities and Dutch natives. Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes and an annual comprehensive diabetes evaluation were included in this study. For the analysis, we emphasized on the data of patients with RVDN and used descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests for between group comparisons. Results: From a total of 983 patients, 581 patients had RVDN of whom 266 (46%) Dutch natives, 199 (34%) Turks/Moroccans, and 116 (20%) patients from other ethnicities. Within the group of patients with RVDN, Turks/Moroccans had higher median fasting plasma glucose levels as compared with Dutch natives and other ethnic minorities (8.4 vs 7.9 and 7.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and a higher HbA1c level was found for both the Turks/Moroccans and other ethnic minorities, as compared to Dutch natives (62 vs 55 mmol/mol, P < 0.001). In addition, only 22% of Turks/Moroccans and 26% of other minorities achieved the American Diabetes Association/European Association for the Study of Diabetes (ADA/EASD)-recommended HbA1c target ≤53 mmol/mol, compared to 39% in Dutch natives. Conclusions: In patients with RVDN with the same mother tongue, we still found disparities in HbA1c levels between Dutch natives, Turks/Moroccans and other ethnic minorities. Other factors beyond Dutch language skills are likely to interfere.

Recent Improvements in Attainment of the Hemoglobin A1c Target of ≤7.0% Among Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in Ontario: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Aims: We evaluated attainment of the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) target of ≤7.0%, its temporal trends, and associated factors among adults with type 1 diabetes in Ontario, Canada, using administrative data. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including Ontarians with type 1 diabetes ≥18 years old with ≥1 HbA1c test between April 1, 2012 (fiscal year 2013), and March 31, 2023. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine probabilities of meeting the HbA1c target, as well as associations between fiscal year and individual-, physician-, and system-level factors on odds of meeting the target. Results: Among 28,827 adults with type 1 diabetes [14,385 (49.9%) female, 17,998 (62.4%) pump users], with median age at index of 25 years [interquartile range (IQR) 18-37] and median diabetes duration of 12 years [6-18], there were 474,714 HbA1c tests [median 2/individual/year (IQR: 1-3)]. The model-estimated probability of meeting the HbA1c target of ≤7.0% was 22.1% (95% confidence interval, CI: 21.6 to 22.5) in 2013, remained stable until 2020, and increased to 34.7% (95% CI: 34.3 to 35.2) in 2023. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for meeting the target in 2023 versus 2013 was 1.87 (95% CI: 1.79 to 1.96). Young adults (18-25 years), diabetic ketoacidosis, greater comorbidity, and receiving diabetes care from a nonspecialist physician were associated with reduced odds of meeting the HbA1c target. Conclusions: One-third of adults with type 1 diabetes in Ontario met the recommended HbA1c target of ≤7.0% in 2023, with improvement noted since 2021, which may be due to advanced technologies or effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Predictors of efficacy of Sodium-GLucose Transporter-2 inhibitors and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 receptor agonists: Aretrospective cohort study.

The aim of the present study was to verify predictors of HbA1c reduction with Sodium-GLucose Transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP1) receptor agonists in routine clinical practice. A retrospective cohort study was performed, enrolling patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥18years who received a prescription of an SGLT2 inhibitor or a long-acting GLP1 receptor agonist with at least 6months of persistence in therapy. Therapeutic success was defined as HbA1c reduction >10mmol/mol or attainment of the recommended HbA1c target. Out of 236 patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors, 148 were categorised as successes: successes had a mean lower age and higher estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate than failures, but only age retained statistical significance at multivariate analysis (Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval: 0.94 [0.91-0.98], p=0.006). In the GLP1 receptor agonists cohort (N=214) there were 146 successes, showing a significantly shorter duration of diabetes even after adjusting for age, and baseline HbA1c (HR 0.96 [0.91-0.99], p=0.02). The present study is a preliminary exploration of factors associated with HbA1c response to SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists. Differences in predictors of HbA1c changes across different classes of drugs could be useful in identifying the most suitable drug in individual patients. SGLT2 inhibitors seem to be associated with a greater reduction of HbA1c in younger subjects, and GLP1 agonists in those with a shorter duration of diabetes.

Adequacy of glycemic control in early pregnancy with type 2 diabetes and perinatal outcomes

In non-pregnant individuals with type 2 DM (T2DM), an HbA1c target < 7% is recommended. We sought to assess if an HbA1c < 7% in early pregnancy is associated with a lower risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of individuals with T2DM and a singleton gestation who delivered at 2 health systems between 2018-2020. Demographics, markers of health care utilization, and perinatal outcomes were abstracted from the medical record. Race and ethnicity were self-reported. The primary exposure was levels of glycemic control at less than 20 weeks’ gestation using recommended HbA1c targets in non-pregnant individuals (HbA1c < 7% vs. HbA1c ≥7%). Patients without documentation of HbA1c prior to 20 weeks were excluded. Perinatal outcomes were abstracted from the medical record, and logistic regression was used to adjust for covariates. Of the individuals who had a documented HbA1c < 20 weeks of gestation, 128/281 (46%) had a HbA1c < 7%, and 153/281 (54%) had a HbA1c ≥7%. Patients with HbA1c < 7% were more likely to be of White race and have private insurance. They also had the first HbA1c measured earlier in pregnancy, a lower mean HbA1c across gestation, less overall weight gain, and were less likely to require insulin at the time of delivery. There were no significant differences in other demographics or markers of healthcare utilization (Table 1). Outcomes are shown in Table 2. After adjusting for covariates, those with a HbA1c ≥7% were more likely to have a preterm birth < 37 weeks (aOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-4.0), cesarean delivery (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3), and a neonate requiring NICU admission (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7-4.9). Adverse perinatal outcomes are common among individuals with T2DM even when early pregnancy HbA1c values are within recommended targets for non-pregnant individuals. Those who present with a HbA1c ≥7% are at even higher risk for several outcomes. We observed important disparities in HbA1c values in early pregnancy that likely represent barriers in accessing medical care prior to pregnancy.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

HbA1c variability predicts cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes regardless of being at glycemic target

BackgroundHbA1c variability has emerged as risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in diabetes. However, the impact of HbA1c variability on cardiovascular diseases in subjects within the recommended HbA1c target has been relatively unexplored.MethodsUsing data from a large database, we studied 101,533 people with type 2 diabetes without cardiovascular diseases. HbA1c variability was expressed as quartiles of the standard deviation of HbA1c during three years (exposure phase). The primary composite outcome included non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, all-cause mortality and was assessed during five years following the first three years of exposure to HbA1c variability (longitudinal phase). An expanded composite outcome including non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, coronary revascularization/reperfusion procedures, peripheral revascularization procedures, and all-cause mortality was also considered, as well as a series of specific cardiovascular complications. Cox models were adjusted for a large range of risk factors and results were expressed as adjusted hazard ratios.ResultsAn association between HbA1c variability and all the outcomes considered was found. The correlation between HbA1c variability and cardiovascular complications development was confirmed in both the subgroups of subjects with a mean HbA1c ≤ 53 mmol/mol (recommended HbA1c target) or > 53 mmol/mol during the exposure phase. The risk related to HbA1c variability was higher in people with mean HbA1c ≤ 53 mmol/mol for the primary outcome (p for interaction 0.004), for the expanded secondary outcome (p for interaction 0.001) and for the stroke (p for interaction 0.001), even though HbA1c remained at the target during the follow-up.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that HbA1c variability may provide additional information for an optimized management of diabetes, particularly in people within the target of HbA1c.

Evaluation of a 10-week lifestyle and weight management programme on cardiovascular disease risk factors in a group of people living with obesity referred from a specialist bariatric clinic

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Health Service Executive Health and Wellbeing, Saolta University Healthcare Group OnBehalf Croí the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation, Galway, Ireland and the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health Introduction People living with obesity are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While development of obesity is multifactorial, lifestyle modification is fundamental to obesity treatment and risk factor reduction. We sought to measure the effects of a structured lifestyle modification programme on the physical and mental health of people living with obesity. Purpose This study investigated the impact of a 10-week, community based, lifestyle modification programme on CVD risk factors in people living with obesity (BMI ≥35kg/m2 with a co-morbidity or BMI ≥40kg/m2) who were referred from a specialist bariatric service. Methods Delivered by an interdisciplinary team (Nurse, Dietitian &amp; Physiotherapist) the programme included weekly group-based exercise sessions and health promotion workshops. A wide range of topics were addressed in workshops, including nutrition, food labels, emotional eating, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, stress management and CVD risk factor reduction. Outcomes were measured at initial and end of programme assessments. Results 1122 people participated in the intervention between 2013 and 2019 with 78% (n = 877) completing the programme. At initial assessment 26.7% of participants had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes; 37.3% were at high or very high risk of CVD; 44.7% were hypertensive and 31.4% had a history of depression. Mean BMI was 47.0kg/m2 with 56.4% of participants having a BMI &amp;gt;45kg/m2. The intervention had significant positive impacts on key outcomes such as psychosocial health, lipid profiles, blood pressure, adiposity and cardiovascular fitness. One of the most significant outcomes observed was the improvement in psycho-social health. Scores of anxiety and depression, assessed using the HADS, decreased by 1.5 and 2.2 points respectively (p &amp;lt;0.001). Mean EQ-VAS score increased by 11 points (p &amp;lt;0.001). There were significant changes in total cholesterol levels with a mean reduction in total cholesterol from 4.69mmol/l to 4.54mmol/l (p &amp;lt;0.001) and LDL cholesterol from 2.79mmol/l to 2.64mmol/l (p &amp;lt;0.001). There were also significant improvements in blood pressure with mean systolic blood pressure reducing by 15.7mmHg (p &amp;lt;0.001) and diastolic blood pressure reducing by 1.4mmHg (p &amp;lt;0.001). For people with type 2 diabetes, there was an increase in those achieving the recommended HbA1c target (&amp;lt;53mmol/l) from 47.6% to 57.4% (p &amp;lt;0.001). Mean reduction in bodyweight was 2.0kg (p &amp;lt;0.001), with 27.2% achieving a weight loss of &amp;gt;3% of initial bodyweight. The percentage of participants achieving the recommended physical activity guidelines increased by 31% (p &amp;lt;0.001). Conclusions A lifestyle modification programme delivered by an interdisciplinary team, aimed at individuals living with obesity, is not only acceptable to participants but also significantly reduces CVD risk factors. These findings should influence the design of future programmes and healthcare policies in Ireland and abroad.

Trajectories in glycated hemoglobin and body mass index in children and adolescents with diabetes using the common data model

We evaluated trajectories of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and body mass index z-scores (BMIz) for 5 years after diagnosis among Korean children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) using the common data model. From the de-identified database of three hospitals, 889 patients < 15 years of age diagnosed with T1D or T2D (393 boys, 664 T1D patients) were enrolled. Diagnosis was defined as first exposure to antidiabetic drug at each center. Compared with T2D patients, T1D patients had lower BMIz at diagnosis (− 0.4 ± 1.2 vs. 1.5 ± 1.4, p < 0.001) and 3 months (− 0.1 ± 1.0 vs. 1.5 ± 1.5, p < 0.001), and higher HbA1c levels at diagnosis (10.0 ± 2.6% vs. 9.5 ± 2.7%, p < 0.01). After 3 months, HbA1c levels reached a nadir of 7.6% and 6.5% in T1D and T2D patients, respectively, followed by progressive increases; only 10.4% of T1D and 29.7% of T2D patients achieved the recommended HbA1c target (< 7.0%) at 60 months. T1D patients showed consistent increases in BMIz; T2D patients showed no significant change in BMIz during follow-up. Peri-pubertal girls with T1D had higher HbA1c and BMIz values. Achieving optimal glycemic control and preventing obesity should be emphasized in pediatric diabetes care.

1062-P: Attainment of Glycemic Targets among Adults with Diabetes in Canada: A Cross-Sectional National Diabetes Repository Study

Objective: International societies and clinical practice guidelines recommend a Hemoglobin A1c target of ≤7.0% for the majority of adults with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the proportion meeting this target and its predictors have not been comprehensively described outside of the USA or in population-based data sources. Methods: Adults with diabetes were identified in the National Diabetes Repository, a primary care electronic medical record (EMR) database from 5 Canadian provinces, from January 2015 to June 2019. Individuals were categorized as T1D (using a previously validated algorithm), T2D not prescribed insulin, or T2D prescribed insulin. Using the most recent HbA1c, proportions of individuals with HbA1c ≤7.0% were determined and compared using Chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between predictors and meeting the HbA1c target. Results: Of 83,273 eligible adults in the National Diabetes Repository, 1484 had T1D, 10,473 had T2D prescribed insulin and 71,316 had T2D not prescribed insulin. Proportions meeting the HbA1c target of ≤7.0% were 23.9%, 24.9%, and 62.4%, respectively (p=0.4 for T1D vs. T2D prescribed insulin, p&amp;lt;0.0001 for other comparisons). In multivariable logistic regression models, depression was associated with reduced likelihood of meeting the HbA1c target for T1D (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55-0.98). Male sex, lower income quintile, and insulin use were associated with reduced likelihood of meeting the HbA1c target for T2D (0.85(0.83-0.88); 0.83(0.79-0.88); 0.23(0.22-0.24)). Conclusions: In a Canadian population-based primary-care EMR database, less than one-fourth of adults with T1D and T2D prescribed insulin, whereas two-thirds of adults with T2D not prescribed insulin, attain the recommended HbA1c target of ≤7.0%. Further research and implementation approaches are required to optimize outcomes in diabetes, particularly for those requiring insulin. Disclosure A. Weisman: None. B. A. Perkins: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott Diabetes, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Insulet Corporation, Novo Nordisk Canada Inc., Other Relationship; Self; Abbott Diabetes, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. Funding Diabetes Action Canada

What Next After Metformin in Type 2 Diabetes? Selecting the Right Drug for the Right Patient.

IntroductionMetformin is the recommended initial treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but when this does not give adequate glucose control the choice of which second-line drug to use is uncertain as none have been found to have a better overall glycaemic response. In this real-world study dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i), sulphonylureas (SU), thiazolidinediones (TZD) and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) were compared for their effectiveness in lowering glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels for a particular individual based on their clinical characteristics.MethodsA retrospective analysis was undertaken of electronic health records of people with T2DM prescribed metformin alongside a DPP4i, SU, TZD or SGLT2i at second-line. Regression modelling was used to model the changes in HbA1c from baseline at month 6 and month 12 for the individual therapies, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics.ResultsThere were 7170 people included in the study. Treatment at second-line with SUs, DPP4i, TZDs and SGLT2i resulted in similar percentages of people achieving the recommended HbA1c target of < 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) at both 6 and 12 months. For those receiving SGLT2i and SUs, the greatest improvement in HbA1c was observed in relatively younger and older people, respectively. Trends were detected between other baseline characteristics and HbA1c improvement by drug class, but they were not statistically significant. Non-adherence rates were low for all drug classes. People with a higher medication possession ratio (≥ 80%) also had greater improvements in HbA1c at 12 months.ConclusionThis study identified patients’ phenotypic characteristics that may have the potential to influence individual treatment response. Accounting for these characteristics in clinical treatment decisions may facilitate individualised prescribing by being able to select the right drug for the right patient.Electronic Supplementary MaterialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13300-020-00834-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The frequency of testing for glycated haemoglobin, HbA1c, is linked to the probability of achieving target levels in patients with suboptimally controlled diabetes mellitus.

Background We previously showed, in patients with diabetes, that >50% of monitoring tests for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) are outside recommended intervals and that this is linked to diabetes control. Here, we examined the effect of tests/year on achievement of commonly utilised HbA1c targets and on HbA1c changes over time. Methods Data on 20,690 adults with diabetes with a baseline HbA1c of >53 mmol/mol (7%) were extracted from Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory records at three UK hospitals. We examined the effect of HbA1c tests/year on (i) the probability of achieving targets of ≤53 mmol/mol (7%) and ≤48 mmol/mol (6.5%) in a year using multi-state modelling and (ii) the changes in mean HbA1c using a linear mixed-effects model. Results The probabilities of achieving ≤53 mmol/mol (7%) and ≤48 mmol/mol (6.5%) targets within 1 year were 0.20 (95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.21) and 0.10 (0.09-0.10), respectively. Compared with four tests/year, having one test or more than four tests/year were associated with lower likelihoods of achieving either target; two to three tests/year gave similar likelihoods to four tests/year. Mean HbA1c levels were higher in patients who had one test/year compared to those with four tests/year (mean difference: 2.64 mmol/mol [0.24%], p<0.001). Conclusions We showed that ≥80% of patients with suboptimal control are not achieving commonly recommended HbA1c targets within 1 year, highlighting the major challenge facing healthcare services. We also demonstrated that, although appropriate monitoring frequency is important, testing every 6 months is as effective as quarterly testing, supporting international recommendations. We suggest that the importance HbA1c monitoring frequency is being insufficiently recognised in diabetes management.

Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Australasia: An online survey of model of care, workforce and outcomes.

To survey the model of care and workforce that manages children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Australasia along with glycaemic outcomes. Tertiary and regional paediatric clinics in Australia and New Zealand (NZ) caring for children and adolescents with diabetes were invited to complete an online survey assessing health-care professional (HCP) workforce numbers and available clinical data for the 2016 calendar year. A total of 38 sites responded - 25 Australian (10 tertiary, 15 regional), 13 NZ (4 tertiary, 8 regional) - representing 9715 children with T1D. HCP resourcing varied across sites, with overall HCP/100 patient ratios of: doctors: 0.36 (0.08-1.07), nurses: 0.72 (0-1.8), dieticians: 0.19 (0-0.49) and psychologist/social workers: 0.13 (0-0.36). Overall, 39% of patients used insulin pump therapy (CSII) (29.5% NZ, 40.8% Australia). Databases were being used locally by 26 sites. Thirty-two sites reported the mean clinic HbA1c, mean HbA1c 66 mmol/mol (8.2%) (NZ = 69 mmol/mol (8.5%), Australia = 66 mmol/mol (8.2%)), with 29% of patients attaining the recommended HbA1c target of <58 mmol/mol (7.5%) (NZ = 28%, Australia = 29%). This is the largest Australasian paediatric T1D workforce survey to date. HCP to patient ratios remain well below international recommendations and have not changed over the last 5-7 years. Glycaemic outcomes in this population were below recommended levels in the majority of patients. There is an urgent need to reform models of care and workforce and to institute systematic benchmarking in both countries in order to prevent acute and chronic complications of T1D.

Prediction of Nonsevere Hypoglycemia—The Influence of Glycemic Variability in the HypoAna Study

Introduction: In the struggle for tight glycemic control many type 1 diabetes patients daily experience large blood glucose fluctuations. It has been demonstrated that increased glucose variability is a predictor of hypoglycemia, which is the main limiting factor for achieving the recommended HbA1c target. The relationship between glucose variability and hypoglycemia might seem intuitive, but the exact nature of the relationship is difficult to elucidate. In this study we wanted to clarify the relationship between occurrence of non-severe hypoglycemia and glycemic variability in type 1 diabetic patients at high risk of severe hypoglycemia. Material and Methods: 72 patients participated for 4 x 3 days of blinded CGM recordings during a 2-year randomized balanced cross-over study with human insulins (regular/NPH) and insulin analogs (aspart/detemir). CGM recordings were used to calculate the coefficient of variation (CV) in glucose. Results: Treatment with insulin analogs resulted in a significant lower nocturnal CV (mean 29.2%, SD 9.1) than treatment with human insulin (mean 36.9%, SD 9.1) (p&amp;lt;0.0001). CV was a significant risk marker of nocturnal asymptomatic hypoglycemia ?3.9 mmol/l in a multivariate analysis. A 1% increase in CV corresponds to a 5% (p&amp;lt;0.0001) increase in asymptomatic hypoglycemia. CV did not predict hypoglycemia during daytime at this threshold. Conclusion: Treatment with insulin analogs provides less glycemic variability during night-time. The coefficient of variation in patients suffering from recurrent severe hypoglycemia predicts the occurrence of especially nocturnal hypoglycemia. Disclosure R.M. Agesen: None. P.L. Kristensen: Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. H. Beck-Nielsen: None. K. Nørgaard: Research Support; Self; Roche Diabetes Care Health and Digital Solutions. Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Advisory Panel; Self; Medtronic. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Medtronic, Zealand Pharma A/S, Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; Zealand Pharma A/S. T. Jensen: Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. B. Thorsteinsson: None. L. Tarnow: Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. U. Pedersen-Bjergaard: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Consultant; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Advisory Panel; Self; Sanofi-Aventis. Consultant; Self; Medtronic.

Establishment of the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange QI Learning Collaborative (T1DX-LC)

Background: The proportion of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who meet recommended HbA1c targets remains suboptimal, with little improvement over the last two decades. A Learning Collaborative (LC) is a multi-clinic learning and sharing quality improvement (QI) process known to accelerate improvement in chronic conditions. We created the T1DX-LC to spread learning to improve health outcomes of individuals living with T1D. Methods: In 2014, a design process engaged clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and QI leaders to develop a roadmap for improvement, based on the Chronic Care Model. The T1DX-LC launched in 2016 with 7 pediatric and 3 adult diabetes practices, coordinated by the T1D Exchange (Boston, MA). Over 18 months, we established a LC foundation: teams representing each clinic, governance, QI training and capability, online collaboration space, standard measures, and population data systems. Teams selected clinical tests of change to pilot for depression screening, pre-visit planning, and patient-centered clinic design. Results: Teams completed formal QI coursework and collaborated via monthly calls, emails, an online collaboration space, and 3 in-person learning sessions. Six teams increased depression screening, 5 teams adopted multiple change ideas for pre-visit-planning, and 5 teams shared patient-centered tools and practices. A QI capability assessment survey was established and showed proficiency for all teams. We established a HIPAA-compliant data repository, data formatting specifications, data extraction/transmission standards, and a prototype data visualization dashboard. Two sites demonstrated the ability to extract and transmit EHR data to the central database. Conclusions: The T1DX-LC demonstrated broad engagement, improved QI capability, advanced 3 focus areas, and developed a data exchange infrastructure. Our next steps are to build upon these efforts to accelerate improvement of outcomes in high-risk patients with T1D defined by HbA1c &amp;gt;9%. Disclosure A. Shah: None. S. Corathers: None. G.T. Alonso: None. D.A. Buckingham: None. A.B. Cabrera: None. M.A. Clements: Speaker's Bureau; Self; Medtronic. Advisory Panel; Self; Glooko, Inc. D.J. DeSalvo: Consultant; Self; Dexcom, Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Insulet Corporation. M.K. Kamboj: None. K.L. Lambert: None. S.N. Mehta: None. A.L. Ohmer: None. N. Rioles: None. R. Sonabend: None. J. Lee: Consultant; Self; Unitio.

Impact of Target HbA1c Change in Pediatric Participants in the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry

In 2014, the American Diabetes Association lowered its recommended HbA1c target for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from &amp;lt;8.5% for &amp;lt;6 years, &amp;lt;8.0% for 6-&amp;lt;13 years, and &amp;lt;7.5 for 13-&amp;lt;18 years to &amp;lt;7.5% for all ages. To determine if HbA1c changed in response, we compared two cross-sectional cohorts of T1D participants in the United States aged &amp;lt;18 years with T1D duration ≥1 year from the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry. The first cohort (PRE) were participants who enrolled between 2010 and 2012 (n=11,788). The second cohort (POST) were participants with an update between 2016 and 2017 (n=9,234). For each age group, mean HbA1c was compared between the cohorts using a linear regression model adjusted for age, T1D duration, and socioeconomic status (SES). A comparison of the cohorts can be found in Table 1. Demographic and SES characteristics were similar between the cohorts. More participants in the POST cohort were using insulin pumps and CGMs. Mean HbA1c was similar between the two cohorts for those &amp;lt;6 years, though more participants in the POST cohort met the current HbA1c target. For the 6-&amp;lt;13 and 13-&amp;lt;18 age groups, those in the POST cohort had higher mean HbA1c, with fewer meeting the current HbA1c target (p&amp;lt;0.01). Thus, despite the lowering of HbA1c targets, glycemic control remains suboptimal in this population. Disclosure J. Wood: None. C. Boyle: None. M. Quinn: None. J.C. Wong: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc.. Other Relationship; Self; Tidepool Project. M.J. Haller: None. B.A. Nelson: Speaker's Bureau; Self; Dexcom, Inc.. M.J. Haller: None. D. Schatz: None. W.V. Tamborlane: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. L. Fox: None. P. Prahalad: None. S. Corathers: None. D.M. Maahs: Advisory Panel; Self; Insulet Corporation. Consultant; Self; Abbott. Research Support; Self; Medtronic, Bigfoot Biomedical, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Roche Diabetes Care Health and Digital Solutions. G.T. Alonso: None. D.J. DeSalvo: Consultant; Self; Dexcom, Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Insulet Corporation. R. Wadwa: Advisory Panel; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., MannKind Corporation, Bigfoot Biomedical. L. DiMeglio: Advisory Panel; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Medtronic, Sanofi, Caladrius Biosciences, Inc., Janssen Research &amp; Development, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi.

Glycemic Control, Renal Complications, and Current Smoking in Relation to Excess Risk of Mortality in Persons With Type 1 Diabetes.

A substantial excess risk of mortality still exists in persons with type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the excess risk of mortality in persons with type 1 diabetes without renal complications who target goals for glycemic control and are nonsmokers. Furthermore, we evaluated risk factors of death due to hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis in young adults with type 1 diabetes. We evaluated a cohort based on 33 915 persons with type 1 diabetes and 169 249 randomly selected controls from the general population matched on age, sex, and county followed over a mean of 8.0 and 8.3 years, respectively. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality for persons with type 1 diabetes versus controls were estimated. The adjusted HRs for all-cause and CVD mortality for persons with type 1 diabetes without renal complications (normoalbuminuria and eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min) and HbA1c ≤ 6.9% (52 mmol/mol) compared to controls were 1.22 (95% CI 0.98-1.52) and 1.03 (95% CI 0.66-1.60), respectively. The HRs increased with higher updated mean HbA1c. For nonsmokers in this group, the HRs for all-cause and CVD mortality were somewhat lower: 1.11 (95% CI 0.87-1.42) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.53-1.48) at updated mean HbA1c ≤ 6.9% (52 mmol/mol). HRs for significant predictors for deaths due to hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis in persons < 50 years were male sex 2.40 (95% CI 1.27-4.52), smoking 2.86 (95% CI 1.57-5.22), lower educational level 3.01 (95% CI 1.26-7.22), albuminuria or advanced kidney disease 2.83 (95% CI 1.63-4.93), earlier hospital diagnosis of hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis 2.30 (95% CI 1.20-4.42), and earlier diagnosis of intoxication 2.53 (95% CI 1.06-6.04). If currently recommended HbA1c targets can be reached, renal complications and smoking avoided in persons with type 1 diabetes, the excess risk of mortality will likely converge substantially to that of the general population.

Relationship between achieved personalized glycaemic targets and monitoring of clinical events in elderly diabetic patients

AimRecent guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the elderly recommend adjusting the therapeutic target (HbA1c) according to the patient's health. Our study aimed to explore the association between achieving the recommended personalized HbA1c target and the occurrence of major clinical events under real-life conditions. MethodsThe T2DM S.AGES cohort was a prospective multicentre study into which 213 general practitioners recruited 983 non-institutionalized T2DM patients aged>65 years. The recommended personalized HbA1c targets were<7%, <8% and <9% for healthy, ill and very ill patients, respectively. Major clinical events (death from any cause, major vascular events and/or hospitalization) were recorded during the 3-year follow-up. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used for the analyses. ResultsOf the 747 patients analyzed at baseline, 551 (76.8%) were at their recommended personalized HbA1c target. During follow-up, 391 patients (52.3%) experienced a major clinical event. Of the patients who did not achieve their personalized HbA1c target (compared with those who did), the risk (OR) of a major clinical event was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.69–1.31; P=0.76). The risk of death, major vascular event and hospitalization were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.40–1.94; P=0.75), 1.14 (95% CI: 0.7–1.83; P=0.59) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.60–1.18; P=0.32), respectively. ConclusionOver a 3-year follow-up period, our results showed no difference in risk of a major clinical event among patients, regardless of whether or not they achieved their personalized recommended HbA1c target. These results need to be confirmed before implementing a more permissive strategy for treating T2DM in elderly patients.

Effectiveness of insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients failing glycaemic control with premixed insulin: Adriatic countries data meta-analysis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive disease, often requiring exogenous insulin therapy and treatment intensification. Despite new therapies, most patients do not reach the recommended HbA1c targets, among them a significant proportion of patients on premixed insulins. The aim was to summarize published data in Adriatic countries on effectiveness of insulin glargine based therapy in type 2 diabetic patients suboptimally controlled on premix insulin. A meta-analysis was carried out in major medical databases up to April 2014, focusing on Adriatic region. We searched observational studies with duration of at least 6 months, evaluating effectiveness and safety of insulin glargine (IGlar), in combination with OAD or bolus insulin in patients with T2 failing premixed insulin therapy. Outcomes included values of HbA1c, fasting blood glucose and two hours post-prandial glucose concentration as well as changes in body mass index after at least 6 months of study duration. Three prospective, observational, multicentric trials (698 patients in total) were included. The basal bolus regimen with glargine significantly reduced HbA1c (Mean Difference, MD=2.27, CI [1.76, 2.78]), fasting glucose (MD=5.15, CI [4.86, 5.44]) and 2-hours postprandial glucose concentration (MD=6.94, CI [6.53, 7.34]). No significant changes were found in BMI after switching from premixes to IGlar based treatment. Insulin glargine based therapy following premix failure is efficacious and safe option of type 2 diabetes treatment intensification.

Meeting individualized glycemic targets in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes in Spain.

BackgroundInformation about the achievement of glycemic targets in patients with type 2 diabetes according to different individualization strategies is scarce. Our aim was to analyze the allocation of type 2 diabetic patients into individualized glycemic targets according to different strategies of individualization and to assess the degree of achievement of adequate control.MethodsCross-sectional analysis on 5382 type 2 diabetic patients in primary care setting in Spain between 2011 and 2012. Targets of HbA1c were assigned based on different strategies of individualization of glycemic targets: 1) the ADA/EASD consensus 2) The Spanish Diabetes Society (SED) consensus 3) a strategy that accounts for the risk of hypoglycemia (HYPO) considering the presence of a hypoglycemia during the last year and type of hypoglycemic treatment. Concordance between the different strategies was analyzed.ResultsA total of 15.9, 17.1 and 67 % applied to ADA/EASD recommendation of HbA1c target of <6.5, < 7 and <8 % (48, 53 and 64 mmol/mol), and 31.9 and 67.4 % applied to the SED glycemic target of <6.5 and <7.5 % (<48 and 58 mmol/mol). Using the HYPO strategy, 53.5 % had a recommended HbA1c target <7 % (53 mmol/mol). There is a 94 % concordance between the ADA/EASD and SED strategies, and a concordance of 41–42 % between these strategies and HYPO strategy. Using the three different strategies, the overall proportion of patients achieving glycemic targets was 56–68 %.ConclusionsIndividualization of glycemic targets increases the number of patients who are considered adequately controlled. The proposed HYPO strategy identifies a similar proportion of patients that achieve adequate glycemic control than ADA/EASD or SED strategies, but its concordance with these strategies in terms of patient classification is bad.

Extreme values of hemoglobin a1c are associated with increased risks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: a competing risk analysis in national cohort of Taiwan diabetes study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 45,753 patients with type 2 diabetes, who participated in the National Diabetes Case Management Program in Taiwan. HbA1c at baseline and COPD events over the subsequent years were analyzed.After multivariate adjustment, the COPD risk increased among patients with HbA1c levels <6.0%, compared with that in patients with HbA1c levels ranging from 6.0% to 7.0% (hazard ratio: 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.34). Similarly, high HbA1c levels (≥10%) were independently associated with COPD (1.19, 95% CI: 1.06–1.32). A U-shaped relationship was observed between HbA1c levels and COPD incidence.HbA1c levels lower than 6.0% and higher than 10% are associated with an increased risk of COPD in patients with type 2 diabetes. These findings suggest that meeting the recommended HbA1c targets might reduce the risk of COPD, but care should be taken not to pose risks to this population.

Distinct HbA1c trajectories in a type 2 diabetes cohort.

The aim of this study was to identify subgroups of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with distinct hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) trajectories. Subgroup characteristics were determined and the prevalence of microvascular complications over time was investigated. Data from a cohort of 5,423 type 2 diabetes patients from a managed primary care system were used [mean follow-up 5.7 years (range 2-9 years)]. Latent class growth modeling was used to identify subgroups of patients with distinct HbA1c trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine which characteristics were associated with different classes. Four subgroups were identified. The first and largest subgroup (83 %) maintained good glycemic control over time (HbA1c ≤53 mmol/mol), the second subgroup (8 %) initially showed severe hyperglycemia, but reached the recommended HbA1c target within 2 years. Patients within this subgroup had significantly higher baseline HbA1c levels but were otherwise similar to the good glycemic control group. The third subgroup (5 %) showed hyperglycemia and a delayed response without reaching the recommended HbA1c target. The fourth subgroup (3.0 %) showed deteriorating hyperglycemia over time. Patients within the last two subgroups were significantly younger, had higher HbA1c levels and a longer diabetes duration at baseline. These subgroups also showed a higher prevalence of retinopathy and microalbuminuria. Four subgroups with distinct HbA1c trajectories were identified. More than 90 % reached and maintained good glycemic control (subgroup one and two). Patients within the two subgroups that showed a more unfavorable course of glycemic control were younger, had higher HbA1c levels and a longer diabetes duration at baseline.