Update 2014 zur diabetischen Neuropathie

Type 2 diabetes care: Improvement by standardization at a diabetes rehabilitation clinic. An observational report

BACKGROUND

Outcome of type 2 diabetes care depends on the acceptance of self-responsibility by informed patients, as treatment goals will otherwise be missed.

AIMS AND METHODS

This pre/post-observational report describes the clinical outcome of type 2 diabetes care in patients with type 2 diabetes (N =930) admitted consecutively to a diabetes rehabilitation clinic (DRC) between June 2013, and June 2016, where they were exposed to standardized lifestyle modification with meals low in salt and rich in vegetables and fruits, totaling 1,200 to 1,600 kcal/d, and an add-on exercise load equivalent to 400-600 kcal/d.

RESULTS

At admission, patients presented with multiple treatment modes, elevated HbA1c levels (7.6±1.5%, 60±16 mmol/mol), a high prevalence of co-morbidities dominated by obesity (79%), a low rate of influenza and pneumococcal immunization (<9%) and underuse of lipid-lowering drugs (-29%). Analysis of clinical and metabolic outcome after 3 weeks shows that simple standardization of and better adherence to treatment recommendations improved (p<0.0001) glucose (HbA1c -0.4±0.4%) and lipid metabolism (LDL/HDL ratio, -0.58±0.03), permitting a 39% reduction in insulin dosage, omission of insulin in 36/232 patients and omission of oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) other than metformin and DPP4-inhibitors, while the use of GLP-1 analogs doubled to 5.2%. Improved outcome was independent of treatment strategy and more marked at initially high HbA1c at costs less than 25% of those encountered at a standard hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Our observations support the clinical notion that adherence to basic treatment recommendations is indispensable in type 2 diabetes care if metabolic and clinical treatment goals are to be met, and if inappropriate add-on over-medicalization with OADs and/or insulin is to be avoided. To this end, 'imprinting' patients at a DRC could be of considerable help.

Type 1 diabetes care: Improvement by standardization in a diabetes rehabilitation clinic. An observational report

BACKGROUND

T1D treatment requires informed self-responsible patients, who, however, frequently miss their therapeutic goals, providing considerable potential for improvement.

METHODS

This observational report evaluates T1D patients [N = 109], aged ≥18 years (range 22-82), poorly controlled at home, at and 3 weeks after their admission to our diabetes rehabilitation clinic [DRC], where they were offered standardized, but unmonitored life-style modification.

RESULTS

At admission, patients displayed elevated HbA1c values (66 mmol/mol [57; 81]), a high prevalence of co-morbidities (88%), lipodystrophies due to monolocal insulin injections (42%), a low rate of influenza (16%) and pneumococcal (7%) immunization, and underuse of lipid-lowering drugs (-38%). Standardization of life-style improved glucose (p<0.0001) and lipid metabolism (LDL/HDL ratio p<0.01) permitting reduction of insulin dose and reduction of add-on glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) other than metformin. Outcome was independent of the mode of insulin treatment strategy and more marked at initially high HbA1c, with DRC-costs/d less than 25% of those encountered at standard hospitals.

CONCLUSION

Type 1 diabetes care requires i) insulin treatment, food intake and life style to be handled in concert, ii) this need cannot be replaced by arbitrary addition of add-on GLDs, and iii) training to this end is 75% cheaper at a DRC than in standard hospitals.