Glycemic Control in Diabetic CKD Patients: Where Do We Stand?

Prescription pattern, glycemic control status, and predictors of poor glycemic control among diabetic patients with comorbid chronic kidney disease in Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Achieving optimal glycemic control is vital for managing diabetes mellitus and preventing its complications, yet it is particularly challenging for individuals with diabetes and concurrent chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease disrupts glucose metabolism and excretion, leading to pronounced and variable blood glucose fluctuations, thereby complicating diabetes management. So far, the intricate impact of chronic kidney disease on the glycemic control status of diabetic patients remains obscure, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where both diseases pose an escalating burden.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess prescription patterns, glycemic control status, and the contributing factors to poor glycemic control among diabetic patients with comorbid chronic kidney disease at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 15 to May 15, 2024, from the electronic medical records of diabetic patients with comorbid chronic kidney disease who had received regular treatment and follow-up at the adult diabetes mellitus clinic of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. The sample size was calculated by using a single population proportion formula and accordingly, a total of 384 patients were recruited randomly and enrolled in this study. Descriptive statistics was employed for analyzing quantitative variables. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of poor glycemic control status. Statistical significance was established at p-value < 0.05.

RESULTS

This study found that 98.2% of patients had type 2 diabetes, with a mean diabetes duration of 16.36 years. Only 4.4% achieved good glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] < 7%), while 95.6% had poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%). Insulin, metformin, and sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors were the most frequently prescribed anti-diabetic drug classes which accounted for 80.2%, 59.1%, and 41.4%, respectively. Presence of hypertension (AOR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.08-12.71, P = 0.038) and regimen change in the past 01year (AOR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.11-1.01, P = 0.050) were predictors of poor glycemic control status.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals significant challenges in glycemic control among diabetic patients with comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD). With only 4.4% of participants achieving optimal HbA1c levels, the findings underscore a critical public health concern regarding the management of diabetes in this vulnerable population.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Consensus Report on the Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes

This report represents the conclusions of 15 experts in nephrology and endocrinology, based on their knowledge of key studies and evidence in the field, on the role of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those receiving dialysis. The experts discussed issues related to CGM accuracy, indications, education, clinical outcomes, quality of life, research gaps, and barriers to dissemination. Three main goals of management for patients with CKD and diabetes were identified: (1) greater use of CGMs for better glycemic monitoring and management, (2) further research evaluating the accuracy, feasibility, outcomes, and potential value of CGMs in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on hemodialysis, and (3) equitable access to CGM technology for patients with CKD. The experts also developed 15 conclusions regarding the use of CGMs in this population related to CGMs' unique delivery of both real-time information that can guide monitoring and management of glycemia and continuous and predictive data in this population, which is at higher risk for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The group noted three major clinical gaps: (1) CGMs are not routinely prescribed for patients with diabetes and CKD; (2) CGMs are not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with diabetes who are on dialysis; and (3) CGMs are not routinely available to all of those who need them because of structural barriers in the health care system. These gaps can be improved with greater stakeholder collaboration, education, and awareness brought to the use of CGM technology in CKD.

Efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring in people living with diabetes and end stage kidney disease on dialysis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patients with diabetes on dialysis experience wide variations in glucose levels and an increased risk of hypoglycaemia. Due to the inaccuracies of HbA1c in dialysis patients, JBDS-IP and KDIGO recommend the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). We conducted a systematic review to examine the current evidence for CGM use and its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes on dialysis.

METHODS

A search of MEDLINE(R) ALL, Ovid Emcare, Journals@Ovid Full Text and Embase databases were conducted. Clinical or observational trials in adults with Type 1(T1D) or Type 2 (T2D) diabetes on dialysis and CGM intervention reporting on glycaemic outcomes were included.

RESULTS

Of the 936 citations identified, 49 duplicates were removed. 887 citations were screened by title and abstract. 9 full texts were reviewed and a further 7 excluded due to duplications or failure to meet to selection criteria. Data was extracted for 2 studies, both prospective before-and-after interventional studies with no control group. Joubert et al. (2015) showed results for 15 participants with T1D. Mean CGM glucose level decreased from 8.37mmol/L at baseline to 7.7mmol/L at the end of the CGM period (p < 0.05) while HbA1c decreased from 6.9 to 6.5% (p < 0.05) during the same period. Mean CGM was lower on dialysis days (7.68mmol/L vs. 7.8mmol/L, p < 0.05). Képénékian et al. (2014) reported on data from 29 T2D patients. Following a 3 month CGM-adapted insulin regimen, HbA1c decreased from 8.4% at baseline to 7.6% (p < 0.01) by the end of study. Mean CGM values decreased from 9.9mmol/L to 8.9mmol/L (p = 0.05) and the frequency of glucose values > 10mmol/L decreased from 41 to 30% (p < 0.05), without a significant increase in hypoglycaemia frequency. Both studies were deemed to be of 'good' quality.

CONCLUSION

Evidence demonstrating the benefits of CGM in patients with diabetes receiving dialysis is lacking. There is a need for well-designed randomised controlled trials to ascertain the benefits of this technology in this patient group.

TRAIL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023371635, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=371635 .

What Not to Overlook in the Management of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Nephrological and Hepatological Perspectives

Diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly impacts renal and hepatic function, necessitating comprehensive understanding and management strategies. Renal involvement, namely diabetic kidney disease (DKD), presents a global challenge, with increasing prevalence paralleling DM rates. Lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy targeting hypertension and glycemic control have pivotal roles in DKD management. Concurrently, hepatic involvement in DM, characterized by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), presents a bidirectional relationship. DM exacerbates MASLD progression, while MASLD predisposes to DM development and worsens glycemic control. Screening for MASLD in DM patients is of high importance, utilizing non-invasive methods like ultrasound and fibrosis scores. Lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss and a Mediterranean diet, mitigate MASLD progression. Promising pharmacotherapies, like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists, demonstrate efficacy in both DM and MASLD management. Special populations, such as diabetic individuals undergoing hemodialysis or kidney transplant recipients, demand special care due to unique clinical features. Similarly, DM exacerbates complications in MASLD patients, elevating the risks of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recognizing the interconnectedness of DM, renal, and hepatic diseases underscores the need for multidisciplinary approaches for optimal patient outcomes. The present review aims to present the main characteristics and crucial points not to be overlooked regarding the renal and hepatic involvement in DM patients focusing on the inter-relationships between the renal and the hepatic involvements.

Hypoglycemia and Mortality Risk in Incident Hemodialysis Patients

OBJECTIVE

Hypoglycemia is a frequent occurrence in chronic kidney disease patients due to alterations in glucose and insulin metabolism. However, there are sparse data examining the predictors and clinical implications of hypoglycemia including mortality risk among incident hemodialysis patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Among 58,304 incident hemodialysis patients receiving care from a large national dialysis organization over 2007-2011, we examined clinical characteristics associated with risk of hypoglycemia, defined as a blood glucose concentration <70 mg/dL, in the first year of dialysis using expanded case-mix + laboratory logistic regression models. We then examined the association between hypoglycemia during the first year of dialysis with all-cause mortality using expanded case-mix + laboratory Cox models.

RESULTS

In the first year of dialysis, hypoglycemia was observed among 16.8% of diabetic and 6.9% of nondiabetic incident hemodialysis patients. In adjusted logistic regression models, clinical characteristics associated with hypoglycemia included younger age, female sex, African-American race, presence of a central venous catheter, lower residual renal function, and longer dialysis session length. In the overall cohort, patients who experienced hypoglycemia had a higher risk of all-cause mortality risk (reference: absence of hypoglycemia): adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.08 (1.04, 1.13). In stratified analyses, hypoglycemia was also associated with higher mortality risk in the diabetic and nondiabetic subgroups: adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval's) 1.08 (1.04-1.13), and 1.17 (0.94-1.45), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoglycemia was a frequent occurrence among both diabetic and nondiabetic hemodialysis patients and was associated with a higher mortality risk. Further studies are needed to identify approaches that reduce hypoglycemia risk in the hemodialysis population.

Risk of CKD among patients with DM taking diuretics or SGLT2i: a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term risk of CKD and renal function declines using a combination of diuretics and SGLT2i.

METHODS

We selected the data of subjects who had at least two outpatient records or at least one inpatient record for DM treatment as the DM group from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients receiving versus not receiving SGLT2i were defined as the SGLT2i and non-SGLT2i cohorts, respectively. The patients in the two groups were matched 1:1 through propensity score matching based on age, sex, year of index date, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

The diuretics-only group had a higher risk of CKD (aHR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.68-3.61) compared to the neither SGLT2i nor diuretics group, while the both SGLT2i and diuretics group and the SGLT2i only group had lower risks (aHR, 0.45, 95% CI, 0.32-0.63; aHR, 0.26, 95% CI, 0.17-0.40) than the diuretics-only group. The SGLT2i-only group had a lower risk (aHR, 0.58, 95% CI, 0.36-0.94) than the both SGLT2i and diuretics group.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that diuretics could raise the risk of CKD in diabetic patients, but when used in combination with SGLT2i, they continue to offer protection against CKD.

Predictors of mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: interaction between diabetes mellitus and impaired renal function

BACKGROUND

The harmful effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains controversial. Furthermore, it seems that no consistent conclusion on whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) modifies the relationship of DM and poor prognosis in patients with HFrEF.

METHODS

We analyzed the individuals with HFrEF from the Cardiorenal ImprovemeNt (CIN) cohort between January 2007 and December 2018. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The patients were divided into four groups (control vs. DM alone vs. CKD alone vs. DM and CKD). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted to examine the association among DM, CKD and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

There were 3,273 patients included in this study (mean age: 62.7 ± 10.9 years, 20.4% were female). During a median follow-up of 5.0 years (interquartile range: 3.0-7.6 years), 740 (22.6%) patients died. Patients with DM have a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR [95% confidence interval (CI)]:1.28[1.07-1.53]) than those without DM. In patients with CKD, DM had a 61% (HR [95% CI]:1.61[1.26-2.06]) increased adjusted risk of death relative to non-DM, while in patients with non-CKD, there was no significantly difference in risk of all-cause mortality (HR [95% CI]:1.01[0.77-1.32]) between DM and non-DM (p for interaction = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes is a potent risk factor for mortality in patients with HFrEF. Furthermore, DM had a substantially different effect on all-cause mortality depending on CKD. The association between DM and all-cause mortality was only observed in patients with CKD.

The association between long-term glycemic control and all-cause mortality is different among older versus younger patients with diabetes mellitus and maintenance hemodialysis treatment

AIMS

Knowledge about association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and risk of all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus on maintenance hemodialysis (HD)-treatment is sparse. The study aims to investigate association between HbA1c and all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes and maintenance HD-treatment, separately for two age groups- above and below 75 years.

METHODS

2487 patients (mean age 66 years, 66 % men) were separated in two age groups: ≤75 years (n = 1810) and > 75 years (n = 677) and followed up between 2008 and 2018. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for associations between HbA1c and all-cause mortality were calculated using Cox-regression-models.

RESULTS

1295 (52 %) patients died and 473 (70 %) among the patients above 75 years old. In the multivariate analysis, HbA1c5-6 % was used as reference. In patients ≤ 75 years old, only increased HbA1c > 9.7 %, HR2.03(CI1.43-2.89) was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. In patients > 75 years, HbA1c ≤ 5 %, HR1.67(CI1.16-2.40); HbA1c6.9-7.8 %, HR1.41(CI1.03-1.93) and HbA1c8.7-9.7 %, HR1.79 (CI1.08-2.96) were associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a J-shaped association between HbA1c and mortality only in diabetic HD-patients > 75 years. This probably indicates that in an old population of diabetic HD-patients, both intensive glucose control and hyperglycemia could be harmful and associated with higher risk of death.

Untargeted Metabolomic Plasma Profiling of Emirati Dialysis Patients with Diabetes versus Non-Diabetic: A Pilot Study

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a severe irreversible complication of diabetes mellitus that further disturbs glucose metabolism. Identifying metabolic changes in the blood may provide early insight into DKD pathogenesis. This study aims to determine blood biomarkers differentiating DKD from non-diabetic kidney disease in the Emirati population utilizing the LC-MS/MS platform. Blood samples were collected from hemodialysis subjects with and without diabetes to detect indicators of pathological changes using an untargeted metabolomics approach. Metabolic profiles were analyzed based on clinically confirmed diabetic status and current HbA1c values. Five differentially significant metabolites were identified based on the clinically confirmed diabetic status, including hydroxyprogesterone and 3,4-Dihydroxymandelic acid. Similarly, we identified seven metabolites with apparent differences between Dialysis Diabetic (DD) and Dialysis non-Diabetic (DND) groups, including isovalerylglycine based on HbA1c values. Likewise, the top three metabolic pathways, including Tyrosine metabolism, were identified following the clinically confirmed diabetic status. As a result, nine different metabolites were enriched in the identified metabolic pathways, such as 3,4-Dihydroxymandelic acid. As a result, eleven different metabolites were enriched, including Glycerol. This study provides an insight into blood metabolic changes related to DKD that may lead to more effective management strategies.

The Nephrologist's Role in the Collaborative Multi-Specialist Network Taking Care of Patients with Diabetes on Maintenance Hemodialysis: An Overview

Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of renal failure in incident dialysis patients in several countries around the world. The quality of life for patients with diabetes in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) treatment is in general poor due to disease complications. Nephrologists have to cope with all these problems because of the “total care model” and strive to improve their patients’ outcome. In this review, an updated overview of the aspects the nephrologist must face in the management of these patients is reported. The conventional marker of glycemic control, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), is unreliable. HD itself may be responsible for dangerous hypoglycemic events. New methods of glucose control could be used even during dialysis, such as a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device. The pharmacological control of diabetes is another complex topic. Because of the risk of hypoglycemia, insulin and other medications used to treat diabetes may need dose adjustment. The new class of antidiabetic drugs dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors can safely be used in non-insulin-dependent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Nephrologists should take care to improve the hemodynamic tolerance to HD treatment, frequently compromised by the high level of ultrafiltration needed to counter high interdialytic weight gain. Kidney and pancreas transplantation, in selected patients with diabetes, is the best therapy and is the only approach able to free patients from both dialysis and insulin therapy.

Glucose Homeostasis, Hypoglycemia, and the Burnt-Out Diabetes Phenomenon in Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is among the most prevalent and dire complications of diabetes mellitus in adults across the world. Diabetes substantially contributes to the burden of kidney disease, such that one third to one half of CKD in the United States and many other countries is attributable to diabetic kidney disease (DKD). As DKD progresses to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), patients are at heightened risk for atypical glycemic complications, including the development of burnt-out diabetes, manifested by hypoglycemic bouts and poor outcomes. Furthermore, even in the absence of diabetes, hypoglycemia is a frequent occurrence in CKD patients that may contribute to their high burden of cardiovascular disease and death. Extrapolation of data from clinical trials in high-cardiovascular-risk populations and observational studies in patients with non-dialysis-dependent (NDD) CKD and ESRD suggest that moderate glycemic targets defined by glycated hemoglobin levels of 6% to 8% and glucose levels of 100 to 150 mg/dL are associated with better survival in DKD patients. However, given the imprecision of glycated hemoglobin levels in kidney disease, further research is needed to determine the optimal glycemic metric and target in diabetic NDD-CKD and ESRD patients. Given their exceedingly high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, there is a compelling need for further investigation of how to optimally manage dysglycemia in the NDD-CKD and ESRD populations.

Phosphate as a Signaling Molecule

Phosphorus plays a vital role in diverse biological processes including intracellular signaling, membrane integrity, and skeletal biomineralization; therefore, the regulation of phosphorus homeostasis is essential to the well-being of the organism. Cells and whole organisms respond to changes in inorganic phosphorus (Pi) concentrations in their environment by adjusting Pi uptake and altering biochemical processes in cells (local effects) and distant organs (endocrine effects). Unicellular organisms, such as bacteria and yeast, express specific Pi-binding proteins on the plasma membrane that respond to changes in ambient Pi availability and transduce intracellular signals that regulate the expression of genes involved in cellular Pi uptake. Multicellular organisms, including humans, respond at a cellular level to adapt to changes in extracellular Pi concentrations and also have endocrine pathways which integrate signals from various organs (e.g., intestine, kidneys, parathyroid glands, bone) to regulate serum Pi concentrations and whole-body phosphorus balance. In mammals, alterations in the concentrations of extracellular Pi modulate type III sodium-phosphate cotransporter activity on the plasma membrane, and trigger changes in cellular function. In addition, elevated extracellular Pi induces activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor, Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt pathways, which modulate gene expression in various mammalian cell types. Excessive Pi exposure, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease, leads to endothelial dysfunction, accelerated vascular calcification, and impaired insulin secretion.

Assessment of renal impairment using estimated glomerular filtration rate among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in North-East Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the known cause of morbidity and mortality among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Targeted screening of renal impairment based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among DM patients has potential benefits in early identification and treatment of CKD. Hence, this study was aimed to estimate the magnitude of renal impairment using eGFR among type 2 DM patients.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February-1 to April 30/2020 among 422 type 2 DM patients in Northeast Ethiopia. Data were collected by the semi-structured questioner and serum creatinine measurement. The collected data were edited into Epi-data manager version 4.4.1.0, and the analysis was performed by SPSS-25. The Simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology (CKD-EPI), and Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) equations were used to calculate eGFR.

RESULTS

Of all study participants, 82(19.4%), 92(21.8%), and 103(24.4%) had eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m², according to the MDRD, CKD-EPI, and C-G equations, respectively. Female sex, (MDRD:AOR = 4.44, 95%CI:1.97-9.97, CKD-EPI:AOR = 3.17, 95%CI:1.27-6.17, and C-G:AOR = 2.65, 95%CI:1.35-5.21), duration ≥ 10 years (MDRD:AOR = 3.38, 95%CI:1.45-7.92, CKD-EPI:AOR = 3.09, 95%CI:1.07-7.77, and C-G:AOR = 2.92, 95%CI:1.29-6.61), age ˃60 years (MDRD:AOR = 2.29, 95%CI:1.09-4.77, CKD-EPI:AOR = 4.12, 95%CI:1.68-6.78, and C-G: AOR = 3.42, 95%CI:1.77-6.60), hypertension (MDRD:AOR = 3.12, 95%CI:1.51-6.45, CKD-EPI: AOR = 4.21,95%CI:2.07-7.98, and C-G:AOR = 3.99, 95%CI:2.08-7.65), poor glycemic control (MDRD:AOR = 2.82, 95%CI:1.13-7.05, and C-G:AOR = 2.34, 95%CI:1.09-5.04), and body mass index (MDRD:AOR = 1.11, 95%CI:1.01-1.22, and CKD-EPI:AOR = 2.43, 95%CI:1.27-5.76) were significantly associated with renal impairment.

CONCLUSION

Renal impairment was prevalent among type 2 DM patients. Older age, female sex, duration, hypertension, poor glycemic control, and BMI were significantly associated with renal impairment.

Comparison of accuracy between flash glucose monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing hemodialysis

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the accuracy and clinical utility of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) in comparison with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

METHODS

Simultaneous FGM (FreeStyle LibrePro), CGM (iPro2) and SMBG were performed on 13 T2D research subjects.

RESULTS

There were good overall correlations between SMBG and FGM (64.7% and 30.8% within the A and B of Parkes Error Grid, respectively) and between SMBG and CGM (87.9% and 11.0% within the A and B, respectively). However, during HD, correlations between SMBG and FGM were only 49.7% and 37.2% within the A and B, respectively, while correlations of SMBG and CGM were 72.8% and 22.2% within the A and B, respectively. The percentage of FGM not in Zone A + B was more than 4 times higher than for CGM. The overall mean absolute relative difference (MARD) for FGM was 18.2%, this significantly higher than 11.2% for CGM. During HD, MARD for FGM was 22.8%, significantly higher than 15.0% for CGM.

CONCLUSION

FGM has good clinical agreement in T2D patients undergoing HD. However, the accuracy of FGM relative to SMBG was worse than that of CGM.

Long-Term Effects of Ketoanalogues on Mortality and Renal Outcomes in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Receiving a Low-Protein Diet

The effects of ketoanalogues (KA) supplementation on mortality and progression to dialysis in patients with pre-dialysis stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving a low-protein diet (LPD) remain ambiguous. From Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database during 1996–2011, 165 patients with pre-dialysis CKD on an LPD (0.6 g/kg/day) with KA supplementation were matched with 165 patients with pre-dialysis CKD on an LPD without KA supplementation. Of the 165 patients with advanced CKD receiving KA supplementation, 34 (20.6%) died, and 124 (75.2%) underwent long-term dialysis during the study period. There was no significant difference in mortality between the KA-user group and the KA-nonuser group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68–2.93; p = 0.355). KA supplementation significantly increased long-term dialysis risk (adjusted HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.04–1.90; p = 0.025) and combined outcome risk (defined as long-term dialysis and death; adjusted HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02–1.83; p = 0.034). KA supplementation also increased long-term dialysis risk (adjusted HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.00–2.20; p = 0.048) in the subgroup of pre-dialysis patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), but not in those patients without DM. In conclusion, KA supplementation might increase long-term dialysis risk in patients with advanced CKD receiving an LPD, but it did not increase mortality.

Glycemic Response to a Renal-Specific Oral Nutritional Supplement in Patients With Diabetes Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized Crossover Trial

BACKGROUND

Diabetes and malnutrition are common in patients with kidney failure. We aimed to evaluate the postprandial glucose response to oral nutritional supplement drinks (ONSs) in patients with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis treatment.

METHODS

A randomized, single-blind crossover study was conducted in patients with diabetes, and requiring chronic hemodialysis. Patients consumed either a renal-specific ONS, macronutrient-matched ONS, or standard ONS on 3 separate study days, during dialysis, following an overnight fast. Blood was collected before and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes post ingestion. Mean net incremental area under the curve (iAUC) and peak incremental blood glucose concentration were compared across conditions, using analyses of variance.

RESULTS

Consumption of the renal-specific ONS resulted in the lowest mean net iAUC (87.9 ± 169.0 mmol/L per 3 hours) compared with macronutrient-matched (188.0 ± 127.5 mmol/L per 3 hours) and standard ONS (199.5 ± 169.2 mmol/L per 3 hours) (F_2,30 = 5.115, P = 0.012, partial n² = 0.254). Pairwise comparisons demonstrated a mean difference of 100.1 mmol/L per 3 hours (95% CI, -2.8 to 202.9) in mean iAUC between the renal-specific ONS and macronutrient-matched ONS (P = 0.058). Peak blood glucose concentration, corrected for baseline, was significantly lower after the renal-specific ONS (1.40 ± 1.0 mmol/L) compared with both macronutrient-matched (2.02 ± 0.71 mmol/L, P = 0.036) and standard ONS (2.3 ± 1.06 mmol/L, P = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

A renal-specific ONS elicits a lower postprandial glucose response than either macronutrient-matched ONS or standard ONS in patients with diabetes during hemodialysis.

Favorable pleiotropic effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: head-to-head comparisons with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes patients

BACKGROUND

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have shown greater reductions of cardiovascular event risks than dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors, whereby possible mechanisms may involve the better pleiotropic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors. However, no published data are currently available to directly compare glycemic and pleiotropic effects in real-world type 2 diabetes patients initiating SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP4 inhibitors.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective cohort study by analyzing the Chang Gung Research Database, the largest multi-institutional electronic medical records database in Taiwan. We included patients newly receiving SGLT2 inhibitor or DPP4 inhibitor intensification therapy for type 2 diabetes from 2016 to 2017. We matched SGLT2 inhibitor users to DPP4 inhibitor users (1:4) by propensity scores to ensure comparable characteristics between the groups. We primarily evaluated 1-year post-treatment changes of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) after SGLT2 inhibitor or DPP4 inhibitor initiation, using two-tailed independent t-test. We also evaluated post-treatment changes in body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values, associated with SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP4 inhibitors.

RESULTS

We identified a cohort of 2028 SGLT2 inhibitors and 8112 matched DPP4 inhibitors new users. SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP4 inhibitors showed similar HbA1c reductions (- 1.0 vs. - 1.1%; P = 0.076), but patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors had greater improvements in body weight (- 1.5 vs. - 1.0 kg; P = 0.008), SBP (- 2.5 vs. - 0.7 mmHg; P < 0.001) and ALT values (- 4.1 vs. - 0.0 U/l; P < 0.001) and smaller declines in eGFR values (- 2.0 vs. - 3.5 ml/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.001) when compared to DPP4 inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

SGLT2 inhibitors had glucose-lowering effects comparable to those of DPP4 inhibitors but more favorable pleiotropic effects on body weight, ALT and eGFR changes, potentially improving type 2 diabetes patients' cardio-metabolic disease risks.

Diabetes Management in Older Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Older adults often live with chronic disease including diabetes and its complications. In this review, we examine the complexity and heterogeneity of older adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, explore the nuances in their diabetes-related monitoring, and discuss their best diabetes management.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although there remains an overall lack of studies in older adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, recent reports have highlighted their vulnerabilities. These individuals face an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, frailty, dysglycemia, polypharmacy, declining kidney function, and acute kidney injury. Their diabetes management should focus upon safer antihyperglycemic medications, close monitoring, and care individualization. Older adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease are a complex population who requires careful diabetes management and monitoring. Research efforts might focus on improving the care and outcomes of these patients.

Efficacy of self-monitoring of blood glucose versus retrospective continuous glucose monitoring in improving glycaemic control in diabetic kidney disease patients

AIMS

Patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) on anti-diabetic agents, are at greater risk of glycemic variations, both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. We aimed to compare glycemic control (using HbA1c) and hypoglycemia incidence in patients with Stage 3 DKD (eGFR 30-60 mL/min per 1.73 m² ), receiving retrospective CGM-guided anti-diabetic therapy versus self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) over 3 months.

METHODS

Thirty patients with HbA1c >8% were randomized to 6-day retrospective CGM or SMBG. In the CGM group, CGM was worn at the beginning and 6 weeks. HbA1c, assessment of hypoglycaemia events (self-reported and BG < 4 mmol/L from CGM/SMBG data) and medication adjustment were performed at baseline and 3 months. All patients received education on hypoglycaemia avoidance.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were allocated to CGM and 16 to SMBG. Mean (±SD) eGFR was 42.9 ± 10.3 mL/min. Majority (86.7%) of patients had diabetes duration >10 years and on insulin therapy (90%). HbA1c improved significantly from baseline 9.9 ± 1.2 to 9.0 ± 1.5% (P < 0.001) at 3 months, with no difference between CGM (9.8 ± 1.2 to 8.8 ± 1.8%, P = 0.009) or SMBG (9.9 ± 1.3 to 9.1 ± 1.1%, P = 0.007) groups (P = 0.869 between groups). In the CGM group, percentage duration in hyperglycaemia (BG > 10 mmol/L) reduced from baseline 65.4 ± 22.4% to 54.6 ± 23.6% (P = 0.033) at 6 weeks, with a non-significant rise in percentage duration in hypoglycaemia from 1.2 ± 2.2% to 4.0 ± 7.0% (P = 0.176). There was no difference in self-reported and documented hypoglycaemia events.

CONCLUSION

In a pilot study of DKD patients, short-term episodic use of CGM reduced time spent in hyperglycaemia range without significantly increasing time-exposure to hypoglycaemia. However, both CGM and SMBG were equally effective in improving glycaemic control.

Probing insulin sensitivity in diabetic kidney disease: is there a stronger role for functional imaging?

Clinical and experimental evidence support a cause-effect relationship between altered insulin signaling and development of kidney disease of metabolic and non-metabolic origin. However, the current criteria to measure and/or estimate the insulin resistance (IR) are available as research tool but are very difficult to implement in the clinical practice. Therefore, a better understanding of the key players contributing to IR may lead to the development of new non-invasive tools to assess organ-specific insulin sensitivity (IS). We will therefore first introduce the concept that IR and kidney disease may be causally linked as suggested by clinical and experimental studies. We will then, expand on the potential mechanisms leading to altered renal insulin signaling. After reviewing the limitation of currently available strategies to determine IR, this review article will focus on imaging techniques that could be utilized to determine renal IR and that could be tested to predict kidney disease development and progression.

Glycated Albumin Versus HbA1c in the Evaluation of Glycemic Control in Patients With Diabetes and CKD

INTRODUCTION

It is inaccurate to assess blood glucose with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and whether glycated albumin (GA) is better than HbA1c in these patients remains unclear.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE to July 2017 for studies that investigated the correlation between GA or HbA1c and the average glucose levels (AG) relevant to this theme. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 and Stata12.0. The outcome was the correlation coefficient between GA or HbA1c and AG. For the first time, we made a comparison of GA and HbA1c in different CKD stages.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies with 3928 patients were included. Early stages of CKD refer to CKD stage 1 to 3. Advanced CKD refer to CKD stage 4 and 5 including patients receiving dialysis. The meta-analysis suggested that in early stages of CKD, the pooled R between GA and AG was 0.61 (95% CI = 0.49-0.73) and 0.71 (95% CI = 0.55-0.87) for HbA1c (P > 0.05). In advanced CKD patients, the pooled R between GA and AG was 0.57 (95% CI = 0.52-0.62), and 0.49 (95% CI = 0.45-0.52) for HbA1c (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

GA is superior to HbA1c in assessing blood glucose control in diabetes patients with advanced CKD.

Association of Glycemic Status During Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease With Early Dialysis Mortality in Patients With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Although early trials suggested that intensive glycemic targets reduce the number of complications with diabetes, contemporary trials indicate no cardiovascular benefit and potentially higher mortality risk. As patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) transitioning to treatment with dialysis were excluded from these studies, the optimal glycemic level in this population remains uncertain. We hypothesized that glycemic status, defined by hemoglobin A_1c (HbA--_1c) and random glucose levels, in the pre-end-stage renal disease (ESRD) period is associated with higher 1-year post-ESRD mortality among patients with incident diabetes who have ESRD.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Among 17,819 U.S. veterans with diabetic CKD transitioning to dialysis from October 2007 to September 2011, we examined the association of mean HbA--_1c and random glucose levels averaged over the 1-year pre-ESRD transition period with mortality in the first year after dialysis initiation. All-cause mortality hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using multivariable survival models. Secondary analyses examined cardiovascular mortality using competing risks methods.

RESULTS

HbA--_1c levels ≥8% (≥64 mmol/mol) were associated with higher mortality in the first year after dialysis initiation (reference value 6% to <7% [42-53 mmol/mol]): adjusted HRs [aHRs] 1.19 [95% CI 1.07-1.32] and 1.48 (1.31-1.67) for HbA--_1c 8% to <9% [64-75 mmol/mol] and ≥9% [≥75 mmol/mol], respectively). Random glucose levels ≥200 mg/dL were associated with higher mortality (reference value 100 to <125 mg/dL): aHR 1.34 [95% CI 1.20-1.49]). Cumulative incidence curves showed that incrementally higher mean HbA--_1c and random glucose levels were associated with increasingly higher cardiovascular mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with diabetes and CKD transitioning to dialysis, higher mean HbA--_1c and random glucose levels during the pre-ESRD prelude period were associated with higher 1-year post-ESRD mortality. Clinical trials are warranted to examine whether modulating glycemic status improves survival in this population.

Osmotic and Hemodynamic Effects of Hypertonic Glucose During Hemodialysis

It was the purpose to quantify the hemodynamic effects of a bolus of hypertonic glucose injected into the extracorporeal system in a group of stable and nondiabetic patients during hemodialysis (HD). Glucose and electrolytes were measured in frequent intervals. Arterial blood pressures and heart rates were continuously recorded by noninvasive vascular unloading technique. Beat-to-beat stroke volume, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance were determined by Modelflow method. Relative blood volumes were continuously measured by ultrasonic and optical means. Eight patients were studied in two treatments. Although arterial pressures and heart rates remained stable, stroke volume and cardiac output transiently increased above (19.2 ± 12.3%) and total peripheral resistance dropped below baseline (18.2 ± 8.6%) by a comparable magnitude. Relative blood volume transiently increased above baseline at 100% (104.9 ± 1.0%). Glucose concentrations were significantly related to relative blood volumes (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). In spite of a substantial increase in blood volume, a bolus of hypertonic glucose does not increase arterial pressures in nondiabetic patients because of concomitant vasodilatation. The relative increase in blood volume quantified by noninvasive HD technology follows the course of glucose and could be used as a surrogate to characterize patients with regard to their glucose metabolism during HD.

Distinct biomarker roles for HbA1c and glycated albumin in patients with type 2 diabetes on hemodialysis

AIMS

HbA_1c and glycated albumin (GA) are used to monitor glycemia, but their accuracy to represent glycemic profiles in hemodialysis remains controversial.

METHODS

Continuous glucose monitoring in 97 patients with type 2 diabetes (41 on hemodialysis [HD] and 56 without nephropathy) was analyzed to evaluate whether HbA_1c and/or GA serve as appropriate glycemic profile markers.

RESULTS

The average glucose significantly correlated with HbA_1c in both HD group and group without nephropathy (r=0.59, P<0.0001; r=0.40, P<0.005). The slopes of linear regression lines were statistically indistinguishable (F=0.30, P=0.744), while the y-intercepts were significantly different (F=57.86, P<0.0001). GA showed strong correlation with the glycemic standard deviation (r=0.68, P<0.0001), and with the average glucose (r=0.42, P<0.001). Least square analysis revealed that only HbA_1c, but not GA, was significantly associated with the average glucose (F=10.20, P<0.0005; F=0.38, P=0.5427), while only GA was significantly associated with the glycemic variability in HD group.

CONCLUSIONS

In HD participants, HbA_1c correlates with the average glucose more than GA, but underestimates it, and a correction formula of HbA1c can be developed as an appreciable marker. GA value itself reflects the average glucose, but less accurately than HbA_1c, while it could serve as an indicator for hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia excursion.

A practical and evidence-based approach to management of inpatient diabetes in non-critically ill patients and special clinical populations

Inpatient diabetes is a common medical problem encountered in up to 25-30% of hospitalized patients. Several prospective trials showed benefits of structured insulin therapy in managing inpatient hyperglycemia albeit in the expense of high hypoglycemia risk. These approaches, however, remain underutilized in hospital practice. In this review, we discuss clinical applications and limitations of current therapeutic strategies. Considerations for glycemic strategies in special clinical populations are also discussed. We suggest that given the complexity of inpatient glycemic control factors, the "one size fits all" approach should be modified to safe and less complex patient-centered evidence-based treatment strategies without compromising the treatment efficacy.

Glycated Albumin Predicts Long-term Survival in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

In patients with advanced renal dysfunction undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, glycated albumin (GA) levels may be more representative of blood glucose levels than hemoglobin A1C levels. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive power of GA levels on long-term survival in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

A total of 176 patients with a mean age of 68.2 years were enrolled. The median duration of follow-up was 51.0 months. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was utilized to determine the optimal cutoff value. We examined the cumulative survival rate by Kaplan-Meier estimates and the influence of known survival factors with the multivariate Cox proportional-hazard regression model.

RESULTS

In the whole patient group, cumulative survival in the low GA group was better than in the high GA group (p=0.030), with more prominence in those aged <70 years (p=0.029). In subgroup analysis, both diabetic (DM) and non-DM patients with low GA had a better cumulative survival compared with those with high GA. The risk of mortality increased by 3.0% for each 1% increase in serum GA level in all patients undergoing hemodialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to serving as a glycemic control marker, GA levels may be useful for evaluating the risk of death in both DM and non-DM patients on hemodialysis.

Visit-to-Visit Glucose Variability Predicts the Development of End-Stage Renal Disease in Type 2 Diabetes: 10-Year Follow-Up of Taiwan Diabetes Study

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of glucose variability using coefficient of variation of fasting plasma glucose (FPG-CV) and coefficient of variation of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c-CV) to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 31,841 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.Patients with type 2 diabetes enrolled in National Diabetes Care Management Program, aged ≧30 years, and free of ESRD (n = 31,841) in January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2004 were included. Extended Cox proportional hazards regression models with competing risk of all-cause mortality were used to evaluate risk factors on ESRD incidence. Patients were followed till 2012.After a median follow-up period of 8.23 years, 1642 patients developed ESRD, giving a crude incidence rate of 6.27/1000 person-years (6.36 for men, 6.19 for women). After the multivariate adjustment, both FPG-CV and HbA1c-CV were independent predictors of ESRD with corresponding hazard ratios of 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01, 1.41), 1.24 (95% CI 1.05, 1.46) in HbA1c-CV from fourth to fifth quintile and 1.23 (95% CI 1.03, 1.47) in FPG-CV from fifth quintile.One-year visit-to-visit glucose variability expressed by FPG-CV and HbA1c-CV predicted development of ESRD in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting therapeutic strategies toward a goal to minimize glucose fluctuation.

Glycated albumin is a more accurate glycaemic indicator than haemoglobin A1c in diabetic patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease

AIM

Glycated albumin (GA) has been reported to be a more reliable glycaemic indicator than haemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c ) in patients with diabetes on dialysis. However, the significance of these assays has been less evaluated in patients with diabetes and pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS

GA, HbA_1c and fasting serum glucose were measured simultaneously in 146 patients with diabetes. Based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the subjects were categorized into a pre-dialysis CKD group (eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m² , n = 97) and a non-CKD group (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min per 1.73 m² , n = 49).

RESULTS

The glucose/HbA_1c and GA/HbA_1c ratios were significantly higher in the CKD group than those in the non-CKD group. The glucose/GA ratio did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the pre-dialysis CKD group, eGFR was negatively correlated with the glucose/HbA_1c ratio (r = -0.343, P = 0.001) and the GA/HbA_1c ratio (r = -0.499, P < 0.001). However, no significant correlation was detected between eGFR and the glucose/GA ratio. In the non-CKD group, eGFR was not correlated with the glucose/HbA_1c ratio, the glucose/GA ratio, or the GA/HbA_1c ratio. A multivariate regression analysis showed that eGFR had a significant impact on HbA_1c but no effect on GA in the pre-dialysis CKD group (β = 0.210, P = 0.005). In the non-CKD group, eGFR did not affect HbA_1c or GA.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that HbA_1c significantly underestimated glycaemic control, whereas GA more accurately reflected glycaemic control in diabetic patients with pre-dialysis CKD.

Nutrition Intervention for Advanced Stages of Diabetic Kidney Disease

IN BRIEF For the goals of reducing diabetic kidney disease (DKD) onset and progression, approaches to nutritional therapy are a subject of much debate. This article discusses selected nutrients that have a role in affecting DKD outcomes and introduces application of newer, individualized concepts for healthful eating, as supported by clinical evidence relevant to patients with DKD. Selected aspects of management of advanced DKD are also reviewed.

Evaluation and management of diabetic and non-diabetic hypoglycemia in end-stage renal disease

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) regardless of diabetes status are at increased risk of hypoglycemia with a resultant array of adverse clinical outcomes. Therefore, hypoglycemia should be thoroughly evaluated in ESRD patients. In diabetic dialysis patients, hypoglycemic agents and nutritional alterations can trigger hypoglycemia in the background of diminished gluconeogenesis, reduced insulin clearance by the kidney and improved insulin sensitivity following initiation of renal replacement therapy. Detailed evaluation of antidiabetic regimen and nutritional patterns, patient education on self-monitoring of blood glucose and/or referral to a diabetes specialist may reduce risk of subsequent hypoglycemia. In certain situations, it is important to recognize the possibility of non-diabetic causes of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes and to avoid treating pseudo-hyperglycemia caused by glucose- non-specific glucometers in patients utilizing icodextrin-based solutions for peritoneal dialysis. Adrenal insufficiency, certain medications, malnutrition and/or infection are among the most common causes of hypoglycemia in non-diabetic ESRD patients, and they should be suspected after exclusion of inadvertent use of hypoglycemic agents. The goal of this review article is to summarize approaches and recommendations for the work up and treatment of hypoglycemia in ESRD.

What is the Role of HbA1c in Diabetic Hemodialysis Patients?

The definition of a good glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus on hemodialysis is far from settled. In the general population, hemoglobin A1c is highly correlated with the average glycemia of the last 8-12 weeks. However, in hemodialysis patients, the correlation of hbA1c with glycemia is weaker as it also reflects changes in hemoglobin characteristics and red blood cells half-life. As expected, studies show that the association between HbA1c and outcomes in these patients differ from the general population. Therefore, the value of HbA1c in the treatment of hemodialysis patients has been questioned. Guidelines are generally cautious in their recommendations about possible targets of HbA1c in this population. Indeed, the risk of not treating hyperglycemia should be weighed against the particularly high risk of precipitating hypoglycemia in dialysis patients. In this review, a critical analysis of the current role of HbA1c in the care of hemodialysis patients is presented.

Diabetic kidney disease: a report from an ADA Consensus Conference

The incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus have grown significantly throughout the world, due primarily to the increase in type 2 diabetes. This overall increase in the number of people with diabetes has had a major impact on development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), one of the most frequent complications of both types of diabetes. DKD is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), accounting for approximately 50% of cases in the developed world. Although incidence rates for ESRD attributable to DKD have recently stabilized, these rates continue to rise in high-risk groups such as middle-aged African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics. The costs of care for people with DKD are extraordinarily high. In the Medicare population alone, DKD-related expenditures among this mostly older group were nearly $25 billion in 2011. Due to the high human and societal costs, the Consensus Conference on Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes was convened by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American Society of Nephrology and the National Kidney Foundation to appraise issues regarding patient management, highlighting current practices and new directions. Major topic areas in DKD included 1) identification and monitoring, 2) cardiovascular disease and management of dyslipidemia, 3) hypertension and use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade and mineralocorticoid receptor blockade, 4) glycemia measurement, hypoglycemia, and drug therapies, 5) nutrition and general care in advanced-stage chronic kidney disease, 6) children and adolescents, and 7) multidisciplinary approaches and medical home models for health care delivery. This current state summary and research recommendations are designed to guide advances in care and the generation of new knowledge that will meaningfully improve life for people with DKD.

Updates on the management of diabetes in dialysis patients

Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the U.S. and many countries globally. The role of improved glycemic control in ameliorating the exceedingly high mortality risk of diabetic dialysis patients is unclear. The treatment of diabetes in ESRD patients is challenging, given changes in glucose homeostasis, the unclear accuracy of glycemic control metrics, and the altered pharmacokinetics of glucose-lowering drugs by kidney dysfunction, the uremic milieu, and dialysis therapy. Up to one-third of diabetic dialysis patients may experience spontaneous resolution of hyperglycemia with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels <6%, a phenomenon known as "Burnt-Out Diabetes," which remains with unclear biologic plausibility and undetermined clinical implications. Conventional methods of glycemic control assessment are confounded by the laboratory abnormalities and comorbidities associated with ESRD. Similar to more recent approaches in the general population, there is concern that glucose normalization may be harmful in ESRD patients. There is uncertainty surrounding the optimal glycemic target in this population, although recent epidemiologic data suggest that HbA1c ranges of 6% to 8%, as well as 7% to 9%, are associated with increased survival rates among diabetic dialysis patients. Lastly, many glucose-lowering drugs and their active metabolites are renally metabolized and excreted, and hence, require dose adjustment or avoidance in dialysis patients.

Diabetic kidney disease and the cardiorenal syndrome: old disease, new perspectives

In this article, the literature is reviewed regarding the role of blood pressure variability and nocturnal nondipping of blood pressure as well as the presence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), in the absence of albuminuria, as risk predictors for progressive DKD. The importance of glycemic and blood pressure control in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and the use of oral hypoglycemic agents and antihypertensive agents in this patient cohort, are also discussed.

Glycemic control in diabetic dialysis patients and the burnt-out diabetes phenomenon

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease and a major risk of morbidity and mortality. It is not clear whether medical management of DM has any significant beneficial effect on clinical outcomes at the end-stage of diabetic nephropathy with full-blown micro- and macro-angiopathic complications. Both loss of kidney function and dialysis treatment interfere with glucose homeostasis and confound glycemic control. Given the unique nature of uremic milieu and dialysis therapy related alterations, there have been some debates about reliance on the conventional measures of glycemic control, in particular the clinical relevance of hemoglobin A1c and its recommended target range of <7 % in diabetic dialysis patients. Moreover, a so-called burnt-out diabetes phenomenon has been described, in that many diabetic dialysis patients experience frequent hypoglycemic episodes prompting cessation of their anti-diabetic therapies transiently or even permanently. By reviewing the recent literature we argue that the use of A1c for management of diabetic dialysis patients should be encouraged if appropriate target ranges specific for these patients (e.g. 6 to 8 %) are used. We also argue that "burnt-out diabetes" is a true biologic phenomenon and highly prevalent in dialysis patients with established history and end-stage diabetic nephropathy and explore the role of protein-energy wasting to this end. Similarly, the J- or U-shaped associations between A1c or blood glucose concentrations and mortality are likely biologically plausible phenomena that should be taken into consideration in the management of diabetic dialysis patients to avoid hypoglycemia and its fatal consequences in diabetic dialysis patients.

A critical evaluation of glycated protein parameters in advanced nephropathy: a matter of life or death: A1C remains the gold standard outcome predictor in diabetic dialysis patients. Counterpoint

Chronic kidney disease remains as one of the major complications for individuals with diabetes and contributes to considerable morbidity. Individuals subjected to dialysis therapy, half of whom are diabetic, experience a mortality of ~20% per year. Understanding factors related to mortality remains a priority. Outside of dialysis units, A1C is unquestioned as the "gold standard" for glycemic control. In the recent past, however, there is evidence in large cohorts of diabetic dialysis patients that A1C at both the higher and lower levels was associated with mortality. Given the unique conditions associated with the metabolic dysregulation in dialysis patients, there is a critical need to identify accurate assays to monitor glycemic control to relate to cardiovascular endpoints. In this two-part point-counterpoint narrative, Drs. Freedman and Kalantar-Zadeh take opposing views on the utility of A1C in relation to cardiovascular disease and survival and as to consideration of use of other short-term markers in glycemia. In the narrative preceeding this counterpoint, Dr. Freedman suggests that glycated albumin may be the preferred glycemic marker in dialysis subjects. In the counterpoint narrative below, Dr. Kalantar-Zadeh defends the use of A1C as the unquestioned gold standard for glycemic management in dialysis subjects.

Correlates of low hemoglobin A1c in maintenance hemodialysis patients

PURPOSE

The optimal target for glycemic control has not been established for diabetic maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

METHODS

A 6-year cohort (October 2001- December 2006) of 347 diabetic MHD patients with HbA1c data was examined for associations between HbA1c and mortality. Death hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using Cox regressions and cubic splines.

RESULTS

In these 347 patients (age, 59 ± 11 years; 49 % women; 28 % African Americans; and 55 % Hispanics), each 0.5 % decline in HbA1c below 6 % was associated with a 4.7 times higher death risk (HR = 4.7; 95 % CI 1.7-12.7) in the fully adjusted model. Factors associated with lower HbA1c levels (<6 % compared to 6-7 %) were: Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 2.9; 95 % CI 1.1-7.9), higher mid-arm muscle circumstance (OR = 1.1; 95 % CI 1.0-1.3), higher total iron-binding capacity (OR = 1.03; 95 % CI 1.01-1.05), and higher iron saturation ratio (OR = 1.14; 95 % CI 1.03-1.26). HbA1c levels >7 % showed a consistent trend toward elevated mortality risk (HR = 1.18; 95 % CI 0.99-1.41) after multivariate adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

In diabetic MHD patients with burnt-out diabetes, characterized by HbA1c <6 %, even lower HbA1c levels are associated with significantly higher death risk. Additional studies are needed to determine the optimal target for HbA1c levels in different subgroups of diabetic MHD patients.

Managing Diabetes in Patients With Diabetes of Long Duration

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to review clinical issues related to the management of hyperglycemia in older patients with diabetes of long duration.

Conclusion

Older adults represent an extensive proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes. Treatment goals need to be individualized to take into account comorbid conditions, life expectancy, diabetes complications, and the benefits of glycemic control. For both older patients and especially those with chronic renal insufficiency, the most important drug-related adverse effect to avoid is hypoglycemia, and avoidance of any severe hypoglycemia should be paramount. Patients with long duration of diabetes are often treated with insulin. Recent data show that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists may be used in combination with insulin for patients not achieving glycemic goals, with reductions in the doses of insulin used and with a low risk of hypoglycemia and possible weight loss.

Use of glucometer and fasting blood glucose as screening tools for diabetes mellitus type 2 and glycated haemoglobin as clinical reference in rural community primary care settings of a middle income country

Background

Thailand is considered to be a middle income country, and to control and prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the main concerns of the Thai Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Screening for T2DM and care for T2DM patients has been integrated into the primary health care system, especially in rural areas. The intention of this investigation is to link public health research at the academic level with the local health authorities of a district of a north-eastern province of the country.

Methods

Epidemiological methods were applied to validate the screening tools fasting capillary blood glucose (CBG), measured by glucometer and venous blood for the determination of plasma glucose (VPG), used for screening for T2DM among asymptomatic villagers. For assessing the validity of these two methods glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) values were determined and used as the ‘clinical reference’.

Results

All together 669 villagers were investigated. Determinations of CBG and VPG resulted in suspected T2DM cases, with 7.3% when assessed by CBG and 6.4% by VPG using a cutoff point of 7 mmol/L (126 mg/dl). Taking HbA1c determinations with a cutoff point of 7% into account, the proportion of T2DM suspected participants increased to 10.4%. By estimating sensitivity, specificity and the positive predictive value of CBG and VPG against the ‘clinical reference’ of HbA1c, sensitivity below 50% for both screening methods has been observed. The positive predictive value was determined to be 58.5% for CBG and 56.8% for VPG. The specificity of the two screening tests was over 96%.

Conclusions

The low sensitivity indicates that using fasting CBG or VPG as a screening tool in the field results in a high proportion of diseased individuals remaining undetected. The equally low positive predictive values (below 60%) indicate a high working load for the curative sector in investigating suspected T2DM cases to determine whether they are truly diseased or false positive cases according to the screening method. Further implications of the results and the controversial discussion related to the use of HbA1c as clinical evidence for suffering from T2DM are also discussed.

Strict glycemic control and mortality risk among US adults with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationships between strict HbA1c levels and mortality risk among adults with type 2 diabetes by age, insulin therapy, and hypertension comorbidity.

METHODS

Data of adult participants with type 2 diabetes from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) and its linked mortality file (with follow-up death up to 2000) were used.

RESULTS

Having strict glycemic control (i.e., HbA1c ≤6.5%) was associated with a lower risk of mortality (hazards ratio=0.69; 95% confidence interval=0.48-0.98). However, among those with strict glycemic control levels, statistically significant results were not found.

CONCLUSION

Reaching strict glycemic control levels in the general US population with type 2 diabetes appears to be associated with lower mortality. Further research is needed as to how strict glycemic control affects certain diabetic groups.

Glycemic and lipidic profile in diabetic patients undergoing dialysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to assess the clinical care pattern and to compare the lipid and glycemic profile in a group of diabetic patients undergoing both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to correlate these data using biomarkers of cardiovascular risk.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The first phase consisted in performing a survey on demographic data, questions about the medical team and glycemic control. In the second phase, patients were assessed through laboratorial data on their glycemic and lipid profile at a single center for HD and PD.

RESULTS

91 patients was the total population; 70 patients (77%) answered the survey; 66 patients (94%) considered the nephrologist the physician responsible for caring for their glycemic control. Second phase: 59 patients were assessed, 29 undergoing HD and 30 undergoing PD. Fifty-seven percent of the patients had HbA1c above 7%; the level of glycemic markers in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis was significantly higher than in patients undergoing hemodialysis: HbA1c (9.37 ± 0.5) vs. (7.37 ± 0.49) p < 0.01; fasting glycemia (170 ± 15) vs. (126 ± 15) mg/dL p < 0.05. We found a positive correlation between HbA1c and hyperfibrinogenemia (r = 0.4437, p < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

The data reveal that glycemic control in diabetic patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) is neglected. Peritoneal dialysis is related to the worst level of glycemic markers, possibly due to the glucose content in the dialysis solution, and higher levels from HbA1c have a positive correlation with hyperfibrinogenesis in this population.

Diets and enteral supplements for improving outcomes in chronic kidney disease

Protein-energy wasting (PEW), which is manifested by low serum levels of albumin or prealbumin, sarcopenia and weight loss, is one of the strongest predictors of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although PEW might be engendered by non-nutritional conditions, such as inflammation or other comorbidities, the question of causality does not refute the effectiveness of dietary interventions and nutritional support in improving outcomes in patients with CKD. The literature indicates that PEW can be mitigated or corrected with an appropriate diet and enteral nutritional support that targets dietary protein intake. In-center meals or oral supplements provided during dialysis therapy are feasible and inexpensive interventions that might improve survival and quality of life in patients with CKD. Dietary requirements and enteral nutritional support must also be considered in patients with CKD and diabetes mellitus, in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, renal transplant recipients, and in children with CKD. Adjunctive pharmacological therapies, such as appetite stimulants, anabolic hormones, and antioxidative or anti-inflammatory agents, might augment dietary interventions. Intraperitoneal or intradialytic parenteral nutrition should be considered for patients with PEW whenever enteral interventions are not possible or are ineffective. Controlled trials are needed to better assess the effectiveness of in-center meals and oral supplements.

Association of HbA1c values with mortality and cardiovascular events in diabetic dialysis patients. The INVOR study and review of the literature

Background

Improved glycemic control reduces complications in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, it is discussed controversially whether patients with diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease benefit from strict glycemic control.

Methods

We followed 78 patients with DM initiating dialysis treatment of the region of Vorarlberg in a prospective cohort study applying a time-dependent Cox regression analysis using all measured laboratory values for up to more than seven years. This resulted in 880 HbA_1c measurements (with one measurement every 3.16 patient months on average) during the entire observation period. Non-linear P-splines were used to allow flexible modeling of the association with mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.

Results

We observed a decreased mortality risk with increasing HbA_1c values (HR = 0.72 per 1% increase, p = 0.024). Adjustment for age and sex and additional adjustment for other CVD risk factors only slightly attenuated the association (HR = 0.71, p = 0.044). A non-linear P-spline showed that the association did not follow a fully linear pattern with a highly significant non-linear component (p = 0.001) with an increased risk of all-cause mortality for HbA_1c values up to 6–7%. Causes of death were associated with HbA_1c values. The risk for CVD events, however, increased with increasing HbA_1c values (HR = 1.24 per 1% increase, p = 0.048) but vanished after extended adjustments.

Conclusions

This study considered the entire information collected on HbA_1c over a period of more than seven years. Besides the methodological advantages our data indicate a significant inverse association between HbA_1c levels and all-cause mortality. However, for CVD events no significant association could be found.

Attenuation of Diabetic Nephropathy in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) Rats with a Combination of Chinese Herbs (Tangshen Formula)

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most significant microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetics. The concise mechanism of diabetic nephropathy is unknown and there is no successful treatment. The objective of study was to investigate effects of Chinese herbs (Tangshen Formula) on diabetic nephropathy in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. OLETF rats and LETO rats were divided into four groups: LETO control, OLETF diabetics, OLETF diabetics treated with Tangshen Formula, and OLETF diabetics treated with Monopril. Body weight, blood glucose, and 24 h urinary proteins were measured once every four weeks. Blood samples and kidney tissues were obtained for analyses of total cholesterol, triglyceride, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and pathohistological examination at 36 and 56 weeksrespectively. Untreated OLETF rats displayed diabetic nephropathy over the study period. Treatment of OLETF rats with Tangshen Formula attenuated the increases in blood glucose, body weight, 24 h urinary protein content, serum total cholesterol, whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity at certain time. Treatment with Tangshen Formula also reduced glomerulosclerotic index and interstitial fibrotic index seen in OLETF rats. In conclusion, Tangshen Formula could attenuate the development of diabetic nephropathy in OLETF rat diabetic model.

The diabetic CKD patient--a major cardiovascular challenge

The diabetic patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is at very high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Primary and secondary CVD prevention is of major importance and should be targeted at both traditional cardiovascular risk factors and risk factors specific for patients with CKD, such as albuminuria, anaemia and CKD--mineral and bone disorder. However, treatment goals have largely been derived from clinical trials including patients with no or only mild CKD and may not be generalizable to patients with advanced renal disease. Moreover, in patients on renal replacement therapy, the association between traditional CVD risk factors and the incidence of CVD may be reversed, and pharmaceutical interventions that are beneficial in the general population may be ineffective or even harmful in this high-risk population. Those involved in the delivery of care to patients with diabetes and CKD need to be aware of these issues and should adopt an individualised approach to treatment.