Blood glucose control and quality of health care in non-insulin-treated patients with Type 2 diabetes in Spain: a retrospective and cross-sectional observational study

Glycemic control and its determinants among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Menelik II Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

Objective:

The objective of the study was to explore the level of glycemic control and its determinants among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Menelik II Referral Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study design was employed. The sample size was determined using a single proportion formula and 245 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in this study. Systematic sampling method was used to select the study subjects. Standard questionnaire was used to collect patient’s biographic data, economic data, self-care activities, and patient compliance to medications. Summary statistics of a given data were calculated. Logistic regression model was used to measure the relationship between the outcome and predictor variable. Direction and strength of association was expressed using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.

Result:

More than three-fourth, 191 (80.3%) of diabetic patients had poor glycemic control. Poor glycemic control was found to be 7.03 times higher among diabetic patients with duration of 5–10 years (adjusted odds ratio = 7.03, 95% confidence interval = 2.7–18.6). Similarly, diabetic patients with a duration of above 10 years were poorly controlled their blood sugar level (adjusted odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.028–5.08) in comparison to diabetic patients with a duration of fewer than 5 years. It was also found that compliance with a specific diet was significantly associated with good control of blood sugar level (adjusted odds ratio = 3.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.24–11.13).

Conclusion:

The magnitude of patients with poor glycemic control was high. Duration of diabetes and non-compliance with diets high in fruits, vegetables, and diets low in fat and sugar were significantly related to uncontrolled blood glucose levels. Therefore, developing strategies targeted toward improving blood glucose control with special attention to diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with a duration of ⩾5 years and those who poorly comply with their diet was strongly recommended.

Improving management of glycaemic control in people with T2DM in primary care: estimation of the impact on the clinical complications and associated costs

BACKGROUND

To estimate the potential benefits in terms of avoided complications and cost reduction if the Spanish health system would encourage the intensification of treatment for better glycaemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes from the current HbA1c target used in clinical practice of 68 mmol/mol to a target of 53 mmol/mol.

METHODS

The IQVIA Core Diabetes Model (version 9.0) was used to model the impact of these changes in respect of micro- and macrovascular complications and the associated costs. The modelling was based on data derived from the SIDIAP-Q population database from Catalonia, taking a random cohort of 10,000 people with type 2 diabetes and dividing it into sub-groups based on their baseline HbA1c.

RESULTS

The CDM modelling showed that the average cost reduction per person varies depending on baseline HbA1c. The model estimates that after 25 years, people with a baseline HbA1c between 48 and 58 mmol/mol and > 75 mmol/mol show an average cost reduction of €6027 and €11,966, respectively. Applying the per-person cost reduction to the cohorts of the prevalent population in Spain (1,910,374) the overall estimated cost reduction was €14.7 billion over 25 years. The improvements in outcomes resulted in an estimated reduction of more than 1.2 million complications cumulatively over 25 years, of which more than 550,000 relate to diabetic foot and more than 170,000 related to renal disease.

CONCLUSION

Over a 25 year period, Spain could considerably reduce costs and avoid major complications if, on a population level, more ambitious glycaemic control, according to Spanish or EU guidelines, could be achieved among people with type 2 diabetes by reducing the HbA1c threshold for treatment intensification. Although there is a slower trajectory for benefits in earlier years, there is a much more rapid benefit gain between years 5 and 15.

Glycemic control and its associated factors among diabetes mellitus patients at Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Mekelle-Ethiopia

Diabetes is one of the largest health emergencies of the twenty-first century and it is increasing with alarming rate throughout the world. Glycemic Control in diabetes patients is an important issue in minimizing diabetes related complications and deaths. Institution based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2017. Glycated Hemoglobin A1c and biochemical profiles were determined using Huma Meter A1c and ABX PENTRA 400 clinical chemistry analyzer. Independent t-test to compare groups, bivariate and multi variable logistic regression analysis were used. A P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significance. A total of 336 study participants were enrolled in this study. Overall, 208(61.9%) of the study participants had poor glycemic control. The poor glycemic control was significantly higher in glucometer non-users 120(71.4%) compared to glucometer users 88(52.4%) (P < 0.001). Income, the number of visits, high-triglyceride, high low-density lipoprotein and non-glucometer use were significantly associated with the poor glycemic control.

Achievement of guideline targets for blood pressure, lipid, and glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis

We assessed global achievement of targets recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for type 2 diabetes. We searched Medline, Embase, and The Cochrane Library for observational studies reporting target attainment (2006 to 2017 inclusive) for HbA1c, blood pressure, or lipids (low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], or triglycerides). Rates were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Study quality and risk of small study of bias was assessed. From 2491 screened records, 24 studies were included reporting on 369,251 people from 20 countries. The pooled target achievement rates were; 42.8% (95% CI 38.1-47.5%) for glycaemic control, 29.0% (22.9-35.9%) for blood pressure, 49.2% (39.0-59.4%) for LDL-C, 58.2% (51.7-64.4%) for HDL-C, and 61.9% (55.2-68.2%) for triglyceride control. A higher proportion of people achieved HbA1c targets within Europe and North America than the rest of the world. A higher proportion of people achieved blood pressure targets in North America than Europe or the rest of the world. Meta regression showed no significant improvement in rates by year for any target. The achievement of evidence-based targets is markedly suboptimal globally and not improving.

Assessment of glycemic control using glycated hemoglobin among diabetic patients in Jimma University specialized hospital, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Globally, diabetes mellitus (DM) has risen dramatically over the past two decades and is expected to keep rising for the next 20 years. If uncontrolled it may lead to complications to the patients that could be prevented or delayed. The disease could be diagnosed and monitored by blood glucose and/or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1) testing. HbA1 can tell long term hyperglycemia of the last 2-3 months period and can predict the risk of diabetic complications; however, the use of glycated hemoglobin test in the country, specifically, in the study area is almost none. Therefore, this study had the aim of assessing glycemic control and describing the risk of complications among diabetic patients using glycated hemoglobin.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma University specialized hospital among 148 diabetic patients from May to July 2012. After the study was ethically approved, HbA1, random blood sugar (RBS), socio-demographic data and clinical information were collected from every diabetic patients who were willing to participate in the study among patients coming to the hospital for their routine follow up visits.

RESULTS

Even though all the study participants were on diabetes treatment, majority of them were found to be poor glycemic control. It was found out that the mean HbA1 and RBS level of the participants were 7.6 % and 280 mg/dL (15.5 mmol/L), respectively. Using HbA1,5 9.5 % of the patients had poor glycemic control and these patients were considered to be at higher risk of developing complications. Among all the study subjects with poor glycemic control, 70.8 % were within 15-30 years of age; 62.3 % were females; 60.8 % were urban dwellers; 67.4 % were illiterate; 69.6 % were with BMI less than 18.5 kg/m(2), and 61.4 % were taking injectable drugs. Among 136 patients whose clinical history was reviewed, 52.9 % had one or more documented history of major microvascular complications: visual disturbance accounting for 21.3 %, nephropathy 19.1 % and peripheral neuropathy 13.2 %. Eighty-four had poor glycemic control of which 54.7 % had already documented history of one or more complications but the remaining 45.2 % had no documented history.

CONCLUSION

Even if all of the diabetic patients were on treatment, the mean HbA1 level as well as RBS level of the study subjects was above the normal range indicating poor glycemic control. More than half of diabetic patients in the hospital had poor glycemic control and were at higher risk of developing diabetic complications or they already developed the complications. Accordingly we recommended tracing the cause of this poor glycemic control for mitigating the problem.

Relationships between obesity, glycemic control, and cardiovascular risk factors: a pooled analysis of cross-sectional data from Spanish patients with type 2 diabetes in the preinsulin stage

BACKGROUND

Obesity is associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), but reports conflict regarding the association between obesity and macrovascular complications. In this study, we investigated associations between cardiovascular risk factors and body mass index (BMI) and glycemic control in non-insulin-treated patients with T2D.

METHODS

Authors gathered cross-sectional data from five observational studies performed in Spain. Generalized logit models were used to analyze the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (independent variables) and 5 BMI strata (<25 kg/m2, 25 to <30 kg/m2, 30 to <35 kg/m2, 35 to <40 kg/m2, ≥40 kg/m2) and 5 glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) strata (≤6.5%, >6.5-7%, >7-8%, >8-9%, >9%) (dependent outcomes).

RESULTS

In total, data from 6442 patients were analyzed. Patients generally had mean values of investigated cardiovascular risk factors outside recommended thresholds. Younger patients had higher BMI, triglyceride levels and HbA1c than their older counterparts. Diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels were directly correlated with BMI strata, whereas an inverse correlation was observed between BMI strata and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, patient age, and duration of T2D. Increased duration of T2D and total cholesterol levels, and decreased HDL-C levels were associated with a higher HbA1c category. BMI and HbA1c levels were not associated with each other.

CONCLUSIONS

As insulin-naïve patients with T2D became more obese, cardiovascular risk factors became more pronounced. Higher BMI was associated with younger age and shorter duration of T2D, consistent with the notion that obesity at an early age may be key to the current T2D epidemic. Glycemic control was independent of BMI but associated with abnormal lipid levels. Further efforts should be done to improve modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.

Clinical course after five years of insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes in Spain: results of the EDIN study

OBJECTIVES

The primary study objective was to assess the proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes and an HbA1c value ≤ 6.5% from the start of insulin therapy to five years later in the outpatient setting in Spain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was an observational, multicenter, naturalistic study with retrospective collection of clinical data. Investigators were endocrinologists or internal medicine specialists from all over Spain. During standard clinical care, patients started insulin therapy, which was continued for at least 5 years.

RESULTS

The clinical records of 405 patients were reviewed. The final analysis set included records from 346 patients. At baseline (start of insulin therapy), 51.2% of patients were female; mean (SD) age was 64.6 (9.0) years; body mass index, 29.8 (4-5) kg/m(2); time since diagnosis, 8.8 (6.8) years; HbA1c, 9.4% (1.5); fasting glucose, 223.7 (55.9) mg/dL; and mean 2-hour postprandial glucose, 293.6 (71.0) mg/dL. When insulin therapy was started, <1.0% of patients had an HbA1c value ≤ 6.5%. At 5 years, 10.3% of patients achieved the HbA1c goal of ≤ 6.5% (mean, 7.72%). All glucose parameters (HbA1c, fasting glucose, and 2-hour postprandial glucose) improved at 5 years as compared to values at the start of insulin therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Glucose parameters improved over time in patients with type 2 diabetes in this naturalistic study. However, blood glucose control exceeded the internationally recommended target values. These results therefore suggest that there is still some margin for improvement in outpatient care in Spain.

The dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in challenging patient groups

Treating hyperglycemia is a critical aspect of managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but can be especially challenging in patients from vulnerable groups such as those with chronic kidney disease, African Americans, and older people. The dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors are relatively new oral antidiabetes drugs that have been incorporated into treatment algorithms over the past few years and have also been studied in these vulnerable patients. Clinical trials with DPP-4 inhibitors have now been reported for all these patient groups and have demonstrated significant improvements in measures of hyperglycemia, with a good safety profile. Based on the current evidence, it appears that the DPP-4 inhibitors are worthy of consideration not only for the most straightforward patients with T2DM, but also for these vulnerable patients.

Is treatment with liraglutide efficient?

In the current context of limited economic and health resources, efficiency of drug treatments is of paramount importance, and their clinical effects and related direct costs should therefore be analyzed. Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which, in addition to its normoglycemic effects, induces a significant improvement in body weight and several cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the available evidence about the effects of liraglutide upon cardiovascular risk factors and how these improve its cost-effectiveness profile. Despite the relatively higher cost of liraglutide as compared to other alternative therapies, liraglutide has been shown to be cost-effective when clinical indicators and total costs associated to T2DM management are analyzed.

Consensus report: the current role of self-monitoring of blood glucose in non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes

The Coalition for Clinical Research--Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Scientific Board convened a meeting in San Francisco, CA, July 20-21, 2011, to discuss the current practice of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in non-insulin-treated (NIT) type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Twelve physician panel members from academia, practice, and government attended this meeting. These experts came from the United States, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. In addition, three consultants from Australia, Germany, and the United States contributed to the group's final report. This coalition was organized by Diabetes Technology Society. Self-monitoring of blood glucose was studied from eight perspectives related to patients with NIT T2DM: (1) epidemiological studies; (2) randomized controlled trials (RCT)s and meta-analyses; (3) targets, timing, and frequency of SMBG use; (4) incidence and role of SMBG in preventing hypoglycemia with single-drug regimens and combination regimens consisting of antihyperglycemic agents other than secretagogues and insulin; (5) comparison of SMBG with continuous glucose monitoring; (6) technological capabilities and limitations of SMBG; (7) barriers to appropriate use of SMBG; and (8) methods and end points for appropriate future clinical trials. The panel emphasized recent studies, which reflect the current approach for applying this intervention. Among the participants there was consensus that: SMBG is an established practice for patients with NIT T2DM, and to be most effective, it should be performed in a structured format where information obtained from this measurement is used to guide treatment; New, high-quality efficacy data from RCTs have demonstrated efficacy of SMBG in NIT T2DM in trials reported since 2008; Both patients and health care professionals require education on how to respond to the data for SMBG to be effective; and Additional well-defined studies are needed to assess the benefits and costs of SMBG with end points not limited to hemoglobin A1c.