Analysis of continuous glucose tracking data in people with type 1 diabetes after COVID-19 vaccination reveals unexpected link between immune and metabolic response, augmented by adjunctive oral medication

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 vaccination programme is under way worldwide. Anecdotal evidence is increasing that some people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) experience temporary instability of blood glucose (BG) levels post-vaccination which normally settles within 2-3 days. We report an analysis of BG profiles of 20 individuals before/after vaccination.

METHODS

We examined the BG profile of 20 consecutive adults (18 years of age or more) with T1DM using the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitor in the period immediately before and after COVID-19 vaccination. The primary outcome measure was percentage (%) BG readings in the designated target range 3.9-10 mmmol/L as reported on the LibreView portal for 7 days prior to the vaccination (week -1) and the 7 days after the vaccination (week +1).

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in the %BG on target following the COVID-vaccination for the 7 days following vaccination (mean 45.2% ± SE 4.2%) vs pre-COVID-19 vaccination (mean 52.6% ± SE 4.5%). This was mirrored by an increase in the proportion of readings in other BG categories 10.1%-13.9%/≥14%. There was no significant change in BG variability in the 7days post-COVID-19 vaccination. This change in BG proportion on target in the week following vaccination was most pronounced for people taking Metformin/Dapagliflozin+basal-bolus insulin (-23%) vs no oral hypoglycaemic agents (-4%), and median age <53 vs ≥53 years (greater reduction in %BG in target for older individuals (-18% vs -9%)).

CONCLUSION

In T1DM, we have shown that COVID-19 vaccination can cause temporary perturbation of BG, with this effect more pronounced in patients talking oral hypoglycaemic medication plus insulin, and in older individuals. This may also have consequences for patients with T2DM who are currently not supported by flash glucose monitoring.

Feasibility study of real-time online text-based CBT to support self-management for people with type 1 diabetes: the Diabetes On-line Therapy (DOT) Study

INTRODUCTION

This study examines the feasibility of conducting diabetes-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) via a secure online real-time instant messaging system intervention to support self-management and improve glycemic control in people with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used a pre-post uncontrolled intervention design over 12 months. We recruited adults with type 1 diabetes and suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c ≥69 mmol/mol (DCCT 8.5%) for 12 months) across four hospitals in London. The intervention comprised 10 sessions of diabetes-focused CBT delivered by diabetes specialist nurses. The primary outcomes were number of eligible patients, rates of recruitment and follow-up, number of sessions completed and SD of the main outcome measure, change in HbA1c over 12 months. We measured the feasibility of collecting secondary outcomes, that is, depression measured using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), anxiety measured Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS).

RESULTS

We screened 3177 patients, of whom 638 were potentially eligible, from whom 71 (11.1%) were recruited. The mean age was 28.1 (13.1) years, and the mean HbA1c was 84.6 mmol/mol (17.8), DCCT 9.9%. Forty-six (65%) patients had at least 1 session and 29 (41%) completed all sessions. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c over 12 months (mean difference -6.2 (2.3) mmol/mol, DCCT 0.6%, p=0.038). The change scores in PHQ-9, GAD and DDS also improved.

CONCLUSIONS

It would be feasible to conduct a full-scale text-based synchronized real-time diabetes-focused CBT as an efficacy randomized controlled trial.

Evidence-Based Clinical Review on Cardiovascular Benefits of SGLT2 (Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter Type 2) Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, there has been an increasing endorsement from diabetic associations across the globe for the use of anti-diabetic drugs, which not only provide not only glycemic control but also have cardioprotective effects. Sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are one class of drugs that have shown evidence of CV benefits in patients with type 2 DM. We reviewed the published literature and found five adequately powered clinical trials that evaluated the CV effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in type 2 DM patients. These trials assessed the CV effect of three SGLT2 inhibitors, namely, empagliflozin, canagliflozin, and dapagliflozin. It was found that all these clinical trials were multi-centric and conducted in and after 2015 across different parts of the World, enrolling type 2 DM patients with varied baseline characteristics in terms of age, BMI, sex, glomerular filtration rate, history of existing renal diseases, etc. In spite of these differences, the SGLT2 drugs were found to be beneficial by significantly reducing all-cause mortality, mortality due to CV causes, and risk of major CV events. All the studies highlighted the cardioprotective effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors, especially empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and canagliflozin in type 2 DM patients with established CV disease, but the studies could not find significant improvement in 3P-MACE (three-point major adverse CV event) indicators offered by these drugs except empagliflozin. Hence, adequately powered clinical trials with long follow-up durations are the need of the hour to address this issue specifically.

Ongoing and planned activities to improve the management of patients with Type 1 diabetes across Africa; implications for the future

BACKGROUND

Currently about 19 million people in Africa are known to be living with diabetes, mainly Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045. However, there are concerns with early diagnosis of patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) as often patients present late with complications. There are also challenges with access and affordability of insulin, monitoring equipment and test strips with typically high patient co-payments, which can be catastrophic for families. These challenges negatively impact on the quality of care of patients with T1DM increasing morbidity and mortality. There are also issues of patient education and psychosocial support adversely affecting patients' quality of life. These challenges need to be debated and potential future activities discussed to improve the future care of patients with T1DM across Africa.

METHODOLOGY

Documentation of the current situation across Africa for patients with T1DM including the epidemiology, economics, and available treatments within public healthcare systems as well as ongoing activities to improve their future care. Subsequently, provide guidance to all key stakeholder groups going forward utilizing input from senior-level government, academic and other professionals from across Africa.

RESULTS

Whilst prevalence rates for T1DM are considerably lower than T2DM, there are concerns with late diagnosis as well as the routine provision of insulin and monitoring equipment across Africa. High patient co-payments exacerbate the situation. However, there are ongoing developments to address the multiple challenges including the instigation of universal health care and partnerships with non-governmental organizations, patient organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. Their impact though remains to be seen. In the meantime, a range of activities has been documented for all key stakeholder groups to improve future care.

CONCLUSION

There are concerns with the management of patients with T1DM across Africa. A number of activities has been suggested to address this and will be monitored.

A story of metformin-butyrate synergism to control various pathological conditions as a consequence of gut microbiome modification: Genesis of a wonder drug?

The most widely prescribed oral anti-diabetic agent today in the world today is a member of the biguanide class of drugs called metformin. Apart from its use in diabetes, it is currently being investigated for its potential use in many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, comorbidities of diabetes such as retinopathy, nephropathy to name a few. Numerous in-vitro and in-vivo studies as well as clinical trials have been and are being conducted with a vast amount of literature being published every day. Numerous mechanisms for this drug have been proposed, but they have been unable to explain all the actions observed clinically. It is of interest that insulin has a stimulatory effect on cellular growth. Metformin sensitizes the insulin action but believed to be beneficial in cancer. Like -wise metformin is shown to have beneficial effects in opposite sets of pathological scenario looking from insulin sensitization point of view. This requires a comprehensive review of the disease conditions which are claimed to be affected by metformin therapy. Such a comprehensive review is presently lacking. In this review, we begin by examining the history of metformin before it became the most popular anti-diabetic medication today followed by a review of its relevant molecular mechanisms and important clinical trials in all areas where metformin has been studied and investigated till today. We also review novel mechanistic insight in metformin action in relation to microbiome and elaborate implications of such aspect in various disease states. Finally, we highlight the quandaries and suggest potential solutions which will help the researchers and physicians to channel their research and put this drug to better use.