Insulin requirement profiles in Japanese hospitalized subjects with type 2 diabetes treated with basal-bolus insulin therapy

Novel trends and concepts in the nutritional management of glycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus-beyond dietary patterns: a narrative review

A variety of eating patterns are recommended by international guidelines to help people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) achieve general health and glycemia goals. Apart from eating patterns, there is evidence that other approaches related to the everyday application of dietary advice, such as meal frequency, breakfast consumption, daily carbohydrate distribution, and order of food consumption during meals, have significant effects on glycemia management. The aims of this review were to examine published diabetes nutrition guidelines concerning specific recommendations with regard to the above approaches, as well as to review evidence from studies that have investigated their effect on glycemia in T2DM. The data suggest that eating breakfast regularly, consuming most carbohydrates at lunch, avoiding large dinners late at night, and applying the carbohydrate-last meal pattern are effective practices towards better nutritional management of T2DM.

Basal insulin ameliorates post-breakfast hyperglycemia via suppression of post-breakfast proinsulin/C-peptide ratio and fasting serum free fatty acid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

In general, basal insulin targets fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, and prandial insulin targets postprandial glucose (PPG) levels. However, the effects of basal insulin on PPG levels are controversial. We investigated the effect of basal insulin on postprandial hyperglycemia using a test meal at breakfast as well as compared differences between degludec and glargine.

Methods

A total of 20 participants with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to degludec (n = 10) or glargine (n = 10). We initiated basal-bolus insulin therapy and titrated only basal insulin until FPG was < 6.1 mmol/L. We evaluated changes in post-breakfast glucose levels and changes in clinical parameters such as serum C-peptide (CPR), proinsulin (PI), and free fatty acids (FFA) levels between the pre- and post-titration periods. Differences between degludec and glargine in the post-titration period were also evaluated.

Results

Post-breakfast glucose levels significantly decreased by 46.1% in the post-titration period compared with the pre-titration period (n = 20, p < 0.001). These decreases correlated positively with decreases in the post-breakfast PI/CPR ratio (r = 0.692, p < 0.001) and in fasting FFA levels (r = 0.720, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in post-breakfast glucose levels between degludec and glargine. However, the hypoglycemic rate with degludec was significantly lower than with glargine.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that basal insulin with either degludec or glargine decreases the incidence of post-breakfast hyperglycemia accompanied by decreasing the post-breakfast PI/CPR ratio and fasting FFA levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Excess weight gain during insulin pump therapy is associated with higher basal insulin doses

Background

While higher total daily dose (TDD) of insulin has been associated with excess weight gain on insulin pump therapy, the role of higher total basal dose (TBD) of insulin on weight gain has not been studied. We evaluated the impact of higher TBD on weight gain in relationship to glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), hypoglycemic episodes, and change in body mass index (BMI) z score in a group of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods

One-year data from 91 (54 Female/37 Male) patients (2.3–17.8 years of age), transitioned from basal-bolus regimen to insulin pump therapy were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on changes in BMI z score: Group 1 (no change or decrease) and Group 2 (increase).

Results

Thirty-three patients in Group 1 and 58 patients in Group 2. The two groups had similar TDD (0.9 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.2 U/kg/day), however Group 1 had a higher bolus: basal insulin ratio (1.8 ± 0.6 vs. 1.5 ± 0.6, p < 0.05). While Groups 1 and 2 had similar HbA1c values (7.7 ± 0.7 vs. 7.70 ± 0.6 %; p = 0.79) and activity levels (2.2 ± 0.6 vs. 2.2 ± 0.7; p = 0.15), Group 2 had higher rates of hypoglycemic episodes (1.0 ± 0.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.9, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Excess weight gain was associated with lower bolus to basal insulin ratios independent of glycemic control and activity level. Evaluation of bolus and basal insulin doses during insulin therapy is warranted in order to avoid excess weight gain.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40200-016-0271-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.