[Is silent hypoglycemia part of ideal glycemic control in DM1 patients? - hypoglycemic state by CGMS vs. glycemic average]

Influence of food consumption in the glycemic profile of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes Mellitus

ABSTRACT Objective To review the dietary intake of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes Mellitus and its association with the glycemic profile. Methods Longitudinal observational study. Dietary intake was measured using a three-day dietary record and the glycemic profile with a continuous glucose monitoring (range between 70 and 180mg/dL) and serum glycated hemoglobin levels (ideal <7.5%). Anthropometric data, insulin therapy, and carbohydrate counting were collected. Results The sample included 34 individuals with type 1 diabetes Mellitus aged 13.6±2.1 years. The majority of the population was eutrophic (76.4%). The entire sample used the basal-bolus insulin regimen, with mean insulin dose of 1.0±0.2U/kg/day; for 44.1% of the sample the carbohydrate counting method was used. Macronutrients intake was adequate in only 8.8% of the individuals, the highest frequency of inadequacy was related to carbohydrates (p=0.07). Inadequate glycemic control with hyperglycemia episodes and high mean glycated hemoglobin (9.7%) was observed in all individuals (61.3±18.5%). Carbohydrate counting was responsible for maintaining the percentage of time that the patient had interstitial blood glucose values within the range >40% (p<0.001) and maintaining the percentage of time in hyperglycemia <50% (p<0.001). Conclusion The majority of individuals were eutrophic, but presented inadequate dietary intake and glycemic control. The method of counting carbohydrates positively influenced the glycemic profile.

Continuous glucose monitoring system: dawn period calibration does not change accuracy of the method

INTRODUCTION

Continuous glucose monitoring system is a valuable instrument to measure glycemic control, which uses a retrospective calibration based upon 3 to 4 capillary glucose meter values inserted by the patient each day.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the interference of calibration during the dawn period in the system accuracy.

METHODS

The monitoring data were retrospectively divided into two groups: with (Group A) or without (Group B) the dawn period calibration (between 1:00 and 5:00 AM). Accuracy of the method was expressed by relative absolute difference.

RESULTS

Thirty-four continuous glucose monitoring data were evaluated comprising a total of 112 nights. A total of 289 paired readings were analyzed - 195 in Group A and 94 in Group B. We did not find a difference in relative absolute difference (RAD%) in any analyzed period of day by adding dawn calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that dawn calibration does not alter accuracy of method.

[Does brittle diabetes exist as a clinical entity?]

The best comprehension about the instability of the glycemia levels in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients and the availability of new alternatives to successfully control it, like insulin pump therapy and the insulin analogues, underlined the questions about the brittle diabetes existence as a clinical entity as well as the necessity of define it. The aim of this article was to describe the concept of brittle diabetes in the light of the latest advances in the treatment of type 1 diabetes and propose objective criteria to evaluate the level of glucose liability.