The SWEET SPOTS study: a real-world interpretation of the 2012 American Diabetes Association Position Statement regarding individualized A1C targets

The individualisation of glycaemic targets in response to patient characteristics in type 2 diabetes: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Evidence and guidelines increasingly support an individualised approach to care for people with type 2 diabetes and individualisation of glycaemic targets in response to patient factors.

METHODS

We undertook a scoping review of the literature for evidence of factors impacting upon glycated haemoglobin target individualisation in adults with type 2 diabetes. Data were analysed thematically with the themes inductively derived from article review.

FINDINGS

Evidence suggests that presence of cardiovascular disease, hypoglycaemia unawareness, severe hypoglycaemia, limited life expectancy, advanced age, long diabetes duration, frailty, cognitive impairment, disability, extensive comorbidity, diabetes distress and patient preference should inform the setting of glycaemic targets.

CONCLUSION

The management of people with diabetes is complex. In clinical practice, many patients will have a variety of factors that should be considered when personalising their care. Approaches to personalised care and glycaemic treatment targets should be undertaken as part of a shared decision-making process between physician and patient. Use of electronic records might enable greater efficiency and more widespread use of personalised care plans for people with diabetes.

Association of Prediabetes With Higher Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden Among Patients With First Diagnosed Acute Coronary Syndrome

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with more extensive coronary atherosclerosis and more vulnerable plaque phenotypes. However, DM should not be considered a homogeneous and purely binary entity in terms of risk assessment. We evaluated the impact of prediabetic status on coronary atherosclerosis burden in patients with first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent urgent coronary angiography. The patients were divided into DM, prediabetes, and control groups. The 3-vessel disease (TVD) rates and SYNTAX and Gensini scoring systems for defining atherosclerotic burden were compared. The study was conducted in 469 consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of ACS. Of these, 250 patients were admitted at the first occurrence of ACS undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. SYNTAX and Gensini scores and TVD rates were higher in prediabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients ( P = .004, P = .008, and P = .014, respectively), but similar in prediabetic and diabetic patients ( P = .912, P = .773, and P = 1.000, respectively). Coronary atherosclerosis burden is more advanced in prediabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients and is comparable between prediabetic and diabetic patients at first presentation of ACS. Cardiologists should not miss the opportunity to diagnose prediabetes and DM when patients present with an ACS.