Diabetes Care in the Hospital: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2020

Shifting the Paradigm: How Stress Hyperglycemia Alters the Landscape of Heart Failure Management

Background Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) significantly contributes to global morbidity. Stress hyperglycemia (SHGL), although commonly observed in non-diabetic ADHF patients, remains underexplored. This study investigates the predictive value of SHGL for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and its impact on coronary intervention outcomes. Methods In this prospective observational study at a tertiary care center, 650 non-diabetic ADHF patients admitted for coronary intervention between April 2021 and April 2022 were assessed. SHGL was defined by random blood sugar levels >140 mg/dl. We monitored the incidence of MACEs, including cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and heart failure rehospitalization, alongside the success rates of coronary revascularizations over 12 months. Results SHGL was present in 54% of patients (n=352) and was significantly associated with increased MACEs (p<0.001), higher rehospitalization rates (p<0.01), and lower success in revascularization (p<0.05). Using logistic regression, SHGL, age >65, and prior heart failure hospitalization were identified as independent predictors of MACEs. Statistical analyses were performed using two-tailed Mann-Whitney U tests, with significance levels set at p<0.05 for noteworthy findings and p<0.01 or p<0.001 for highly significant findings. Conclusions SHGL significantly impacts coronary intervention outcomes and the future prognosis of heart failure in non-diabetic ADHF patients, identifying it as a critical, modifiable risk factor. These findings advocate integrating SHGL management into ADHF care, emphasizing the need for further research to develop standardized treatment protocols. Proper management of SHGL could potentially improve patient outcomes, highlighting the importance of metabolic control in heart failure management.

Glycaemic outcomes in hospital with IDegAsp versus BIAsp30 premixed insulins

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

IDegAsp (Ryzodeg 70/30), a unique premixed formulation of long-acting insulin degludec and rapid-acting insulin aspart, is increasing in use. Management of IDegAsp during hospitalisation is challenging because of degludec's ultra-long duration of action. We investigated inpatient glycaemia in patients treated with IDegAsp compared to biphasic insulin aspart (BIAsp30; Novomix30).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational study at two hospitals assessing inpatients with type 2 diabetes treated with IDegAsp or BIAsp30 prior to and during hospital admission. Standard inpatient glycaemic outcomes were analysed based on capillary blood glucose (BG) measurements.

RESULTS

We assessed 88 individuals treated with IDegAsp and 88 HbA1c-matched individuals treated with BIAsp30. Patient characteristics, including insulin dose at admission, were well matched, but the IDegAsp group had less frequent twice-daily insulin dosing than the BIAsp30 group (49% vs 87%, P < 0.001). Patient-days with BG <4 mmol/L were not different (10.6% vs 9.9%, P = 0.7); however, the IDegAsp group had a higher patient-day mean BG (10.4 (SD 3.4) vs 10.0 (3.4) mmol/L, P < 0.001), and more patient-days with mean BG >10 mmol/L (48% vs 38%, P < 0.001) compared to the BIAsp30 group. Glucose was higher in the IDegAsp group in the evening (4 PM to midnight) (11.6 (SD 4.0) vs 10.9 (4.6) mmol/L, P = 0.004), but not different at other times during the day.

CONCLUSIONS

Inpatients treated with IDegAsp compared to BIAsp30 had similar hypoglycaemia incidence, but higher hyperglycaemia incidence, potentially related to less frequent twice-daily dosing. With the increasing use of IDegAsp in the community, development of hospital management guidelines for this insulin formulation is needed.

Queensland Inpatient Diabetes Survey (QuIDS): patient experience survey evaluation

BACKGROUND

Measurement of inpatient experience can allow for treatment tailored to patient preferences and needs. The patient experience of diabetes care has not been explored in Queensland hospitals.

AIMS

To investigate the experiences of patients with diabetes when hospitalised using the Queensland Inpatient Diabetes Survey (QuIDS).

METHODS

In 2019 and 2021, patient experience surveys were collected as part of the statewide QuIDS, a cross-sectional study assessing the quality of inpatient care received by people with diabetes in Queensland, Australia. Patient responses were categorised and frequencies reported as percentages. Free text comments were analysed using thematic analysis methods. Pooled descriptive data were presented.

RESULTS

Responses were collected from 27 hospitals in 2019 (n = 526, 52.4% of all patients with diabetes) and 35 hospitals in 2021 (n = 709, 55.5%). Overall, patients were satisfied with their inpatient diabetes care. Areas for improvement identified by surveyed patients include the choice and timing of meals, staff knowledge about diabetes and increased diabetes self-management. Access to a specialist diabetes team was also identified as being potentially underutilised. Patient comments fell into four major themes: communication, food choices, patient autonomy and education.

CONCLUSION

Many patients reported positive inpatient experiences; however, patients also expressed dissatisfaction with their inpatient diabetes care. Our data provide unique insight and an opportunity to improve standards of care and service provision for inpatients with diabetes.

Clinical application of real-time continuous glucose monitoring system during postoperative enteral nutrition therapy in esophageal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Enteral nutrition (EN) support therapy increases the risk of abnormal blood glucose (BG). The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical value of a real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt-CGM) system in BG monitoring during postoperative EN support therapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) with esophageal cancer who planned to receive postoperative EN were enrolled. With the self-monitoring of BG value as the reference BG, the accuracy of rt-CGM was evaluated by the mean absolute relative difference (MARD) value, correlation efficient, agreement analysis, and Parkes and Clarke error grid plot. Finally, paired t tests were used to compare the differences in glucose fluctuations between EN and non-EN days and slow and fast days.

RESULTS

The total MARD value of the rt-CGM system was 13.53%. There was a high correlation between interstitial glucose and fingertip capillary BG (consistency correlation efficient = 0.884 [95% confidence interval, 0.874-0.894]). Results of 15/15%, 20/20%, 30/30% agreement analysis were 58.51%, 84.71%, and 99.65%, respectively. The Parkes and Clarke error grid showed that the proportion of the A and B regions were 100% and 99.94%, respectively. The glucose fluctuations on EN days vs non-EN days and on fast days vs slow days were large, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The rt-CGM system achieved clinical accuracy and can be used as a new option for glucose monitoring during postoperative EN therapy. The magnitude of glucose fluctuation during EN therapy remains large, even in the postoperative population without DM.

[Current Status of Research on COVID-19 Patients With Concomitant Hyperglycemia and the Management Strategies of Hyperglycemia]

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a serious threat to human health, leading to a relatively high mortality in patients with severe or critical conditions in particular. Hyperglycemia is one of the high-risk factors for poor prognosis in these patients. Patients with COVID-19 are more likely to develop hyperglycemia, regardless of whether there is a previous history of diabetes mellitus. Glucocorticoid therapy is an important part of the anti-inflammatory regimen for COVID-19. However, the use of glucocorticoid significantly increases the occurrence of hyperglycemic events in COVID-19 patients, ultimately leading to poor prognosis. Timely monitoring of blood glucose and early intervention for hyperglycemia contribute to the improvement in the outcome of COVID-19 patients. In this paper, we comprehensively reviewed the potential mechanisms of COVID-19 and concomitant hyperglycemia. We reviewed the latest findings on the blood glucose management strategies for COVID-19 patients with concomitant hyperglycemia, aiming to optimize the management of hyperglycemia in COVID-19 patients and improve the outcome of the disease.

Standards for the Use of Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Diabetes or Stress Hyperglycaemia: Expert Consensus

(1) Background: Hyperglycaemia that occurs during enteral nutrition (EN) should be prevented and treated appropriately since it can have important consequences for morbidity and mortality. However, there are few quality studies in the literature regarding the management of EN in this situation. The objective of this project was to attempt to respond, through a panel of experts, to those clinical problems regarding EN in patients with diabetes or stress hyperglycaemia (hereinafter referred to only as hyperglycaemia) for which we do not have conclusive scientific evidence; (2) Methods: The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, a modified Delphi panel method, was applied. A panel of experts made up of 10 clinical nutrition specialists was formed, and they scored on the appropriateness of EN in hyperglycaemia, doing so in two rounds. A total of 2992 clinical scenarios were examined, which were stratified into five chapters: type of formula used, method of administration, infusion site, treatment of diabetes, and gastrointestinal complications. (3) Results: consensus was detected in 36.4% of the clinical scenarios presented, of which 23.7% were deemed appropriate scenarios, while 12.7% were deemed inappropriate. The remaining 63.6% of the scenarios were classified as uncertain; (4) Conclusions: The recommendations extracted will be useful for improving the clinical management of these patients. However, there are still many uncertain scenarios reflecting that the criteria for the management of EN in hyperglycaemia are not completely standardised. More studies are required to provide quality recommendations in this area.

Trajectory patterns of metabolic syndrome severity score and risk of type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

The available evidence indicates that the severity of metabolic syndrome tends to worsen progressively over time. We assessed the trajectory of age and sex-specific continuous MetS severity score (cMetS-S) and its association with the development of diabetes during an 18-year follow-up.

METHODS

In a prospective population-based Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, 3931 eligible participants free of diabetes, aged 20-60 years, were followed at three-year intervals. We examined the trajectories of cMetS-S over nine years using latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) and subsequent risks of incident diabetes eight years later. The prospective association of identified trajectories with diabetes was examined using the Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for age, sex, education, and family history of diabetes, physical activity, obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medication, and baseline fasting plasma glucose in a stepwise manner.

RESULTS

Among 3931 participants, three cMetS-S trajectory groups of low (24.1%), medium (46.8%), and high (29.1%) were identified during the exposure period. Participants in the medium and high cMetS-S trajectory classes had HRs of 2.44 (95% CI: 1.56-3.81) and 6.81 (95% CI: 4.07-10.01) for future diabetes in fully adjusted models, respectively. Normoglycemic individuals within the high cMetS-S class had an over seven-fold increased risk of diabetes (HR: 7.12; 95% CI: 6.05-12.52).

CONCLUSION

Although most adults exhibit an unhealthy metabolic score, its severity usually remains stable throughout adulthood over ten years of follow-up. The severity score of metabolic syndrome has the potential to be utilized as a comprehensive and easily measurable indicator of cardiometabolic dysfunction. It can be employed in clinical settings to detect and track individuals at a heightened risk of developing T2DM, even if their glucose levels are normal.

How Do Hospitals Organize Diabetes Services? A Comparative Study

Most patients with diabetes will present to hospital for a reason not directly related to their diabetes. When a person with diabetes is not cared for properly, hospitalization can become complicated and lead to worse consequences for the patient. In fact, it is important to know how to manage a diabetic patient while in hospital. Therefore, a special organization is needed in hospitals for adaptation to chronic diseases such as diabetes. This study intends to help hospital adaptation to the special needs of diabetic patients by identifying patterns of care delivery in selected countries. This comparative study was performed in 2021. The data collection was conducted by searching in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Science Direct, Springer, Proquest, and also the websites of the selected countries hospitals. Based on the sampling method, three countries, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States, were selected from the countries with eligibility. However, during the study, according to the good practices about special diabetic care of countries such as Australia and Denmark, they were also examined. In this review study, we organized and compared the effective measures taken in selected countries in relation to the management of these patients in the hospital, focusing on the dimensions of service package, human resource, process, structure, equipment/technology, and information system required by diabetic patients.

Association between inpatient glycemic variability and COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the association between glycemic variability (GV) and mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS

We prospectively analyzed data from inpatients (> 18 years old) with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 admitted between March 2020 and July 2021. All patients were hospitalized for more than 48 h and had at least six point-of-care capillary glucose tests obtained three times daily in the pre-prandial period during hospitalization. GV was measured using the glucose standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV). ROC curve was adjusted to determine the SD and CV cutoff values associated with mortality (44.7 mg/dL and 27.5%, respectively); values above these were considered indicative of high GV. Logistic regression models were fitted to explore the association between GV and mortality in patients with and without diabetes.

RESULTS

A total of 628 patients were stratified into SD < 44.7 mg/dL (n = 357) versus ≥ 44.7 mg/dL (n = 271) and CV < 27.5% (n = 318) versus ≥ 27.5% (n = 310) groups. After controlling for age, sex, presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease, we found a significant association between high GV and mortality (odds ratio 2.99 [1.88-4.77] for SD and 2.43 [1.54-3.85] for CV; p values < 0.001). The mortality rate was higher with SD ≥ 44.7 mg/dL and CV ≥ 27.5% compared to that with SD < 44.7 mg/dL and CV < 27.5%, regardless of DM (p < 0.001 for all).

CONCLUSION

High glycemic variability was independently associated with mortality in patients with and without DM, who were hospitalized with COVID-19.

Evaluation of the safety of inpatient empagliflozin in a real-world setting

Background

Empagliflozin is a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor recommended by the American Diabetes Association for outpatient use. Support for its inpatient role is not well established due to possible safety concerns.

Methods

This was a retrospective study at an academic medical center between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, evaluating the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin compared to other oral antihyperglycemic agents. Patients with established heart failure with or without diabetes were included if they received at least one dose of oral antihyperglycemic agent with 48 hours of fingerstick blood glucose checks during the hospitalization. A total of 227 patients were included. The primary endpoint was a composite of adverse events including urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury, diabetic ketoacidosis, renal replacement therapy, and necrotizing fasciitis. Additional endpoints included daily insulin requirements, hypoglycemia, and hypotension.

Results

Rates of composite adverse events were similar between the empagliflozin group and other oral antihyperglycemic agents (19.3% vs. 12.6% respectively, P = 0.17). There were no instances of renal replacement therapy, diabetic ketoacidosis, or necrotizing fasciitis. The secondary endpoint of basal insulin requirements showed no differences between the two groups. In the empagliflozin cohort, more patients experienced hypotension (23.4% vs. 7.8%; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

This real-world study of empagliflozin use in the inpatient setting found no significant differences in safety endpoints between empagliflozin and other oral antihyperglycemic agents. Larger-scale studies need to be performed before the use of empagliflozin can be routinely recommended in the inpatient setting.

The epidemiology of ketosis and low bicarbonate concentration in inpatients treated with sodium-glucose linked cotransporter inhibitors or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors

AIMS

To compare the level of ketones and bicarbonate in inpatients treated with sodium-glucose linked cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and those treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i).

METHODS

We conducted an electronic medical records-based cohort study. We identified patients with type 2 diabetes, with ketone measurements available, who received SGLT2i (n = 82) or DPP4i (n = 308) during admission. We compared ketone levels between those who received SGLT2i or DPP4i using mixed ordinal logistic regression. The primary outcome was level of ketosis (<0.6, 0.6-1.5, 1.6-3.0, >3 mmol/L). Secondary outcomes included bicarbonate levels, hospital complications, ICU admission, and death.

RESULTS

SGLT2i use was not associated with greater ketosis than DPP4i use, after adjusting for age, weight, Charlson Comorbidity Index, HbA1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate, principal diagnosis category, admission type and insulin administration (OR 4.52 95 % CI (0.33, 61.82)). After adjustment, there was no difference in complications (p = 0.14), ICU admissions (p = 0.64), mortality (p = 0.30), or bicarbonate levels (p = 0.97).

CONCLUSION

Ketone levels were not greater in patients who received SGLT2i than those who received DPP4i. There were no differences in bicarbonate levels, complications, ICU admissions, or mortality, implying that, in inpatients, SGLT2i use is neither associated with ketosis nor adverse clinical outcomes.

Glucolipid metabolism improvement in impaired glucose tolerance subjects consuming a Quinoa-based diet: a randomized parallel clinical trial

Purpose: To investigate the effects of quinoa on glucose and lipid metabolism, and the prognosis in people with impaired glucose tolerance. Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight patients diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance following a glucose tolerance test in Guangzhou Cadre Health Management Center were selected and randomly divided into quinoa intervention and control groups, according to the digital table method. After 1 year of follow-up, the differences in blood glucose, blood lipid, glycosylated hemoglobin and other indicators were compared. The disease prognosis between the two groups was also compared. Results: The 2 h postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin resistance index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure after intervention in the quinoa group were significantly lower than before intervention. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher than before intervention and is statistically significant (p < 0.05). After 1 year of follow-up, the control group's glycosylated hemoglobin and body mass index are higher than before intervention, and are statistically significant (p < 0.05). The 2 h postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin resistance index, body mass index, and mean diastolic blood pressure in the quinoa group are statistically significantly lower than in the control group, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is higher (p < 0.05). The rate of conversion to diabetes for participants in the quinoa group (7.8%) is statistically significantly lower than in the control group (20.3%) (χ2 = 12.760, p = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed that quinoa consumption is a protective factor against delaying the progression of diabetes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Adding quinoa to staple food intake can reduce postprandial blood glucose, and improve lipid metabolism and insulin resistance, delaying the progression of diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance.

Potential Application of Marine Fucosyl-Polysaccharides in Regulating Blood Glucose and Hyperglycemic Complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become the world's third major disease after tumors and cardiovascular disease. With the exploitation of marine biological resources, the efficacy of using polysaccharides isolated from marine organisms in blood glucose regulation has received widespread attention. Some marine polysaccharides can reduce blood glucose by inhibiting digestive enzyme activity, eliminating insulin resistance, and regulating gut microbiota. These polysaccharides are mainly fucose-containing sulphated polysaccharides from algae and sea cucumbers. It follows that the hypoglycemic activity of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides is closely related to their structure, such as their sulfate group, monosaccharide composition, molecular weight and glycosidic bond type. However, the structure of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides and the mechanism of their hypoglycemic activity are not yet clear. Therefore, this review comprehensively covers the effects of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides sources, mechanisms and the structure-activity relationship on hypoglycemic activity. Moreover, the potential regulatory effects of fucosyl-polysaccharides on vascular complications caused by hyperglycemia are also summarized in this review. This review provides rationales for the activity study of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides and new insights into the high-value utilization of marine biological resources.

Night fasting as an alternative to improve nutritional support and glycaemic control in hospitalised patients with exclusive enteral nutrition

BACKGROUND

Enteral nutrition (EN) assists in the nutritional status of hospitalised patients unable to feed orally. The aim of this study was to determine which method-continuous EN or discontinuous EN, a diet in which the infusion is discontinued for 4h during the night,-is more effective in meeting nutrient recommendations and improving glycaemic control and biochemical parameters related to protein anabolism.

METHODS

Patients were divided into two groups: discontinuous (EN administered in mL/h, 18h/day, 4-h night fasting) and continuous (EN administered in mL/h, 22h/day). All patients with EN receive the diet over a 22-h daily period, in which the diet is suspended for two hours/day for daily hospital routines such as bathing, and physiotherapy, and followed for seven days. Evaluated data: prescribed and administered volume, calories, protein, and fibre; capillary blood glucose; erythrogram; serum albumin.

RESULTS

52 patients were followed-up, with 23 (44.2%) in the discontinuous group and 29 (55.8%) in the continuous group. Compared with the continuous group, the discontinuous group received volumes closer to those prescribed, equal or higher calories, and more protein. The capillary glucose values were within the reference range in the discontinuous group, while the continuous group presented elevated values. Both groups presented hypoalbuminaemia, haemoglobin, and haematocrit below the reference values; however, in the discontinuous group, the serum albumin values improved during hospitalisation relative to the continuous.

CONCLUSIONS

The method involving discontinuation of EN for 4h was more effective in meeting nutrient recommendations compared with the continuous method. Additionally, in the discontinuous group, we observed a better control of glycaemia when compared to that of the continuous group.

Intensified follow-up of patients with type 1 diabetes and poor glycaemic control: a multicentre quality improvement collaborative based on data from the Norwegian Diabetes Register for Adults

BACKGROUND

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and poor glycaemic control are at high risk of developing microvascular and macrovascular complications. The aim of this study was to determine if a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) initiated by the Norwegian Diabetes Register for adults (NDR-A) could reduce the proportion of patients with T1DM with poor glycaemic control (defined as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)≥75 mmol/mol) and reduce mean HbA1c at participating clinics compared with 14 control clinics.

METHOD

Multicentre study with controlled before and after design. Representatives of 13 diabetes outpatient clinics (n=5145 patients with T1DM) in the intervention group attended four project meetings during an 18-month QIC. They were required to identify areas requiring improvement at their clinic and make action plans. Continuous feedback on HbA1c outcomes was provided by NDR-A during the project. In total 4084 patients with type 1 diabetes attended the control clinics.

RESULTS

Between 2016 and 2019, the overall proportion of patients with T1DM and HbA1c≥75 mmol/mol in the intervention group were reduced from 19.3% to 14.1% (p<0.001). Corresponding proportions in the control group were reduced from 17.3% (2016) to 14.4% (2019) (p<0.001). Between 2016 and 2019, overall mean HbA1c decreased by 2.8 mmol/mol (p<0.001) at intervention clinics compared with 2.3 mmol/mol (p<0.001) at control clinics. After adjusting for the baseline differences in glycaemic control, there were no significant differences in the overall improvement in glycaemic control between intervention and control clinics.

CONCLUSIONS

The registry linked QIC did not result in a significantly greater improvement in glycaemic control at intervention clinics compared with control clinics. However, there has been a sustained improvement in glycaemic control and importantly a significant reduction in the proportion of patients with poor glycaemic control at both intervention and control clinics during and after the QIC time frame. It is possible that some of this improvement may be due to a spillover effect from the QIC.

[Impact of hyperglycemia on the prognosis of patients hospitalized for severe pneumonia in COVID-19]

Background

Adequate glycemic control improves the prognosis of patients hospitalized for pneumonia associated with severe COVID-19.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of hyperglycemia (HG) on the prognosis of patients hospitalized for severe pneumonia associated with COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients.

Material and methods

Prospective cohort study. We included patients hospitalized from August 2020 to February 2021, with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, not vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Data was collected from admission to discharge. We used descriptive and analytical statistics according to the data distribution. ROC curves were used to determine the cut-off points with the highest predictive performance for HG and mortality, with the IBM SPSS program, version 25.

Results

We included 103 patients, 32% women, 68% men, age 57 ± 13 years; 58% were admitted with HG (191, IQR 152-300 mg/dL) and 42% with normoglycemia (NG < 126 mg/dL). Mortality was higher in HG at admission 34 (56.7%) than in NG 13 (30.2%) (p = 0.008). HG was associated with diabetes mellitus 2 and neutrophilia (p < 0.05). The risk of death increases 1.558 times (95% CI 1.118-2.172) if HG is at admission and 1.43 times (95% CI 1.14-1.79) during hospitalization. Maintaining NG throughout the hospitalization contributed independently to survival (RR = 0.083 [95% CI 0.012-0.571], p = 0.011).

Conclusion

HG significantly impacts prognosis by increasing mortality more than 50% during hospitalization for COVID-19.

Accelerated Perioperative Rehabilitation for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Mastectomy: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To summarize and analyze available evidence on perioperative accelerated rehabilitation programs for patients diagnosed with breast cancer that have had a radical mastectomy.

DESIGN

This article is a systematic review of literature based on evidence-based methodology.

METHODS

The '6S' evidence resource pyramid model was used to systematically search a range of databases.

FINDINGS

A total of 19 articles were extracted from the literature and used in this study, including 9 clinical decisions, 4 systematic evaluations, 4 expert consensuses, and 2 guidelines. We summarized a total of 47 lines of evidence with regard to various aspects, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative nursing measures.

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review, an evidence-based methodology was used to summarize and analyze the best suggestions for perioperative accelerated rehabilitation nursing programs for breast cancer inpatients undergoing radical mastectomy. We aimed to provide a good reference value and evidence-based guidelines for the continuous improvement and development of nursing practice for the breast cancer patient population.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Reveals Perioperative Hypoglycemia in Most Patients With Diabetes Undergoing Major Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the frequency and duration of hypo- and hyperglycemia, assessed by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) during and after major surgery, in departments with implemented diabetes care protocols.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Inadequate glycemic control in the perioperative period is associated with serious adverse events, but monitoring currently relies on point blood glucose measurements, which may underreport glucose excursions.

METHODS

Adult patients without (A) or with diabetes [non-insulin-treated type 2 (B), insulin-treated type 2 (C) or type 1 (D)] undergoing major surgery were monitored using CGM (Dexcom G6), with an electrochemical sensor in the interstitial fluid, during surgery and for up to 10 days postoperatively. Patients and health care staff were blinded to CGM values, and glucose management adhered to the standard diabetes care protocol. Thirty-day postoperative serious adverse events were recorded. The primary outcome was duration of hypoglycemia (glucose <70 mg/dL). Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04473001.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were included, with a median observation time of 4.0 days. CGM was recorded in median 96% of the observation time. The median daily duration of hypoglycemia was 2.5 minutes without significant difference between the 4 groups (A-D). Hypoglycemic events lasting ≥15 minutes occurred in 43% of all patients and 70% of patients with type 1 diabetes. Patients with type 1 diabetes spent a median of 40% of the monitoring time in the normoglycemic range 70 to 180 mg/dL and 27% in the hyperglycemic range >250 mg/dL. Duration of preceding hypo- and hyperglycemia tended to be longer in patients with serious adverse events, compared with patients without events, but these were exploratory analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant duration of both hypo- and hyperglycemia was detected in high proportions of patients, particularly in patients with diabetes, despite protocolized perioperative diabetes management.

Evaluation of Computer-Based Insulin Infusion Algorithm Compared With a Paper-Based Protocol in the Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Background: Development of computer-based software, termed electronic glucose management system (eGMS), offers an alternative strategy to manage diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) compared with institution-specific paper protocols by integrating glucose and insulin titration into the electronic medical record. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of eGMS versus a paper-based DKA protocol in an urban academic medical center. Methods: Single-center, retrospective analysis of patients admitted for DKA. The primary objective of this study was the time to transition from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin after resolution of DKA pre- and post-eGMS implementation. Secondary outcomes included incidence of hypoglycemia while on an insulin infusion, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and total hospital length of stay. Results: Time to DKA resolution was similar in both groups with a median time of 8.6 versus 8.8 hours in the paper-based (n = 133) and eGMS groups (n = 84), respectively ( P = 0.43). Hypoglycemia occurred more frequently in the paper-based group compared with eGMS during insulin infusion (14 vs 3 patients, P = 0.06). The median ICU (36.5 vs 41.4 hours; P = 0.05) and hospital length of stay (67.9 vs 77.8 hours; P = 0.05) were shorter in the paper-based group compared with the eGMS group. Conclusion and Relevance: Similar rates of DKA resolution were seen for patients managed with a paper-based protocol compared with eGMS. Patients in the paper-based protocol had a shorter ICU and hospital length of stay; however, eGMS had improved clinically relevant safety outcomes.

Management of older hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes using linagliptin: Lina-Older study

BACKGROUND

Older patients managed with intensive antidiabetic therapy are more likely to be harmed. Our study's primary endpoint was to analyze the safety and efficacy of linagliptin in combination with basal insulin versus basal-bolus insulin in patients with 75 years of age or older hospitalized in medicine and surgery departments in real-world clinical practice.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled non-critically patients ≥75 years with type 2 diabetes admitted to medicine and non-cardiac surgery departments with admission glycated hemoglobin <8%, admission blood glucose <240 mg/dL, and without at-home injectable therapies managed with our hospital's antihyperglycemic protocol (basal-bolus or linagliptin-basal regimens) between January 2016 and December 2018. To match each patient who started on the basal-bolus regimen with a patient who started on the linagliptin-basal regimen, a propensity matching analysis was used.

RESULTS

Postmatching, 198 patients were included in each group. There were no significant differences in mean daily blood glucose levels after admission (P=0.203); patients with mean blood glucose 100-140mg/dL (P=0.134), 140-180mg/dL (P=0.109), or >200mg/dL (P=0.299); and number and day of treatment failure (P=0.159 and P=0.175, respectively). The total insulin dose and the number of daily injections were significantly lower in the linagliptin-basal group (both, P<0.001). Patients on the basal-bolus insulin regimen had more total hypoglycemic events than patients on the linagliptin-basal insulin regimen (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The linagliptin-basal insulin regimen was an effective alternative with fewer hypoglycemic events and daily insulin injections than intensive basal-bolus insulin in very old patients with type 2 diabetes with mild-to-moderate hyperglycemia treated at home without injectable therapies.

Metformin, Empagliflozin, and Their Combination Modulate Ex-Vivo Macrophage Inflammatory Gene Expression

Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus is a complex, chronic illness characterized by persistent high blood glucose levels. Patients can be prescribed anti-diabetes drugs as single agents or in combination depending on the severity of their condition. Metformin and empagliflozin are two commonly prescribed anti-diabetes drugs which reduce hyperglycemia, however their direct effects on macrophage inflammatory responses alone or in combination are unreported. Here, we show that metformin and empagliflozin elicit proinflammatory responses on mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages with single agent challenge, which are modulated when added in combination. In silico docking experiments suggested that empagliflozin can interact with both TLR2 and DECTIN1 receptors, and we observed that both empagliflozin and metformin increase expression of Tlr2 and Clec7a. Thus, findings from this study suggest that metformin and empagliflozin as single agents or in combination can directly modulate inflammatory gene expression in macrophages and upregulate the expression of their receptors.

Absolute Hyperglycemia versus Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio for the Prognosis of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in the First Months of the Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

Diabetes is a risk factor for greater severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is an independent predictor of critical illness, and it is reported to have a stronger association than absolute hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of absolute hyperglycemia and SHR with the severity of COVID-19, since there are no studies investigating SHR in patients with COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective observational study on hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the first months of the pandemic, regarding absolute hyperglycemia, SHR, and severity outcomes. Of the 374 patients, 28.1% had a previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Absolute hyperglycemia (64.8% versus 22.7%; p < 0.01) and SHR [1.1 (IQR 0.9-1.3) versus 1.0 (IQR 0.9-1.2); p < 0.001] showed a statistically significant association with previous diabetes. Absolute hyperglycemia showed a significant association with clinical severity of COVID-19 (79.0% versus 62.7%; p < 0.001), need for oxygen therapy (74.8% versus 54.4%; p < 0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation (28.6% versus 11.6%; p < 0.001), and intensive care unit (30.3% versus 14.9%; p = 0.002), but not with mortality; by contrast, there was no statistically significant association between SHR and all these parameters. Our results are in agreement with the literature regarding the impact of absolute hyperglycemia on COVID-19 severity outcomes, while SHR was not a significant marker. We therefore suggest that SHR should not be evaluated in all patients admitted in the hospital for COVID-19, and we encourage the standard measures at admission of blood glucose and HbA1c levels.

Type 1 and other types of diabetes mellitus in the perioperative period. What the anaesthetist should know

Diabetes mellitus is often treated as a uniform disease in the perioperative period. Type 2 diabetes is most commonly encountered, and only a minority of surgical patients have been diagnosed with another type of diabetes. Patients with a specific type of diabetes can be particularly prone to perioperative glycaemic dysregulation. In addition, certain type-related features and pitfalls should be taken into account in the operating theatre. In this narrative review, we discuss characteristics of types of diabetes other than type 2 diabetes relevant to the anaesthetist, based on available literature and data from our clinic.

Attitudes and Behaviors with Diabetes Technology Use in the Hospital: Multicenter Survey Study in the United States

Objective: To assess the attitudes, behaviors, and barriers with diabetes technology use in the general medicine hospital wards. Research Design and Methods: The authors developed a nonincentivized web-based anonymous survey that captured demographic and practice data regarding continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use in the hospital. Setting: Four large hospital systems in the United States. Results: Among 128 survey respondents, 76%, 10%, and 6% were hospitalists, advanced practice providers, and primary care physicians, respectively. The majority of respondents rated the treatment of inpatient hyperglycemia (96%) and the continuation of CSII during the hospital stay (93%) "important." While most respondents (64%) acknowledged knowing the existence of their institution's policies for CSII use, only 84% of those respondents felt somewhat to very familiar with the policy. The most common barrier to CSII use in the inpatient setting was lack of practitioner (70%) and nursing (67%) knowledge of using the device. With regard to CGM use in the hospital, a minority (28%) of respondents were aware of their institution's CGM policies. Less than half of the providers, 43.8%, stated that, when admitting a patient, they reviewed CGM data to guide insulin dosing. Conclusions: In this US multicenter survey, we found that most inpatient practitioners valued glycemic control, but many were not familiar with institutional policies, had lack of knowledge with CSII, and were not reviewing CGM data.

Prevalence of diabetes in the USA from the perspective of demographic characteristics, physical indicators and living habits based on NHANES 2009-2018

OBJECTIVE

To determine differences in DM in the U.S. population according to demographic characteristics, physical indicators and living habits.

METHODS

23 546 participants in the 2009 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who were 20 year of age or older and not pregnant. All analyses used weighted samples and considered the stratification and clustering of the design. Specific indicators include length of leg (cm), BMI (kg/cm²), TCHOL (mg/dL), fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) and comparison of means and the proportion of participants with DM.

RESULTS

The prevalence of DM in the USA has been rising modestly in the past decade, and were consistent and robust for the observed differences in age, sex, and ethnicity. Compared with white participants, black participants and Mexican-American were both more likely (P<0.001) to have diabetes: 14.6% (CI, 13.6% to 15.6%) among black participants, 10.6% (CI, 9.9% to 11.3%) among white participants, and 13.5% (CI, 11.9% to 15.2%) among Mexican-American participants. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing with age, males peaked around the 60s, and women around the 70s. The overall mean leg length and TCHOL was lower in diabetics than in non-diabetics (1.07 cm, 18.67 mg/dL, respectively), while mean BMI were higher in diabetics than in non-diabetics (4.27 kg/cm2). DM had the greatest effect on decline of TCHOL in white participants (23.6 mg/dL), less of an effect in black participants (9.67 mg/dL), and the least effect in Mexican-American participants (8.25 mg/dL). Notably, smoking had great effect on percent increment of DM in whites (0.2%), and have little effect on black and Mexican-Americans.

CONCLUSIONS

DM is more common in the general population than might be clinically recognized, and the prevalence of DM was associated to varying degrees with many indicators of demographic characteristics, physical indicators, and living habits. These indicators should be linked with medical resource allocation and scientific treatment methods to comprehensively implement the treatment of DM.

Reducing potential errors associated with insulin administration: An integrative review

RATIONALE, AIMS, OBJECTIVES

Around one-third of medication errors resulting in death within 48 h involve insulin therapy. Despite a growing number of interventional strategies that have been published over the past decade, it remains unclear which of these interventions is effective in reducing insulin errors. Therefore, the study aimed to synthesize interventions to reduce the frequency of insulin errors in either home or health care settings.

METHODS

This integrative review was conducted based on Whittemore and Knafl's four steps, which includes problem identification, literature search, data analysis and presentation. Six databases including Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, PubMed, Scopus, PsychInfo and Cochrane were searched from January 2010 through July 2021. The level of evidence quality was assessed according to the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice grading scale.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed. The results provide strong support for teaching patients how to use automated bolus calculators and educating patients to self-administer insulin to prevent insulin errors in the home setting. Computerized protocols, education and double-checking procedures were also found to be effective strategies for minimizing insulin errors in healthcare settings.

CONCLUSION

While the strategies might be effective in reducing insulin administration errors in the home settings, computerized protocols, continuing education and the manual validation of insulin products appear to be the most effective strategies for reducing such insulin errors in healthcare settings. Understanding these findings may help clinicians and patients to decrease the number of insulin errors administration.

Glycated hemoglobin level dynamics in COVID-19 survivors: 12 months follow-up study after discharge from hospital

INTRODUCTION

One of the stages of reproduction of SARS-CoV-2 is the S-protein glycosylation to facilitate penetration into target cells. It has been suggested that SARS-CoV-2 is able to enter erythrocytes, interact with heme and porphyrin, which could influence HbA1c levels. Assessment of HbA1c levels in individuals with acute COVID-19 and after recovery may show clinical relevance of this hypothesis.

AIM

To assess HbA1c levels in patients with COVID-19 in the acute phase and in early (6-8 weeks) and late (52±2 weeks) periods after recovery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a multicenter prospective study, which included patients hospitalized in Endocrinology Research Centre and the City Clinical Hospital № 52" diagnosed with COVID-19, virus identified/ not identified. Patients were divided into three groups according to baseline HbA1c level and the presence or absence of previous history of diabetes previous history of diabetes mellitus (DM): HbA1c ≤ 6.0%, HbA1c > 6.0% and patients with DM. Patients were examined during the acute COVID-19 phase and in early (6-8 weeks) and late (52±2 weeks) periods after recovery. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in the group with initial HbA1c > 6.0% to clarify the diagnosis.

RESULTS

We included 194 patients in the study. During the follow-up, 52 patients were examined in 6-8 week period: 7 with HbA1c ≤ 6.0%, 34 with HbA1c > 6.0%, 11-with previously diagnosed DM. Carbohydrate metabolism assessment in the later stages (52±2 weeks) after recovery was performed in 78 patients: 33 patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.0%, 36 patients with HbA1c > 6.0% and 9 patients with previously established diabetes. HbA1c median in patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.0% was 5.7% [5.3;5.8], with HbA1c>6.0% -6.4% [6.2; 6.6], with previously diagnosed DM-7.7% [7.2; 8.9]. Statistically significant decrease in HbA1c over time 6-8 weeks after extracts were obtained in both groups of individuals without a history of DM (Wilcoxon test, p<0.05). After 52±2 weeks we observed HbA1c decrease in all three groups (Fridman test, p<0.05): in patients with HbA1c ≤ 6.0% median HbA1c was 5.5[5.3;5.7], with HbA1c>6.0% - 6.1[6.15;6.54], with previously diagnosed DM-7.8 [5.83; 8.08]. Development of DM after 52±2 weeks was recorded in 7.24% of all examined patients without a history of DM, which is 16.6% of the total number of patients examined in dynamics with HbA1c > 6.0%.

CONCLUSION

HbA1c elevation during the acute phase of COVID-19 may be false due to the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on hemoglobin kinetics and/or detection on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virion highly glycosylated S-proteins by high performance liquid chromatography determinations. Upon detection HbA1c > 6.0% in patients with COVID-19 in the active phase of the disease without concomitant hyperglycemia re-determine the level of HbA1c after recovery is recommended.

Clinical Decision Support for Glycemic Management Reduces Hospital Length of Stay

OBJECTIVE

Dysglycemia influences hospital outcomes and resource utilization. Clinical decision support (CDS) holds promise for optimizing care by overcoming management barriers. This study assessed the impact on hospital length of stay (LOS) of an alert-based CDS tool in the electronic medical record that detected dysglycemia or inappropriate insulin use, coined as gaps in care (GIC).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Using a 12-month interrupted time series among hospitalized persons aged ≥18 years, our CDS tool identified GIC and, when active, provided recommendations. We compared LOS during 6-month-long active and inactive periods using linear models for repeated measures, multiple comparison adjustment, and mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Among 4,788 admissions with GIC, average LOS was shorter during the tool's active periods. LOS reductions occurred for all admissions with GIC (-5.7 h, P = 0.057), diabetes and hyperglycemia (-6.4 h, P = 0.054), stress hyperglycemia (-31.0 h, P = 0.054), patients admitted to medical services (-8.4 h, P = 0.039), and recurrent hypoglycemia (-29.1 h, P = 0.074). Subgroup analysis showed significantly shorter LOS in recurrent hypoglycemia with three events (-82.3 h, P = 0.006) and nonsignificant in two (-5.2 h, P = 0.655) and four or more (-14.8 h, P = 0.746). Among 22,395 admissions with GIC (4,788, 21%) and without GIC (17,607, 79%), LOS reduction during the active period was 1.8 h (P = 0.053). When recommendations were provided, the active tool indirectly and significantly contributed to shortening LOS through its influence on GIC events during admissions with at least one GIC (P = 0.027), diabetes and hyperglycemia (P = 0.028), and medical services (P = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the alert-based CDS tool to address inpatient management of dysglycemia contributed to reducing LOS, which may reduce costs and improve patient well-being.

Acute and Chronic Glucose Control in Critically Ill Patients With Diabetes: The Impact of Prior Insulin Treatment

BACKGROUND

Emerging data highlight the interactions of preadmission glycemia, reflected by admission HbA1c levels, glycemic control during critical illness, and mortality. The association of preadmission insulin treatment with outcomes is unknown.

METHODS

This observational cohort study includes 5245 patients admitted to the medical-surgical intensive care unit of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. Three groups were analyzed: patients with diabetes with prior insulin treatment (DM-INS, n = 538); patients with diabetes with no prior insulin treatment (DM-No-INS, n = 986); no history of diabetes (NO-DM, n = 3721). Groups were stratified by HbA1c level: <6.5%; 6.5%-7.9% and >8.0%.

RESULTS

Among the three strata of HbA1c, mean blood glucose (BG), coefficient of variation (CV), and hypoglycemia increased with increasing HbA1c, and were higher for DM-INS than for DM-No-INS. Among patients with HbA1c < 6.5%, mean BG ≥ 180 mg/dL and CV > 30% were associated with lower severity-adjusted mortality in DM-INS compared to patients with mean BG 80-140 mg/dL and CV < 15%, (P = .0058 and < .0001, respectively), but higher severity-adjusted mortality among DM-No-INS (P = .0001 and < .0001, respectively) and NON-DM (P < .0001 and < .0001, respectively). Among patients with HbA1c ≥ 8.0%, mean BG ≥ 180 mg/dL was associated with lower severity-adjusted mortality for both DM-INS and DM-No-INS than was mean BG 80-140 mg/dL (p < 0.0001 for both comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences in mortality were found among patients with diabetes based on insulin treatment and HbA1c at home and post-admission glycemic control. Prospective studies need to confirm an individualized approach to glycemic control in the critically ill.

Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, and Metabolic Syndrome: Review in the Era of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now at pandemic levels leading to considerable morbidity and mortality throughout the globe. Patients with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are mainly susceptible and more probably to get severe side effects when affected by this virus. The pathophysiologic mechanisms for these notions have not been completely known. The pro-inflammatory milieu observed in patients with metabolic disruption could lead to COVID-19-mediated host immune dysregulation, such as immune dysfunction, severe inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, and thrombosis. The present review expresses the current knowledge regarding the influence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and MetS on COVID-19 infection and severity, and their pathophysiological mechanisms.

Association between hyperglycemia on admission and preoperative deep venous thrombosis in patients with femoral neck fractures

Background

Elevated blood glucose is the most frequent electrolyte disturbance in acutely ill patients. This study aimed to determine whether admission hyperglycemia is associated with the incidence of preoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with femoral neck fractures.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted on consecutive patients with femoral neck fractures admitted to our institution from March 2018 to March 2022. Blood glucose levels were measured within 24 h of admission and categorized into quartiles (Q1 = 5.30; Q2 = 5.70; Q3 = 6.60). Patients were divided into four groups (Group1-4) based on the quartiles. Preoperative DVT was diagnosed using venous compression ultrasonography. Multivariable logistic regression models and propensity score matching analysis evaluated the association between blood glucose and preoperative DVT in patients.

Results

Of 217 patients included in this study, 21(9.7%) had preoperative DVT in hospital, and admission hyperglycemia was observed in 83 (38.2%). Preoperative DVT was higher in patients with hyperglycemia (n = 15) than patients without hyperglycemia (n = 6) in the multivariable logistic regression models (OR 3.03, 95% CI 0.77–11.87). Propensity scores matching analyses manifested that compared with patients with group 2 (5.30 – 5.70 mmol/L) of glucose levels, the odds of preoperative DVT were slightly higher (OR 1.94, 95% CI 0.31–12.12) in patients with group 3 (5.70 – 6.60 mmol/L), substantially higher (OR 6.89, 95% CI 1.42–33.44, P trend < 0.01) in patients with the group 4 (> 6.60 mmol/L) of glucose levels.

Conclusions

In patients hospitalized for femoral neck fracture, markedly elevated blood glucose is associated with increased preoperative DVT in patients. The development of this biomarker could help in guiding patient counseling, risk assessment, and future management decisions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-022-05862-0.

Dose-response association between dietary patterns and gestational diabetes mellitus risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Although dietary factors are relevant modifiable risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the exact association between dietary patterns and GDM remains controversial. Therefore, a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies were conducted to summarize the association between dietary patterns and risk of GDM. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMbase databases were systematically searched for publications up to March 10, 2020. All observational studies which assessed the risk of GDM according to the categories of healthy or unhealthy dietary patterns derived by either a priori or a posteriori methods were eligible to be included. Pooled effect sizes for the highest vs. lowest categories of healthy/unhealthy dietary patterns were calculated using the random-effects model. Linear and nonlinear dose-response analyses were performed to determine dose-response associations. Thirty-one studies were included, of which 26 studies (80,849 participants) assessed healthy dietary pattern and 15 studies (32,965 participants) assessed the unhealthy dietary pattern. Individuals with a higher adherence to the healthy dietary pattern were less likely to be affected by GDM (RR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.76-0.96; I ² = 56.2%). There was a marginally significant association between unhealthy dietary patterns and GDM risk (RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.99-1.67; I ² = 74.7). Significant linear associations were observed between healthy (p = .011) and unhealthy (p = .009) dietary patterns and GDM risk. Pregnant women with a healthier dietary pattern (a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) had lower risk for GDM. In contrast, higher adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with increased risk of GDM. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the results.

The Role of Nondiabetic Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

In this study, we aim to elucidate the association between nondiabetic hyperglycemia and the short-term prognosis of critically ill patients with acute ischemic stroke. We extracted data using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV from 2008 to 2019. The primary outcomes were set as intensive care units (ICU) and in-hospital mortality. We developed a Cox proportional hazards model to determine the nonlinear association between serum glucose levels and primary outcomes. Of the 1086 patients included, 236 patients had hyperglycemia. Patients with hyperglycemia were associated with higher ages, female gender, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, and higher Acute Physiology Score III scores. After propensity score matching, 222 pairs remained. The hyperglycemia group had a significantly higher ICU mortality (17.6% vs. 10.8%; p = 0.041). Meanwhile, no significant differences in ICU length of stay (5.2 vs. 5.2; p = 0.910), in-hospital mortality (26.6% vs. 18.9%, p = 0.054), and hospital length of stay (10.0 vs. 9.1; p = 0.404) were observed between the two groups. The Kaplan–Meier curves for ICU and in-hospital survival before matching suggested significant differences; however, after matching, they failed to prove any disparity. Non-diabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke have poor clinical characteristic while encountering hyperglycemic events; therefore, careful monitoring in the acute phase is still required.

Impact of the time-weighted average glucose concentration and diabetes on in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients older than 75 years : a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of diabetes and hyperglycemia on in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients older than 75 years.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients older than 75 years in the first intensive care unit stay. The patients were divided into four groups: time-weighted average glucose (TWAG) < 140 mg/dL without diabetes (group 1); TWAG ≥ 140 mg/dL without diabetes (group 2); TWAG < 180 mg/dL with diabetes (group 3); TWAG ≥ 180 mg/dL with diabetes (group 4). Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 6760 patients over 75 years of age were included, including 2089 patients previously diagnosed with diabetes. The patients in group 2 had the highest in-hospital mortality (27.4%). In the fully adjusted regression model, the risk of in-hospital mortality increased by 76% (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.49-2.08) in group 2 as compared with group 1. Those from groups 3 and 4 exhibited risks equivalent to the risks of those in group 1; similar results were observed in the subgroup analysis. A J-shaped curve relationship and threshold effect were observed in patients without diabetes. For those with diabetes, a flatter curve pattern with a small slope was observed.

CONCLUSION

Stress hyperglycemia was more detrimental to short-term prognosis than diabetes status in these patients. Looser glucose control may be suitable for patients older than 75 years with diabetes but unnecessary for those without diabetes. Patients with diabetes may be more resistant to the detrimental effects of glucose variations.

Blood glucose monitoring during hospitalisation: Advanced practice nurse and semi-automated insulin prescription tools

INTRODUCTION

Hyperglycemia is very common in hospitalized patients and is associated with worse clinical outcomes.

AIMS

We implemented a clinical and educational program to improve the overall glycemic control during hospital admission, and, in patients with HbA_1c > 8%, to improve their metabolic control after hospital admission.

METHODS

Non-critical patients admitted to cardiovascular areas between October-2017 and February-2019. The program was led by an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) and included a semiautomated insulin prescription tool. Program in 3 phases: 1) observation of routine practice, 2) implementation, and 3) follow-up after discharge.

RESULTS

During the implementation phase the availability of HbA1c increased from 42 to 81%, and the ANP directly intervened in 73/685 patients (11%), facilitating treatment progression at discharge in 48% (de novo insulin in 36%). One-year after discharge, HbA1c in patients who were admitted during the observation phase with HbA1c > 8% (n = 101) was higher than similar patients admitted during implementation phase (8,6 ± 1,5 vs. 7,3 ± 1,2%, respectively, p < 0,001). We evaluated 47710 point of care capillary blood glucose (POC-glucose) in two 9 months periods (one before, one during the program) in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery wards. POC-glucose ≥250 mg/dl (pre vs. during: cardiology 10,7 vs. 8,4%, and surgery 7,4 vs. 4,5%, both p < 0,05) and <70 mg/dl (2,3 vs. 0,8% y 1,5 vs 1%, p < 0,05), respectively, improved during the program.

CONCLUSIONS

The program allowed improving inpatient glycemic control, detect patients with poor glycemic control, and optimize metabolic control 1-year after discharge.

Sugar is not always sweet: exploring the relationship between hyperglycemia and COVID-19 in a predominantly African American population

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of admission glucose in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with and without diabetes mellitus in a largely African American cohort.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study included 708 adults (89% non-Hispanic Black) admitted with COVID-19 to an urban hospital between 1 March and 15 May 2020. Patients with diabetes were compared with those without and were stratified based on admission glucose of 140 and 180 mg/dL. Adjusted ORs were calculated for outcomes of mortality, intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, acute kidney injury (AKI), and length of stay based on admission glucose levels.

RESULTS

Patients with diabetes with admission glucose >140 mg/dL (vs <140 g/dL) had 2.4-fold increased odds of intubation (95% CI 1.2 to 4.6) and 2.1-fold increased odds of ICU admission (95% CI 1.0 to 4.3). Patients with diabetes with admission glucose >180 mg/dL (vs <180 g/dL) had a 1.9-fold increased mortality (95% CI 1.2 to 3.1). Patients without diabetes with admission glucose >140 mg/dL had a 2.3-fold increased mortality (95% CI 1.3 to 4.3), 2.7-fold increased odds of ICU admission (95% CI 1.3 to 5.4), 1.9-fold increased odds of intubation (95% CI 1.0 to 3.7) and 2.2-fold odds of AKI (95% CI 1.1 to 3.8). Patients without diabetes with glucose >180 mg/dL had 4.4-fold increased odds of mortality (95% CI 1.9 to 10.4), 2.7-fold increased odds of intubation (95% CI 1.2 to 5.8) and 3-fold increased odds of ICU admission (95% CI 1.3 to 6.6).

CONCLUSION

Our results show hyperglycemia portends worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19 with and without diabetes. While our study was limited by its retrospective design, our findings suggest that patients presenting with hyperglycemia require closer observation and more aggressive therapies.

Drug Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Approach to Diagnosis and Management

Corticosteroids and l -asparaginase used in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can cause drug-induced diabetes mellitus (DIDM). DIDM can lead to dyselectrolytemia, a higher risk of infections including cellulitis, bacteremia, fungemia, and a higher incidence of febrile neutropenia and may have an impact on the outcome of ALL. Literature on the management of DIDM among children with ALL is sparse and the diagnostic criteria for pediatric diabetes should be carefully applied considering the acute and transient nature of DIDM during ALL therapy. Insulin remains the standard of care for DIDM management and the choice of Insulin regimen (stand-alone Neutral Protamine Hagedorn or basal bolus) should be based on the type and dose of steroids used for ALL and the pattern of hyperglycemia. A modest glycemic control (postmeal 140 to 180 mg/dL, premeal <140 mg/dL) to prevent complications of hyperglycemia, as well as hypoglycemia, would be the general approach. This review is intended to suggest evidence-based practical guidance in the diagnosis and management of DIDM during pediatric ALL therapy.

Black New Yorkers with Type 2 Diabetes: Afro-Caribbean Immigrants Have Lower BMI and Lower Waist Circumference than African Americans

OBJECTIVE

Using the 2013/2014 New York City (NYC) Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYCHANES) data, this exploratory study examined whether (a) type 2 diabetes (diabetes) prevalence differed between NYC Afro-Caribbeans and African Americans; (b) anthropometric, biochemical, and sociodemographic diabetes profiles differed between and within groups; and (c) diabetes odds differed between and within groups.

METHODS

Diabetes was defined as prior diagnosis, HbA1c ≥ 6.5% (7.8 mmol/L), or fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL. Weighted logistic regression estimated diabetes odds by nativity and either waist circumference (WC) (cm) or BMI (kg/m²). All regression models controlled for age, hypertension, gender, education, income, marital status, physical activity, and smoking.

RESULTS

Among Afro-Caribbeans (n = 81, 65% female, age (mean ± SE) 49 ± 2 years, BMI 29.2 ± 0.7 kg/m²) and African Americans (n = 118, 50% female, age 47 ± 2 years, BMI 30.3 ± 0.9 kg/m²), Afro-Caribbeans with diabetes had lower BMI (29.9 ± 0.8 kg/m² vs. 34.6 ± 1.7 kg/m², P = 0.01) and lower WC (102 ± 2 cm vs. 114 ± 3 cm, P = 0.002) than African Americans with diabetes. Afro-Caribbeans with diabetes had lower prevalence of obesity (33.2% vs. 74.7%) and higher prevalence of overweight (57.2% vs. 13.5%) (P = 0.02) than African Americans with diabetes. Odds of diabetes did not differ between Afro-Caribbeans and African Americans. In models predicting the effect of WC, diabetes odds increased with WC (OR = 1.07 (95% CI 1.02, 1.11), P = 0.003) and age (OR = 1.09 (95% CI 1.03-1.15), P = 0.003) for African Americans only. In models predicting the effect of BMI, diabetes odds increased for Afro-Caribbeans with age (OR = 1.06 (1.01, 1.11)*, P = 0.04) and hypertension (OR = 5.62 (95% CI 1.04, 30.42), P = 0.045), whereas for African Americans, only age predicted higher diabetes odds (OR = 1.08 (95% CI 1.03, 1.14), P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

In NYC, Afro-Caribbeans with diabetes have lower BMI and lower WC than African Americans with diabetes, but odds of diabetes do not differ. Combining African-descent populations into one group obscures clinical differences and generalizes diabetes risk.

Association between hyperglycemia at admission and mortality in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Elevated blood glucose is frequently detected early after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We aimed to investigate whether hyperglycemia at admission is associated with mortality in patients with aSAH.

METHODS

In a multicenter observational study of patients with aSAH, we defined normal glycemia, mild hyperglycemia, moderate hyperglycemia, and severe hyperglycemia as blood glucose of 4.00-6.09 mmol/L, 6.10-7.80 mmol/L, 7.81-10.00 mmol/L, and > 10.00 mmol/L, respectively. We performed propensity score matching to obtain the adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Of 6771 patients with aSAH, 511(7.5 %) had died in hospital, and hyperglycemia at admission was observed in 4804 (70.9 %). Propensity scores matching analyses indicated that compared with normal glycemia, the odds of in-hospital mortality were slightly lower in patients with mild hyperglycemia (OR 0.89, 95 % CI 0.56-1.40), significantly higher in patients with moderate hyperglycemia (OR 1.90, 95 % CI 1.20-3.01), and in patients with severe hyperglycemia (OR 3.45, 95 % CI 2.15-5.53; P trend < 0.001). Long-term survival was worse among patients with hyperglycemia and was proportional to its severity. Similar dose-response associations were evident for poor functional outcomes and major disability. Hyperglycemia was associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired infections (OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.29-1.66) and rebleeding (OR 1.58, 95 % CI 1.06-2.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Among aSAH patients, hyperglycemia at admission was independently associated with increased mortality. Both moderate hyperglycemia and severe hyperglycemia were associated with an increased risk of mortality, but these associations were not seen in mild hyperglycemia (blood glucose 6.10-7.80 mmol/L).

Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia: Consequences and Management

Hyperglycemia during stress is a common occurrence seen in patients admitted to the hospital. It is defined as a blood glucose level above 180mg/dl in patients without pre-existing diabetes. Stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) occurs due to an illness that leads to insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion. Such a mechanism causes elevated blood glucose and produces a complex state to manage with external insulin. This article compiles various studies to explain the development and consequences of SIH in the critically ill that ultimately lead to an increase in mortality while also discussing the dire impact of SIH on certain acute illnesses like myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. It also evaluates multiple studies to understand the management of SIH with insulin and proper nutritional therapy in the hospitalized patients admitted to the Intensive care unit (ICU) alongside the non-critical care unit. While emphasizing the diverse effects of improper control of SIH in the hospital, this article elucidates and discusses the importance of formulating a discharge plan due to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the recovered. 

In-hospital hyperglycemia but not diabetes mellitus alone is associated with increased in-hospital mortality in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies prior to COVID-19

The objective of this review was to quantify the association between diabetes, hyperglycemia, and outcomes in patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Two investigators independently screened records identified in the PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. Cohort and case-control studies quantitatively evaluating associations between diabetes and in-hospital hyperglycemia with outcomes in adults admitted to hospital with CAP were included. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, effect size using random-effects models, and heterogeneity using I² statistics. Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Hyperglycemia was associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.50) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (crude OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.84). There was no association between diabetes status and in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.51), 30-day mortality (adjusted OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.67), or ICU admission (crude OR 1.91, 95% CI 0.74 to 4.95). Diabetes was associated with increased mortality in all studies reporting >90-day postdischarge mortality and with longer length of stay only for studies reporting crude (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.01) results. In adults hospitalized with CAP, in-hospital hyperglycemia but not diabetes alone is associated with increased in-hospital mortality and ICU admission. Diabetes status is associated with increased >90-day postdischarge mortality. Implications for management are that in-hospital hyperglycemia carries a greater risk for in-hospital morbidity and mortality than diabetes alone in patients admitted with non-COVID-19 CAP. Evaluation of strategies enabling timely and effective management of in-hospital hyperglycemia in CAP is warranted.

Prognostic value of glycemic gap in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Glycemic gap (GG), as a novel biomarker showing the acute glycemic change after the onset of acute illness, has been found to be associated with adverse outcomes in many diseases. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of GG on long-term outcomes of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH).

METHODS

The current study included 528 patients from a multi-center, prospective, consecutive, observational cohort study. Poor clinical outcome was defined as the modified Rankin Scale ≥ 3. GG was calculated using admission blood glucose minus hemoglobin A1c-derived average blood glucose. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between GG and poor clinical outcomes at 30-day, 90-day and 1-year.

RESULTS

GG was significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes at 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year (P < 0.05 for all models), where patients with higher GG were more likely to have poor clinical outcome. Restricted cubic splines revealed a positive association between GG and poor clinical outcome. In addition, patients with higher GG were more likely to have a higher 1-year mortality rate. The addition of GG to the intracerebral hemorrhage score improved the discrimination and calibration properties for the prediction of poor clinical outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

GG was independently associated with poor outcomes and may be a valuable prognostic factor in patients with sICH.

Incidence and risk factors for hypoglycemia during maintenance chemotherapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND

Fasting hypoglycemia is a recognized occurrence among pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during maintenance therapy. Existing publications describing this finding are limited to small studies and case reports. Our objective was to determine the incidence of hypoglycemia during maintenance chemotherapy and to investigate the association of age, as well as other potential risk factors, with this outcome in pediatric patients with ALL.

PROCEDURE

This retrospective cohort study included individuals 1 to 21 years of age with ALL treated with antimetabolite-containing maintenance chemotherapy at a large children's hospital between January 2011 and December 2014. The primary endpoint was time to first documented episode of hypoglycemia during maintenance therapy, defined as single measurement of plasma glucose <60 mg/dL. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association with age and identify other potential risk factors.

RESULTS

We identified 126 eligible patients, of whom 63% were documented as White, non-Hispanic, 28% as non-White, non-Hispanic, and 9% as Hispanic. Twenty-eight children (22%) had documented hypoglycemia during maintenance therapy. Younger age at the start of maintenance and hepatotoxicity documented during chemotherapy prior to maintenance initiation were associated with hypoglycemia (adjusted HR age = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99; adjusted HR prior hepatotoxicity = 3.50; 95% CI, 1.47-8.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one quarter of children in our cohort had hypoglycemia documented during maintenance chemotherapy. Younger age at maintenance initiation and hepatotoxicity during chemotherapy prior to maintenance initiation emerged as risk factors. These findings highlight the importance of counseling about the risk of, and monitoring for, hypoglycemia, particularly in young children.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated cognitive dysfunction: Advances in potential mechanisms and therapies

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its target organ injuries cause distressing impacts on personal health and put an enormous burden on the healthcare system, and increasing attention has been paid to T2D-associated cognitive dysfunction (TDACD). TDACD is characterized by cognitive dysfunction, delayed executive ability, and impeded information-processing speed. Brain imaging data suggest that extensive brain regions are affected in patients with T2D. Based on current findings, a wide spectrum of non-specific neurodegenerative mechanisms that partially overlap with the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases is hypothesized to be associated with TDACD. However, it remains unclear whether TDACD is a consequence of T2D or a complication that co-occurs with T2D. Theoretically, anti-diabetes methods are promising neuromodulatory approaches to reduce brain injury in patients with T2D. In this review, we summarize potential mechanisms underlying TDACD and promising neurotropic effects of anti-diabetes methods and some neuroprotective natural compounds. Constructing screening or diagnostic tools and developing targeted treatment and preventive strategies would be expected to reduce the burden of TDACD.

Assessment of insulin adherence in diabetic outpatients: an observational study

OBJECTIVES

In the management of diabetic patients on insulin therapy, adherence to medication is a key element for avoiding chronic complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate diabetic patients' ability to translate glycemic results into an appropriate insulin dose and thus, adherence to insulins.

METHODS

This was an observational, retrospective, monocentric pilot study. Diabetic patients on insulin therapy being followed at the metabolic and endocrine diseases department were divided into two groups depending on their mode of glycemic control at home: capillary glycemia (Notebook group) or interstitial glycemia using the FreeStyle Libre® flash system (FSL group). Adherence was assessed based on the rate of compliance in adapting insulin doses to the prescribed protocols (depending on type of insulin, glycemic targets, and patients' characteristics) by a pharmacy resident and a senior diabetologist. Good adherence was defined as a minimum rate of 80% of conforming insulin injections for each patient.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients were included, 35 in the Notebook group and 15 in the FSL group. Two-thirds of patients were non-adherent to insulin. Dose adjustment errors mainly concerned rapid-acting insulin with 51.1% of non- conformities, 10.0% of which were due to underdosing in the Notebook group and 21.7% to overdosing in the FSL group. Hyperglycemia was predominant in both populations with a median time in range of 19.0% in the FSL group and well below recommendations (>70%).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the use of increasingly efficient, easy-to-use devices in diabetes monitoring, insulin non-adherence and glycemic imbalance are unresolved major issues. Diabetic patients require reinforced medical follow-up for optimal insulin management.