Impact of overweight on chronic microvascular complications in type 1 diabetic patients

Metabolic health in people living with type 1 diabetes in Belgium: a repeated cross-sectional study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Metabolic abnormalities such as central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension, often referred to as 'the metabolic syndrome' (or 'combined metabolic abnormalities'), are increasingly being identified in people living with type 1 diabetes, accelerating the risk for CVD. As a result, in recent years, treatment in people living with type 1 diabetes has shifted to improving overall metabolic health rather than glucose control alone. In Belgium, diabetes care for people living with type 1 diabetes is centrally organised. The Initiative for Quality Improvement and Epidemiology in Diabetes, imposed by the Belgian health insurance system, has systematically collected data from patients on intensive insulin therapy treated in all 101 diabetes clinics in Belgium since 2001. The aim of this real-world study is to describe the evolution of treatment and metabolic health, including the prevalence of obesity and combined metabolic abnormalities, in people living with type 1 diabetes over the past 20 years, and to compare the treatment and prevalence of complications between those with and without combined metabolic abnormalities.

METHODS

We analysed data on adults (≥16 years old) living with type 1 diabetes, who were diagnosed at age ≤45 years and who had a diabetes duration ≥1 year, collected between 2001 and 2022. The evolution of HbA1c, BMI, LDL-cholesterol, systolic BP, lipid-lowering therapy and antihypertensive therapy over time was analysed. The prevalence of individual and multiple metabolic abnormalities according to various definitions of the metabolic syndrome/combined metabolic abnormalities was analysed, and the association between combined metabolic abnormalities and metabolic health indicators, complications and treatment was investigated in the 2022 data.

RESULTS

The final dataset consisted of 26,791 registrations of adults living with type 1 diabetes collected between 2001 and 2022. Although glycaemic and lipid control generally improved over time, the prevalence of obesity strongly increased (12.1% in 2001 vs 21.7% in 2022, p<0.0001), as did the presence of combined metabolic abnormalities (WHO criteria: 26.9% in 2001 vs 42.9% in 2022 in women, p<0.0001; 30.4% in 2001 vs 52.1% in 2022 in men, p<0.0001; WHO criteria without albuminuria: 22.3% in 2001 vs 40.6% in 2022 in women, p<0.0001; 25.1% in 2001 vs 49.2% in 2022 in men, p<0.0001; NCEP-ATPIII criteria: 39.9% in 2005 vs 57.2% in 2022 in women, p<0.0001; 40.8% in 2005 vs 60.9% in 2022 in men, p<0.0001; IDF criteria: 43.9% in 2005 vs 59.3% in 2022 in women, p<0.001; 33.7% in 2005 vs 50.0% in 2022 in men, p<0.0001). People with combined metabolic abnormalities had higher glucose levels compared to those without combined metabolic abnormalities (HbA1c >58 mmol in men: 48.9% vs 36.9%; HbA1c >58 mmol in women: 53.3% vs 41.1%, p<0.0001). People with combined metabolic abnormalities were more often treated with adjunct therapies such as metformin, sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. In both men and women, the presence of combined metabolic abnormalities was strongly related to the presence of eye complications, peripheral neuropathy, chronic kidney disease and CVD, corrected for age, diabetes duration and HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Overweight, obesity and combined metabolic abnormalities are increasingly being identified in people living with type 1 diabetes, further accelerating the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications. Early identification of the presence of combined metabolic abnormalities should enable therapeutic interventions to be modified towards multifactorial approaches, with attention to education on avoidance of overweight (e.g. dietary counselling) in addition to strict glycaemic control and intensification of use of antihypertensive agents and statins. Use of adjunct therapies in this population as a tool should be explored more thoroughly to reduce risk of complications.

Impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery on weight loss and insulin requirements in type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) is effective in improving metabolic outcomes and reducing weight in patients with obesity and diabetes, with less explored benefits in type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of MBS on weight loss and insulin requirements in T1D patients compared to insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients over a 5-year period. This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent primary sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) with a confirmed preoperative diagnosis of either T1D or insulin-treated T2D. Primary endpoints focusing on weight loss and secondary outcomes assessing changes in insulin dosage and glycemic control. After 5 years, weight loss was similar across groups, with total weight loss at 14.2% for T1D and 17.6% for insulin-treated T2D in SG, and 22.6% for T1D vs. 26.8% for insulin-treated T2D in RYGB. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in median daily insulin doses from 140.5 units at baseline to 77.5 units at 1 year postoperatively, sustained at 90 units at 5 years. The differential impact of MBS procedure was also highlighted, where RYGB patients showed a more pronounced and enduring decrease in insulin requirements compared to SG.

Body Mass Index's influence on arterial hypertension in Type 1 diabetes - A brief report from IMI-SOPHIA study

Information on BMI and risk of developing hypertension in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is scarce, and it comes mostly from cross-sectional analyses. This study underscores a risk of developing hypertension in T1D individuals with high BMI, and this risk appears to be higher than in those with type 2 diabetes.

Drawing lines in the sand: The growing threat of obesity in type 1 diabetes

In this editorial, we comment on the article by Zeng et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Diabetes in 2024. We focus on the epidemiological, pathophysiological, and clinical interplay between obesity and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Overweight and obesity represent a growing threat for modern societies and people with T1DM could not be an exception to this rule. Chronic exogenous insulin administration, genetic and epigenetic factors, and psy-chosocial and behavioral parameters, along with the modern way of life that incorporates unhealthy eating patterns and physical inactivity, set the stage for the increasing obesity rates in T1DM. As our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms that lead to the development of obesity and hyperglycemia expands, it becomes clear that there are overlap zones in the pathophysiology of the two main types of diabetes. Stereotypes regarding strict dividing lines between "autoimmune" and "metabolic" phenotypes increase the risk of trapping physicians into ineffective therapeutic approaches, instead of individualized diabetes care. In this context, the use of adjuncts to insulin therapy that have the potential to alleviate cardiorenal risk and decrease body weight can reduce the burden of obesity in patients with T1DM.

Characterisation and clinical outcomes in children and adolescents with diabetes according to newly defined subgroups: a cohort study from the DPV registry

Background

Personalised therapy has emerged as a possibly more efficient approach taking disease heterogeneity into account. The aim of this study was to determine whether recently described subgroups of childhood diabetes have prognostic association with diabetes-specific complications and, therefore, might be a basis for personalised therapies.

Methods

We applied a previously developed subgroup classification to pediatric patients (diabetes onset <18 years) from the prospective Diabetes Patient Follow-up (DPV) registry with documented data between January 1, 2000 and March 31, 2022, from diabetes centers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. The classification required information on islet autoantibody status, age, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and body-mass index (BMI-SDS) at disease manifestation, as well as follow up data after 2 and after 4 years, which was available in 22,719 patients. Patients without documented data on these parameters were excluded from the analysis. The cumulative risk of severe hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), retinopathy, and nephropathy were analysed by Kaplan-Meier analyses over a median follow-up of 6.8 years (IQR 4.8-9.6).

Findings

Patients were classified into 10 subgroups (P1-P7 islet autoantibody-positive, n = 19,811; N1-N3 islet autoantibody-negative, n = 2908). The groups varied markedly with respect to specific acute and chronic complications. Severe hypoglycemia was a characteristic feature in young islet autoantibody-positive subgroups P1, P3, P4 (10-year risk 46, 46 and 47%) and the islet autoantibody-negative groups N1, N2 (43 and 46%). Nephropathy was identified in patient groups P2 and P5 (10-year risk 16%), which had features of moderate disease such as preserved C-peptide, low HbA1c, and very low frequency of DKA at diabetes onset. Group P7, which was defined by a high BMI, was associated with poor metabolic control, DKA, and retinopathy. In contrast, islet autoantibody-negative patients with high BMI (N3) had a low risk for all four complications.

Interpretation

Subgrouping of childhood diabetes at diabetes onset provided prognostic value for the development of acute and chronic diabetes-specific complications.

Funding

The DPV initiative is supported by The German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the German Center for Diabetes Research, the diabetes surveillance of the Robert Koch Institute, the German Diabetes Association (DDG) and INNODIA.

Prevalence, risk factors and diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests for NAFLD in people with type 1 diabetes

Background & Aims

The epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is not yet elucidated. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests for NAFLD, to investigate the prevalence and severity of NAFLD, and to search for factors contributing to NAFLD in people with T1D.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, we consecutively screened 530 adults with T1D from a tertiary care hospital, using ultrasound (US), vibration-controlled transient elastography equipped with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter, and the fatty liver index. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed in a representative subgroup of 132 individuals to validate the diagnostic accuracy of the non-invasive tests.

Results

Based on MRS as reference standard, US identified individuals with NAFLD with an AUROC of 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-1.00, sensitivity: 1.00, specificity: 0.96). The controlled attenuation parameter was also accurate with an AUROC of 0.85 (95% CI 0.77-0.93). Youden cut-off was ≥270 dB/m (sensitivity: 0.90, specificity: 0.74). The fatty liver index yielded a similar AUROC of 0.83 (95% CI 0.74-0.91), but the conventional cut-off used to rule in (≥60) had low sensitivity and specificity (0.62, 0.78). The prevalence of NAFLD in the overall cohort was 16.2% based on US. Metabolic syndrome was associated with NAFLD (OR: 2.35 [1.08-5.12], p = 0.031). The overall prevalence of LSM ≥8.0 kPa indicating significant fibrosis was 3.8%, but reached 13.2% in people with NAFLD.

Conclusions

NAFLD prevalence in individuals with T1D is 16.2%, with approximately one in 10 featuring elevated LSM. US-based screening could be considered in people with T1D and metabolic syndrome.

Impact and Implications

We aimed to report on the prevalence, disease severity, and risk factors of NAFLD in type 1 diabetes (T1D), while also tackling which non-invasive test for NAFLD is the most accurate. We found that ultrasound is the best test to diagnose NAFLD. NAFLD prevalence is 16.2%, and is associated with metabolic syndrome and BMI. Elevated liver stiffness indicating fibrosis is overall not prevalent in people with T1D (3.8%), but it reaches 13.2% in those with T1D and NAFLD.

Assessment of Prevalence and Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Examined at a Tertiary Care

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness. The aim of the study was to estimate and compare the prevalence of DR and to determine an association between DR and systemic risk factors in hospitalized type 1 (DMT1) and type 2 (DMT2) diabetic patients. Material and methods: We analyzed 260 patients with diabetes, 43 with DMT1 and 217 with DMT2. The following data were collected: age, gender, type and duration of diabetes, glycemic control, blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, ophthalmologic examinations and routine biochemical parameters. Results: Out of the total number of 260 patients, 77 (29.6%) had non-proliferative DR (NPDR), 21 (8.1%) had proliferative DR (PDR), 29 (11.1%) had diabetic macular edema (DME), and 69 (23.5%) had diabetic cataracts. Forty-three (16.5%) patients were previously diagnosed with DMT1 and 217 (83.5%) with DMT2. The duration of diabetes was not significantly longer in DMT1 (12.8±11.2 years) in comparison to DMT2 (11.07±8.1 years). The prevalence of NPDR and PDR did not differ statistically in either groups. DME was more prevalent in DMT2 than in DMT1 (P<0.05). Diabetic cataract was found in 26.7% vs. 6.7% of patients with DMT2 and DMT1, respectively (p<0.01). The duration of diabetes significantly correlated with NPDR and PDR in DMT1 (r=o.31, p<0.05; r=0.55, p<0.001, respectively). In DMT2, significant correlations were found between the duration of diabetes and cataract, NPDR, PDR and DME (r=0.31, p<0.001; r=0.43 p<0.01, r=0.16 p<0.05 and r=0.20 p<0.01, respectively). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) significantly correlated with PDR (r=0.258, p<0.05), while HbA1c with DME (r= 0.15 p<0.05). Conclusion: The duration of diabetes and hyperglycemia were associated with DR in both types of diabetes.

Association of anthropometric parameters as a risk factor for development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship of body fat distribution in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), and its long-term complications like diabetic retinopathy (DR), in Indian population.

METHODS

This was a prospective, cross-sectional observational study involving 1773 subjects diagnosed with DM and 1778 age and gender-matched individuals. The patients with DM were assessed for the presence and severity of DR. Severe non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR were categorised as sight threatening DR (STDR). Anthropometric parameters, i.e., neck circumference (NC); mid-upper arm circumference (MAC); waist circumference (WC); hip circumference (HC); mid-thigh circumference (MTC) and body mass index (BMI) were measured using standardised technique.

RESULTS

The mean age was 59.33 ± 9.32 for DM group, and 66.03 ± 11.04 for non-DM group. DM group showed significantly greater NC, WC, and MTC and significantly reduced MAC and weight. HC and BMI were comparable between the groups. There was a significant positive correlation of MAC and WC (with any level of DR) and MAC, WC, and weight (for STDR); and a significant negative correlation of HC and MTC (with any level of DR) and NC, HC, MTC, and BMI (for STDR). Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed that WC was the single most important predictor for any level of DR and STDR.

CONCLUSIONS

Association of body fat distribution with DM and DR appears multifactorial. However, central obesity signified by waist circumference appears to be the significant risk related to the development of DR and STDR in Indian population.

Insulin Dose Adjustment Following Bariatric Surgery, a Review of Available Literature

Bariatric surgery is a known and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and exogenous insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes mellitus require adjusted insulin dosing after surgery to avoid hypoglycemia. This review describes insulin dose adjustments following a variety of bariatric procedures. After searching the available literature and assessing for eligibility, 8 articles were included. The Johns Hopkins Research Evidence Appraisal Tool for literature appraisal was used. The results of this review reveal insulin dose adjustment varies based upon surgical procedure type and time of follow-up from the procedure.

Highlighting the Role of Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Type 1 Diabetes and Its Associated Cardiometabolic Complications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This narrative review appraises research data on the potentially harmful effect of obesity and insulin resistance (IR) co-existence with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)-related cardiovascular (CVD) complications and evaluates possible therapeutic options.

RECENT FINDINGS

Obesity and IR have increasingly been emerging in patients with T1DM. Genetic, epigenetic factors, and subcutaneous insulin administration are implicated in the pathogenesis of this coexistence. Accumulating evidence implies that the concomitant presence of obesity and IR is an independent predictor of worse CVD outcomes. The prevalence of obesity and IR has increased in patients with T1DM. This increase can be partly attributed to general population trends but, additionally, to iatrogenic weight gain caused by insulin treatment. This association might be the missing link explaining the excess CVD burden observed in patients with T1DM despite optimal glycemic control. Data on newer agents for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment are unraveling novel ways to challenge this aggravating coexistence.

Obesity and Diabetic Complications: A Study from the Nationwide Diabetes Report of the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD-2021) Implications for Action on Multiple Scales

BACKGROUND

Obesity plays a major role in the pathogenesis and development of macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). We aimed to assess the association between obesity and macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes.

METHODS

This study consisted of 111,830 patients (age range: 1-106) with diabetes including 10,641 T1D (3187 obese [38.2% men] and 7454 non-obese [45.5% men]) and 101,189 T2D (51,873 obese [27.5% men] and 49,316 non-obese [33.4% men]) from the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD-2021) in Iran, who attended academic tertiary care outpatient clinics from February 2016 to April 2021. A pooled logistic regression model was used to examine the association between obesity and diabetic complications.

RESULTS

Among patients with T1D, a significant association was found between obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD), neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy (OR= 1.75, 1.56, 1.80 and 1.92, P-value= 0.001, 0.004, 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). In T2D, a statistically significant association was found between obesity and CVD, neuropathy and nephropathy (OR= 1.63, 1.98, 1.21, respectively, P-values <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Obesity was independently associated with CVD, neuropathy and nephropathy in patients with T1D and T2D and with retinopathy only in T1D, to different degrees. The association between obesity and retinopathy and neuropathy was the strongest among T1D and T2D, respectively. Findings from this study suggest that obesity affects diabetic complications differently among the two types of diabetes, in terms of epidemiology and pathophysiology. This signifies the importance of different preventive and therapeutic approaches to obesity in T1D compared to T2D, on a national and global scale.

Waist-Height Ratio and the Risk of Severe Diabetic Eye Disease in Type 1 Diabetes: A 15-Year Cohort Study

CONTEXT

Obesity prevalence has increased in type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the relationship between body composition and severe diabetic eye disease (SDED) is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations between body composition and SDED in adults with T1D.

METHODS

From 5401 adults with T1D in the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study, we assessed 3468, and 437 underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition analysis. The composite outcome was SDED, defined as proliferative retinopathy, laser treatment, antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment, diabetic maculopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, and vitrectomy. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the associations between body composition and SDED. Multivariable Cox regression analysis assessed the associations between the anthropometric measures and SDED. Subgroup analysis was performed by stages of albuminuria. The relevance ranking of each variable was based on the z statistic.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 14.5 (interquartile range 7.8-17.5) years, 886 SDED events occurred. Visceral/android fat ratio was associated with SDED [odds ratio (OR) 1.40, z = 3.13], as well as the percentages of visceral (OR 1.80, z = 2.45) and android fat (OR 1.28, z = 2.08) but not the total body fat percentage. Waist-height ratio (WHtR) showed the strongest association with the SDED risk [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.28, z = 3.73], followed by the waist (HR 1.01, z = 3.03), body mass index (HR 1.03, z = 2.33), and waist-hip ratio (HR 1.15, z = 2.22). The results were similar in normo- and microalbuminuria but not significant in macroalbuminuria. A WHtR ≥ 0.5 increased the SDED risk by 28% at the normo- and microalbuminuria stages.

CONCLUSIONS

WHtR, a hallmark of central obesity, is associated with SDED in individuals with T1D.

Hepatopathy Associated With Type 1 Diabetes: Distinguishing Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease From Glycogenic Hepatopathy

Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells results in the permanent loss of insulin production in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The daily necessity to inject exogenous insulin to treat hyperglycemia leads to a relative portal vein insulin deficiency and potentiates hypoglycemia which can induce weight gain, while daily fluctuations of blood sugar levels affect the hepatic glycogen storage and overall metabolic control. These, among others, fundamental characteristics of T1D are associated with the development of two distinct, but in part clinically similar hepatopathies, namely non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and glycogen hepatopathy (GlyH). Recent studies suggest that NAFLD may be increasingly common in T1D because more people with T1D present with overweight and/or obesity, linked to the metabolic syndrome. GlyH is a rare but underdiagnosed complication hallmarked by extremely brittle metabolic control in, often young, individuals with T1D. Both hepatopathies share clinical similarities, troubling both diagnosis and differentiation. Since NAFLD is increasingly associated with cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease, whereas GlyH is considered self-limiting, awareness and differentiation between both condition is important in clinical care. The exact pathogenesis of both hepatopathies remains obscure, hence licensed pharmaceutical therapy is lacking and general awareness amongst physicians is low. This article aims to review the factors potentially contributing to fatty liver disease or glycogen storage disruption in T1D. It ends with a proposal for clinicians to approach patients with T1D and potential hepatopathy.

Strategically Playing with Fire: SGLT Inhibitors as Possible Adjunct to Closed-Loop Insulin Therapy

As closed-loop insulin therapies emerge into clinical practice and evolve in medical research for type 1 diabetes (T1D) treatment, the limitations in these therapies become more evident. These gaps include unachieved target levels of glycated hemoglobin in some patients, postprandial hyperglycemia, the ongoing need for carbohydrate counting, and the lack of non-glycemic benefits (such as prevention of metabolic syndrome and complications). Multiple adjunct therapies have been examined to improve closed-loop systems, yet none have become a staple. Sodium-glucose-linked cotransporter inhibitors (SGLTi's) have been extensively researched in T1D, with average reductions in placebo-adjusted HbA1c by 0.39%, and total daily dose by approximately 10%. Unfortunately, many trials revealed an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, as high as 5 times the relative risk compared to placebo. This narrative review discusses the proven benefits and risks of SGLTi in patients with T1D with routine therapy, what has been studied thus far in closed-loop therapy in combination with SGLTi, the potential benefits of SGLTi use to closed-loop systems, and what is required going forward to improve the benefit to risk ratio in these insulin systems.

Declined incidence of patients treated for vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy in South Korea: a 12-year nationwide population-based study

PURPOSE

To determine the age- and sex-specific annual incidence rates of patients treated for VTDR and the factors associated with increased treatment rates in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in South Korea.

METHODS

This was a nationwide, retrospective, 12-year, population-based study. Patients aged over 30 years who were diagnosed with T2DM between 2006 and 2017 were included in this study. We evaluated the national health claims data acquired from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Main outcome measures were the annual incidence rates of patients treated for VTDR and the associated risk factors.

RESULTS

The age-adjusted annual incidence rate of patients treated for VTDR significantly decreased from 10.05 per 1000 T2DM patients in 2006 to 6.11 in 2017 (β =  - 0.3192, P < 0.0001). The sex-adjusted annual incidence rate also significantly decreased in both men (β =  - 0.2861, P < 0.0001) and women (β =  - 0.3666, P < 0.0001). Cox hazard analysis showed that factors such as insulin use, young age, chronic kidney disease and male sex were significantly associated with increased rate of treatments for VTDR. In addition, the risk was lower for rural than for metropolitan residents.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the increase in the number of T2DM patients in South Korea, the incidence rate of patients treated for VTDR decreases with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Therefore, it is important to detect and manage high-risk groups early to prevent visual impairment due to VTDR.

Incidence and Predictive Factors for Amputations Derived From Charcot's Neuroarthropathy in Persons With Diabetes

Charcot's neuroarthropathy (CN) is the progressive destruction of the bones and joints of the feet, as a consequence of severe peripheral neuropathy, which predisposes patients to amputations. The purpose of this study was to measure the cumulative incidence of amputations resulting from CN and risk factors among amputated people with diabetes mellitus (DM). This was an epidemiological, observational, and retrospective study of 114 patients with DM who had an amputation involving the lower limbs. Data were collected from 2 specialized outpatient clinics between 2015 and 2019, including socio-demographic and clinical variables (cause of amputation: CN, peripheral arterial disease [PAD], infected ulcers, fracture, osteomyelitis, and others; body mass index [BMI]; 1 or 2 DM, time since DM diagnosis, insulin treatment, glycated hemoglobin; creatinine; smoking and drinking; systemic arterial hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, acute myocardial infarction, PAD, and stroke; characteristics of amputation [level and laterality], in addition to the specific variables related to CN [time of amputation in relation to the diagnosis of CN, diagnosis of CN in the acute phase, and treatment implemented in the acute phase]). We compared socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, including types of amputation, between patients with and without CN. Statistical analyses were performed using the 2 sample t-test or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, for quantitative variables, and the Pearson's χ² test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. The investigation of the possible association of predictive factors for a CN amputation was carried out through logistic regression. The amputation caused by CN was present in 27 patients with a cumulative incidence of 23.7% in 5 years. There was a statistically significant association between BMI and the occurrence of CN (odds ratio: 1.083; 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.173; P = .048); higher values of BMI were associated with a higher occurrence of amputations secondary from CN.

Association Between Obesity and Microvascular Diseases in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This study aimed to evaluate the association between obesity, evaluated by fat mass index (FMI) with the risk of microvascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and compare the magnitude of associations of FMI, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) with the risk of microvascular diseases. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes study. The primary microvascular outcomes of the present study included chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Cox proportional-hazards models were performed to evaluate the association of FMI with microvascular diseases. A discordant analysis was performed to compare the magnitude of associations of FMI, BMI, and WC with the risk of microvascular diseases. Our study included 10,251 T2DM participants with a median of 5 years (interquartile range, 4.2-5.7) of follow-up. A total of 6,184 participants developed CKD progression, 896 participants had retinopathy, and 3,213 participants developed neuropathy (Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument, >2.0). After the confounding factors were adjusted for, patients in the highest FMI quartile had a higher risk of CKD progression (HR: 1.26, 95%CI: 1.16-1.36) and neuropathy (HR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.74-2.15), except for retinopathy (HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.96-1.43), than those in the lowest quartile. Discordant analyses found that FMI and WC are better in identifying individuals with obesity-related risk of neuropathy, compared with BMI; neither is better in identifying individuals with obesity-related risk of CKD progression and retinopathy. Obesity is associated with CKD progression and neuropathy in T2DM participants. Further randomized trials are needed to test whether obesity control can improve the outcomes of T2DM participants with CKD or neuropathy. FMI and WC are more useful in identifying obesity-related risk of neuropathy compared with BMI in T2DM patients.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00000620.

NAFLD in type 1 diabetes: overrated or underappreciated?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in western countries, affecting 25-30% of the general population and up to 65% in those with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. Accumulation of visceral adipose tissue and insulin resistance (IR) contributes to NAFLD. NAFLD is not an innocent entity as it not only may cause nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis but also contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. More and more people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are becoming overweight and present with features of IR, but the prevalence and impact of NAFLD in this population are still unclear. The utility of noninvasive screening tools for NAFLD in T1D is being explored. Recent data indicate that based upon ultrasonographic criteria NAFLD is present in 27% (ranging between 19% and 31%) of adults with T1D. Magnetic resonance imaging data indicate a prevalence rate of 8.6% (ranging between 2.1% and 18.6%). There are, however, multiple factors affecting these data, ranging from study design and referral bias to discrepancies in between diagnostic modalities. Individuals with T1D have a 7-fold higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular mortality is the most prominent cause of death in T1D. Patients with T1D and NALFD are also more prone to develop CVD, but the independent contribution of NAFLD to cardiovascular events has to be determined in this population. Furthermore, limited data in T1D also point towards a 2 to 3 times higher risk for microvascular complications in those with NAFLD. In this article, we will discuss epidemiological and diagnostic challenges of NAFLD in T1D, explore the link between IR and NAFLD and chronic complications, and examine the independent contribution of NAFLD to the presence of macro-, and microvascular complications.

Mini review: Lipids in Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Neurons are polarized cells whose fundamental functions are to receive, conduct and transmit signals. In bilateral animals, the nervous system is divided into the central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous system. The main function of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the limbs and organs, essentially serving as a relay between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. Sensory axons can be up to 3 feet in length. Because of its long-reaching and complex structure, the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is exposed and vulnerable to many genetic, metabolic and environmental predispositions. Lipids and lipid intermediates are essential components of nerves. About 50 % of the brain dry weight consist of lipids, which makes it the second highest lipid rich tissue after adipose tissue. However, the role of lipids in neurological disorders in particular of the peripheral nerves is not well understood. This review aims to provide an overview about the role of lipids in the disorders of the PNS.

Birth Weight and Diabetic Retinopathy: Results From the Population-Based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)

PURPOSE

This study investigates the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and birth weight (BW) in diabetic subjects sampled from the general population.

METHODS

The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, observational cohort study in participants aged from 35 to 74 years. Criteria for diabetes diagnosis were HbA1c ≥6.5% at study entry, a doctor-diagnosis of diabetes, or diabetes medication. The presence of DR was determined by evaluating fundus photographs. BW was assessed by self-reports. GHS participants were divided into three different BW groups (low: <2500 g; normal: 2500-4000 g; high:>4000 g). Logistic regression analysis was conducted as uni- and multivariable analysis with adjustment for age and sex. Effect mediators were separately investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 1,124 GHS participants (7.5% of the cohort) had diabetes at study entry. Of these, 402 subjects (35.8%) had gradable fundus photographs, reported BW data and were included into this study. Overall, 91/402 subjects (23%) had DR. With regard to BW groups, DR was descriptively more frequent in subjects with low (28.1% [95%-CI: 14.4-47.0%; n = 32]) and high BW (30.8% [95%-CI: 19.1-45.3%; n = 52]) compared to normal BW (20.8% [95%-CI: 16.5-25.7%; n = 318]). Both high and low BW were associated with DR in multivariable analysis (high: OR = 1.68, p = .037; low: OR = 1.81, p = .05). The BW effect was mediated by duration of diabetes in both BW groups and by arterial hypertension in the low BW group.

CONCLUSION

Low and high BW in persons with diabetes is related to higher risk of diabetic retinopathy. Longer duration of diabetes and higher prevalence of arterial hypertension are factors in these subjects explaining the elevated risk.

Sex-Gender Differences in Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the main causes of visual loss in individuals aged 20–64 years old. The aim of this study was to investigate, in a multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study, sex-gender difference in DR in a large sample of type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM). 20,611 T2DM regularly attending the units for the last three years were classified as having: (a) No DR (NDR), (b) nonproliferative DR (NPDR), or (c) preproliferative/proliferative DR (PPDR). DR of all grades was present in 4294 T2DM (20.8%), with a significant higher prevalence in men as compared to women (22.0% vs. 19.3% p < 0.0001). Among DR patients, both NPDR and PPDR were significantly more prevalent in men vs. women (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0016, respectively). Women had similar age and BMI, but longer diabetes duration, worse glycemic metabolic control, and more prevalence of hypertension and chronic renal failure (CRF) of any grade vs. men. No significant differences between sexes were evident in term of drug therapy for diabetes and associate pathologies. Conclusions: In this large sample of T2DM, men show higher prevalence of DR vs. women, in spite of less represented risk factors, suggesting that male sex per se might be a risk factor for DR development.

Early Diabetic Nephropathy and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Attending Sudan Childhood Diabetes Centre

OBJECTIVE

Data on microvascular complications in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Sudan are scarce. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and retinopathy (DR) and their relationship to certain risk factors in children with T1DM attending the Sudan Childhood Diabetes Centre. Design and Methods. A clinic-based cross-sectional study of 100 patients with T1DM aged 10-18 years. Patients with disease duration exceeding 5 years if the onset of diabetes was prepubertal and 2 years if it was postpubertal were included. Relevant sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical information was obtained. Blood pressure was measured. The patients were screened for DN and DR using urinary microalbumin estimation and fundus photography, respectively.

RESULTS

The frequency of microalbuminuria and diabetic retinopathy was 36% and 33%, respectively. Eleven percent had both retinopathy and microalbuminuria. Seven percent of the patients were found to be hypertensive. Patients with diabetic retinopathy had significantly higher HbA1c levels (p = 0.009) and longer diabetes duration (p = 0.02) than patients without retinopathy. Logistic regression showed that high HbA1c (odds ratio (OR) 0.83, confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.00, p = 0.04), but not age, duration, ethnic group, BMI, blood pressure, and presence of nephropathy, was an independent risk factor for retinopathy. Likewise, high blood pressure (OR 6.89, CI 1.17-40.52, p = 0.03), but not age, duration, ethnic group, BMI, HbA1c, and presence of retinopathy, was a predictor for nephropathy.

CONCLUSION

High prevalence of incipient DN and early stages of DR were observed in this study. Longer diabetes duration and higher HbA1c were associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy. High blood pressure was a risk factor for DN. So regular screening for these complications and optimization of glycemic control are needed.

Bariatric Surgery and Type 1 Diabetes: Unanswered Questions

In recent decades there has been an alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity in patients with type 1 diabetes leading to the development of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic complications, with mechanisms poorly clarified. While bariatric surgery has long been considered an effective treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes, the evidence regarding its benefits on weight loss and the prevention of complications in T1DM patients is scarce, with controversial outcomes. Bariatric surgery has been associated with a significant reduction in daily insulin requirement, along with a considerable reduction in body mass index, results which were sustained in the long term. Furthermore, studies suggest that bariatric surgery in type 1 diabetes results in the improvement of comorbidities related to obesity including hypertension and dyslipidemia. However, regarding glycemic control, the reduction of mean glycosylated hemoglobin was modest or statistically insignificant in most studies. The reasons for these results are yet to be elucidated; possible explanations include preservation of beta cell mass and increased residual function post-surgery, improvement in insulin action, altered GLP-1 function, timing of surgery, and association with residual islet cell mass. A number of concerns regarding safety issues have arisen due to the reporting of peri-operative and post-operative adverse events. The most significant complications are metabolic and include diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia and glucose fluctuations. Further prospective clinical studies are required to provide evidence for the effect of bariatric surgery on T1DM patients. The results may offer a better knowledge for the selection of people living with diabetes who will benefit more from a metabolic surgery.

Longitudinal Phenotypes of Type 1 Diabetes in Youth Based on Weight and Glycemia and Their Association With Complications

CONTEXT

Subclinical and clinical complications emerge early in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and may be associated with obesity and hyperglycemia.

OBJECTIVE

Test how longitudinal "weight-glycemia" phenotypes increase susceptibility to different patterns of early/subclinical complications among youth with T1D.

DESIGN

SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth observational study.

SETTING

Population-based cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

Youth with T1D (n = 570) diagnosed 2002 to 2006 or 2008.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants were clustered based on longitudinal body mass index z score and HbA1c from a baseline visit and 5+ year follow-up visit (mean diabetes duration: 1.4 ± 0.4 years and 8.2 ± 1.9 years, respectively). Logistic regression modeling tested cluster associations with seven early/subclinical diabetes complications at follow-up, adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and duration.

RESULTS

Four longitudinal weight-glycemia clusters were identified: The Referent Cluster (n = 195, 34.3%), the Hyperglycemia Only Cluster (n = 53, 9.3%), the Elevated Weight Only Cluster (n = 206, 36.1%), and the Elevated Weight With Increasing Hyperglycemia (EWH) Cluster (n = 115, 20.2%). Compared with the Referent Cluster, the Hyperglycemia Only Cluster had elevated odds of dyslipidemia [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.22, 95% CI: 1.15 to 4.29], retinopathy (aOR 9.98, 95% CI: 2.49 to 40.0), and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (aOR 4.16, 95% CI: 1.37 to 12.62). The EWH Cluster had elevated odds of hypertension (aOR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.19 to 4.00), dyslipidemia (aOR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.41 to 3.95), arterial stiffness (aOR 2.46, 95% CI: 1.09 to 5.53), retinopathy (aOR 5.11, 95% CI: 1.34 to 19.46), and DKD (aOR 3.43, 95% CI: 1.29 to 9.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Weight-glycemia phenotypes show different patterns of complications, particularly markers of subclinical macrovascular disease, even in the first decade of T1D.

Metabolic health and vascular complications in type 1 diabetes

AIMS

Optimal glycaemic control benefits risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) but the importance of other components of metabolic health is less certain, particularly in the context of routine clinical practice.

METHODS

Data for this cross-sectional analysis derived from a database covering inner North West London adult diabetes clinics. People with T1DM and with complete information for height, weight, blood pressure and serum high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c and LDL-c) and triglyceride concentration measurements were included.

RESULTS

Among the 920 participants, those with complications were older and had longer duration of diabetes but had similar HbA1c to people without complications. Systolic hypertension and low HDL-c were independently associated with complications. From having 0 risk factors, the prevalence of micro and macrovascular disease increased with increasing number of risk factors. Relative to those with ≥1 risk factor, those with 0 risk factors (n = 179) were at lower risk of retinopathy (OR 0.6 (0.4-0.9), p = 0.01) and nephropathy [OR 0.1 (0.04-0.3), p = 0.002], independent of individual characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

In routine clinical management of T1DM, associations between lipid and blood pressure risk factors and prevalent micro and macrovascular disease remain, implying that more intensive risk factor management may be beneficial.

Co-occurrence of early diabetes-related complications in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

One in three adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes have at least one early diabetes-related complication or comorbidity. We aimed to examine the prevalence and pattern of co-occurring complications in this population, as well as the related risk factors.

METHODS

This observational cohort study includes data from individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before age 20 years who participated in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study across five sites in the USA. We assessed sociodemographic and metabolic risk factors at baseline and at follow-up, and diabetes complications at follow-up. A frequency analysis was done to examine the difference in observed versus expected prevalence (calculated using a contingency table assuming independence across cells) of co-occurring complications or comorbidities. A cluster analysis was done to identify unique clusters of participants based on demographic characteristics and metabolic risk factors.

FINDINGS

1327 participants who completed the follow-up visit were included in the frequency analysis. The mean age was 10·1 (SD 3·9) years at the time of type 1 diabetes diagnosis and 18·0 (4·1) years at follow-up. At a mean diabetes duration of 7·8 [SD 1·9] years, co-occurrence of any two or more complications was observed in 78 (5·9%) participants, more frequently than expected by chance alone (58 [4·4%], p=0·015). Specifically, the complications that co-occurred more frequently than expected were retinopathy and diabetic kidney disease (11 [0·8%] vs three [0·2%]; p=0·0007), retinopathy and arterial stiffness (13 [1·0%] vs four [0·3%]; p=0·0016), and arterial stiffness and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (24 [1·8%] vs 13 [1·0%]; p=0·015). We identified four unique clusters characterised by progressively worsening metabolic risk factor profiles (longer duration of diabetes and higher glycated haemoglobin, non-HDL cholesterol, and waist-to-height ratio). The prevalence of at least two complications increased across the clusters (six [2·3%] of 261 in the low-risk cluster, 32 [6·3%] of 509 in the moderate-risk cluster, 28 [8%] of 348 in the high-risk cluster, and five [20·8%] of 24 in the highest-risk cluster). Compared with the low-risk and moderate-risk clusters, the high-risk and highest-risk clusters were characterised by a lower proportion of participants who were non-Hispanic white, and a higher proportion of participants who had a household income below US$50 000 and did not have private health insurance.

INTERPRETATION

Early complications co-occur in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes more frequently than expected. Identification of individuals with adverse risk factors could enable targeted behavioural or medical interventions that reduce the likelihood of early development of lifelong diabetes-related morbidity.

FUNDING

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US National Institutes of Health.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of obesity is on a continuous rise worldwide, with major studies clearly correlating obesity with the development of chronic metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes. Bariatric surgery has proven to be beneficial in the management of this condition; however, a limited number of studies exist on its effect on type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the management of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM1).

SETTING

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in a university hospital and private practice in Kuwait.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Analysis was conducted on 10 patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes that underwent bariatric surgery from October 2008 until December 2016 at Amiri Hospital and Royale Hayat Hospital, Kuwait. Primary parameters included body mass index (BMI), % excess weight (%EWL) loss at follow-up, glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), and basal insulin requirements. Total cholesterol readings and fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels were considered secondary outcomes. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

RESULTS

Mean BMI showed a reduction from 41.9 ± 5.4 to 31.4 ± 8.4 kg/m². Mean %EWL after the follow-up period was 74.4 ± 25.3%. A1C levels failed to show a significant difference 12 months post-op (p = 0.189). Cholesterol levels did not display a significant decrease either (p = 0.447). When it came to insulin requirements, a significant difference was perceived, with the mean number of units of insulin required dropping from 76.6 to 18.2 (p = 0.026). FBS readings also showed a drop from 15.1 ± 3.8 to 7.8 ± 2.9 mmol/L (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy resulted in significant weight loss, comorbidity resolution as well as reduction in their insulin doses post-op. However, glycemic control does not seem to show significant improvement in these patients. Larger, more long-term studies are needed to reach a definite conclusion on this topic.

Coronary artery calcifications and diastolic dysfunction versus visceral fat area in type 1 diabetes: VISCERA study

AIMS

Type 1 diabetic patients (T1DM) experience a higher cardiovascular disease and mortality risk than controls. We investigated whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT) contributes to coronary artery calcifications (CAC) and cardiac dysfunction in T1DM.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 118 T1DM patients without a history of cardiovascular disease (men/women: 68/50, age 46±12years, HbA1c 7.6±0.9%, BMI 25.8±4.1kg/m²) was conducted. CAC and VAT were measured using a CT scan. CAC was scored using the Agatston method. Cardiac functional abnormalities were assessed by echocardiography.

RESULTS

CAC scored ≥10 in 42% of patients. Systolic function was normal in all, but diastolic dysfunction was present in 75%. Forty-six percent had VAT≥100cm². CAC score≥10 occurred more often in subjects with VAT≥100cm² (54% vs 31%; p=0.01). Age (OR=1.10; p<0.0001), diabetes duration (OR=1.10; p=0.008), gender (OR=4.28; p=0.016), LDL-cholesterol (OR=1.03; p=0.009) and metabolic syndrome (OR=5.79; p=0.005) were independently associated with a CACS≥10. Subjects with CACS≥10 were more prone to have diastolic dysfunction (84 vs 54%; p=0.03). Factors independently associated with diastolic dysfunction were age (OR=1.11; p=0.002), waist circumference (OR=1.10; p=0.016) and VAT (OR=0.99; p=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Excess VAT in T1DM, present in 46%, is associated with diastolic dysfunction and CAC, present in respectively 75% and 42% of patients. Timely detection might improve future cardiovascular risk.

Diabetes and obesity are the main metabolic drivers of peripheral neuropathy

Objective

To determine the associations between individual metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and peripheral neuropathy in a large population‐based cohort from Pinggu, China.

Methods

A cross‐sectional, randomly selected, population‐based survey of participants from Pinggu, China was performed. Metabolic phenotyping and neuropathy outcomes were performed by trained personnel. Glycemic status was defined according to the American Diabetes Association criteria, and the MetS using modified consensus criteria (body mass index instead of waist circumference). The primary peripheral neuropathy outcome was the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) examination. Secondary outcomes were the MNSI questionnaire and monofilament testing. Multivariable models were used to assess for associations between individual MetS components and peripheral neuropathy. Tree‐based methods were used to construct a classifier for peripheral neuropathy using demographics and MetS components.

Results

The mean (SD) age of the 4002 participants was 51.6 (11.8) and 51.0% were male; 37.2% of the population had normoglycemia, 44.0% prediabetes, and 18.9% diabetes. The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy increased with worsening glycemic status (3.25% in normoglycemia, 6.29% in prediabetes, and 15.12% in diabetes, P < 0.0001). Diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 2.60, 95% CI 1.77–3.80) and weight (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.18) were significantly associated with peripheral neuropathy. Age, diabetes, and weight were the primary splitters in the classification tree for peripheral neuropathy.

Interpretation

Similar to previous studies, diabetes and obesity are the main metabolic drivers of peripheral neuropathy. The consistency of these results reinforces the urgent need for effective interventions that target these metabolic factors to prevent and/or treat peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness and Associations with Multiple Comorbidities: Insights from DIAMOND Study

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is leading cause of visual impairment in working-age adults. Macular edema can occur with or without other signs of retinopathy.

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective study conducted over 2 years in patients (>40 years of age) having type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Outcome measures were to analyze awareness and prevalence of DR and association of DR with identified risk factors.

RESULTS

Overall 6000 T2DM patients over 2 years were retrospectively evaluated. Almost 63% (n = 3780) of patients were unaware that diabetes affects the retina. Almost 65% (n = 3894) of patients were reported to have DR. Total 78.98% of males, and 69.50% of females had DR. There was a significant increase in the incidence of DR with age (P < 0.00001). Almost 60.80% (n = 3653) of patients having DR were from working age group (40-70 years). Evidently, 42% (n = 2520) of patients having DR had HbA1c > 9% (P < 0.00001). Overall 52.02% (n = 1820) of smokers were reported of DR (P < 0.00001). With the increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides, there was a significant increase in DR incidence (P < 0.00001). A strong association was observed between hypertension and DR, with 42.6% (n = 2556) of patients having coexistence of hypertension and DR (P < 0.00001). Patients having diabetic kidney disease (DKD) also reported DR. A high proportion of patients (49.11%, n = 2947) had co-existence of cardiac morbidity and DR. Almost 47% (n = 2845) of patients having DR were also reported anemia. Totally 43.85% (n = 2631) of patients with microalbuminuria had two times more risk of developing proliferative DR (P < 0.00001). The statistical significance for the association of DR with risk factors, calculated by Pearson Chi-Square method of analysis was found statistically significant (P < 0.00001).

CONCLUSION

The study reported the high prevalence and significantly high unawareness for DR in T2DM patients. All the risk factors are independently and significantly associated with DR (P < 0.00001).

Beyond glycaemic control: A cross-over, double-blinded, 24-week intervention with liraglutide in type 1 diabetes

AIMS

To investigate the effects of 24 weeks of treatment with liraglutide added to basal/bolus insulin on anthropometric and metabolic parameters in overweight participants with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

In a double-blinded cross-over fashion, 15 participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive placebo (saline solution) or liraglutide for 24 weeks including a 1-month titration period from 0.6 to 1.2 to 1.8 mg, in addition to their insulin. The treatment was followed by a 1-month wash-out period. Participants were then assigned to the other treatment for another 24 weeks. Paired rank tests were used to compare the metabolic parameters.

RESULTS

There was no treatment effect on HbA1c nor on insulin dose. Heart rate was increased by about 8 beats per minute with liraglutide. There were significant reductions in metabolic measures: weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, body fatness, computed tomography scan abdominal and mid-thigh measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (all P ≤ .05). There was no increase in time spent in hypoglycaemia with liraglutide.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of liraglutide to basal/bolus insulin therapy for 24 weeks in overweight/obese individuals with type 1 diabetes improved the anthropometric and metabolic profiles without an increase in hypoglycaemia. Clinical Trials.gov No: NCT01787916.

Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetic retinopathy: Beyond hyperglycemia

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most feared ocular manifestation of diabetes. DR is characterized by progressive retinal damage that may eventually result in blindness. Clinically, this blindness is caused by progressive damage to the retinal microvasculature, which leads to ischemia, retinal swelling, and neovascularization. Retinopathy is associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with DR being the leading cause of new onset blindness in United States adults. Despite this strong association with diabetes, it must be noted that the development of retinopathy lesions is multifactorial and may occur in individuals without an established history of diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a multifactorial condition of central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, fasting hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance. Although several studies examined the individual components observed in the metabolic syndrome in relation to the development of DR, there is conflicting data as to the association of the metabolic syndrome with the development of retinopathy lesions in non-diabetic subjects. This review will summarize the current literature on the evidence of the metabolic syndrome on retinopathy in subjects with and without an established history of diabetes. This review will also discuss some of the mechanisms through which metabolic syndrome can contribute to the development of retinopathy.

Achievement of metabolic control among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Spain

AIMS

To assess metabolic control in a paediatric T1D population in Spain and analyse the rate of severe acute decompensations and chronic complications.

METHODS

Data from patients treated at eight paediatric diabetes units with experienced diabetes teams between June and December 2014 were analysed in an observational prospective study. Variables included: age, sex, diabetes duration, number of follow-up visits/year, anthropometrical data, insulin treatment modalities, mean annual HbA1c and the prevalence of acute and chronic complications. SPSS statistics 21.0 was used.

RESULTS

A total of 853 patients (49.7% female) with a mean age of 12.1 ± 3.7 years were included. Anthropometric data were normal. Mean diabetes duration was 8 ± 3.4 years. Mean outpatient follow-up was 4.7 ± 0.04 visits/year. Twenty-five per cent were on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Mean HbA1c was 7.3 ± 1% (56 ± 8 mmol/mol) and 66.6% had HbA1c < 7.5% (58 mmol/mol). HbA1c value correlated negatively with age at onset and positively with years of diabetes, number of visits/year and current age (F = 7.06; p = 0.01). Patients on CSII (n = 213) were younger, attended the outpatient clinic more frequently, were diagnosed earlier, had better metabolic control and had presented more severe hypoglycaemic episodes the previous year. The rate of severe decompensation (episodes/100 patients/year) was ketoacidosis 1.5 and severe hypoglycaemia 4.5. The prevalence of chronic complications was very low.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data describe the good compliance of paediatric T1D patients treated at eight paediatric units in Spain following international standards of metabolic control.

Association Between Metabolic Syndrome Components and Polyneuropathy in an Obese Population

Importance

Past studies have shown an association between metabolic syndrome and polyneuropathy, but the precise components that drive this association remain unclear.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of polyneuropathy stratified by glycemic status in well-characterized obese and lean participants and investigate the association of specific components of metabolic syndrome with polyneuropathy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

We performed a cross-sectional, observational study from November 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014, in obese participants (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared] of 35 or more with no comorbid conditions or 32 or more with at least 1 comorbid condition) from a weight management program and lean controls from a research website. The prevalence of neuropathy, stratified by glycemic status, was determined, and a Mantel-Haenszel χ2 test was used to investigate for a trend. Logistic regression was used to model the primary outcome of polyneuropathy as a function of the components of metabolic syndrome after adjusting for demographic factors. Participants also completed quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing, quantitative sensory testing, the neuropathy-specific Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders instrument, and the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Exposures

Components of metabolic syndrome (as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III), including glycemic status (as defined by the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Toronto consensus definition of probable polyneuropathy. Secondary outcomes included intraepidermal nerve fiber density and nerve conduction study parameters.

Results

We enrolled 102 obese participants (mean [SD] age, 52.9 [10.2] years; 48 men and 54 women; 45 with normoglycemia [44.1%], 31 with prediabetes [30.4%], and 26 with type 2 diabetes [25.5%]) and 53 lean controls (mean [SD] age, 48.5 [9.9] years; 16 men and 37 women). The prevalence of polyneuropathy was 3.8% in lean controls (n = 2), 11.1% in the obese participants with normoglycemia (n = 5), 29% in the obese participants with prediabetes (n = 9), and 34.6% in the obese participants with diabetes (n = 9) (P < .01 for trend). Age (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.16), diabetes (odds ratio, 4.90; 95% CI, 1.06-22.63), and waist circumference (odds ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.00-1.55) were significantly associated with neuropathy in multivariable models. Prediabetes (odds ratio, 3.82; 95% CI, 0.95-15.41) was not significantly associated with neuropathy.

Conclusions and Relevance

The prevalence of polyneuropathy is high in obese individuals, even those with normoglycemia. Diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity are the likely metabolic drivers of this neuropathy.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02689661.

Mediators of diabetic neuropathy: is hyperglycemia the only culprit?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a disabling, highly prevalent complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM). Large clinical studies support the concept that, in addition to hyperglycemia, components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) may underlie the pathogenesis of DPN, especially in T2DM. This review will present the evidence supporting the MetS and its individual components as potential causal factors for the development of neuropathy.

RECENT FINDINGS

In addition to poor glycemic control and duration of diabetes, components of MetS such as dyslipidemia, obesity, and hypertension may have an important impact on the prevalence of DPN. Obesity and prediabetes have the most data to support their role in neuropathy, whereas hypertension and dyslipidemia have more mixed results. Nonmetabolic factors, such as genetic susceptibility, age, height, sex, smoking, and alcohol, have also been highlighted as potential risk factors in peripheral neuropathy, although the exact contribution of these factors to DPN remains unknown.

SUMMARY

DPN is a chronic and disabling disease, and the accurate identification and modification of DPN risk factors is important for clinical management. Recent data support a role for components of the MetS and other risk factors in the development of DPN, offering novel targets beyond hyperglycemia for therapeutic development.

Associations between Obesity and Spinal Diseases: A Medical Expenditure Panel Study Analysis

Background: The link between body weight status and spinal diseases has been suggested by a number of cross-sectional and cohort studies with a limited range of patient populations. No population-representative samples have been used to examine the link between obesity and spinal diseases. The present study is based on a nationally representative sample drawn from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Methods: Using the cross-sectional sample of the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Study, we built four weighted logistic regression analyses of the associations between body weight status and the following four spinal diseases: low back pain, spondylosis, other cervical disorders and intervertebral disc disorder (IDD). Each respondent's body weight status was used as the key independent variable with three categories: normal/underweight, overweight, and obese. We controlled for marital status, gender, age, smoking status, household income, health insurance coverage, educational attainment and the use of health services for other major categories of diseases. Results: A total sample of 23,048 respondents was used in our analysis. Overweight and obese respondents, as compared to normal/underweight respondents, were more likely to develop lower back problems (Overweight: logged odds = 0.218, p < 0.01; Obese: logged odds = 0.395, p < 0.001) and IDD (Overweight: logged odds = 0.441, p < 0.05; Obese: logged odds = 0.528, p < 0.001). The associations between bodyweight status and spondylitis were statistically insignificant (Overweight: logged odds = 0.281, p = 0.442; Obese: logged odds = 0.680, p = 0.104). The associations between body weight status and other cervical disorders (Overweight: logged odds = -0.116, p = 0.304; Obese: logged odds = -0.160, p = 0.865) were statistically insignificant. Conclusions: As the first study using a national sample to study bodyweight and spinal diseases, our paper supports the hypothesis that obesity adds to the burden of low back pain and IDD. Longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to understand the specific mechanisms behind these positive associations.

Differential association of body mass index on glycemic control in type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

In contrast to type 2 diabetes, the association of body mass index (BMI) with glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between BMI and average HbA_1c levels in subjects with T1D.

METHOD

In this multi-centre observational study, we analysed 719 subjects with T1D aged ≥18 years. Average HbA_1c levels over 18 months and other clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age and duration of diabetes at baseline were 41.5 ± 13.9 and 11.3 ± 8.7 years, respectively. A U-shaped correlation between BMI and 18-month average HbA_1c levels was documented by a spline curve. Based on this finding, subjects were divided into three groups according to BMI (group I, <21; group II, 21-23; and group III, ≥23 kg/m² ). In group I, the BMI negatively correlated with average HbA_1c (r = -0.172, p = 0.011), while a positive relationship was observed (r = 0.162, p = 0.012) in group III. Average HbA_1c levels were lower and the proportion of individuals with well-controlled glycemia (HbA_1c <7%) were increased in the higher BMI tertile group among subjects with group I as well as in the lower BMI tertile group among subjects with group III BMI. After adjustment with additional covariates in the multiple regression model, these associations between BMI and HbA_1c levels according to the different BMI ranges remained significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In Korean subjects with T1D, an inverse relationship of BMI with HbA_1c levels was observed in the low BMI group, while a positive correlation was shown in the high BMI group. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

There is a paucity of data on the impact of bariatric surgery in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this review was to quantify the overall effects of bariatric surgery in obese patients with T1D.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar from their inception to December 2015 to identify all relevant studies of bariatric surgery in adult obese patients with T1D.

RESULTS

The review included 17 studies with 107 individuals, including 10 case series and 7 case reports. Overall, the dominant procedure was gastric bypass (n = 70; 65%). All studies reported a significant reduction in excess weight. A significant reduction in weight-adjusted daily insulin requirements was shown in all case series except one. Pooled mean ± SD of pre- and postoperative glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for the entire cohort with available data (n = 96) was 8.4 ± 1.3% and 7.9 ± 1.1%, respectively (P = 0.01). In addition to common postoperative complications, profound glycemic changes (diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia) and gastrointestinal dysmotility symptoms (prolonged ileus and acute gastric remnant dilation) have been reported. No surgical mortality was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery leads to significant weight loss in severely obese patients with T1D and results in a significant improvement in insulin requirements and glycemic status. The favorable metabolic effects of bariatric surgery may facilitate medical management of and cardiovascular risk reduction in T1D in the setting of severe obesity. Diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia are potentially serious complications. Short-term results of bariatric surgery in patients with T1D are encouraging, but larger and longer-term studies are needed.

Metabolic Syndrome Components Are Associated With Symptomatic Polyneuropathy Independent of Glycemic Status

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies demonstrate that the metabolic syndrome is associated with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). We aimed to determine the magnitude of this effect and the precise components involved.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We determined the symptomatic DSP prevalence in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study (prospective cohort study, with subjects aged 70-79 years at baseline), stratified by glycemic status (glucose tolerance test) and the number of additional metabolic syndrome components (updated National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III definition). DSP was defined as neuropathic symptoms (questionnaire) plus at least one of three confirmatory tests (heavy monofilament, peroneal conduction velocity, and vibration threshold). Multivariable logistic and linear regression evaluated the association of metabolic syndrome components with DSP in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

RESULTS

Of 2,382 participants with neuropathy measures (mean age 73.5 ± 2.9 years, 38.2% black, 51.7% women), 21.0% had diabetes, 29.9% prediabetes, 52.8% metabolic syndrome, and 11.1% DSP. Stratified by glycemic status, DSP prevalence increased as the number of metabolic syndrome components increased (P = 0.03). Diabetes (cross-sectional model, odds ratio [OR] 1.65 [95% CI 1.18-2.31]) and baseline hemoglobin A1C (longitudinal model, OR 1.42 [95% CI 1.15-1.75]) were the only metabolic syndrome measures significantly associated with DSP. Waist circumference and HDL were significantly associated with multiple secondary neuropathy outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Independent of glycemic status, symptomatic DSP is more common in those with additional metabolic syndrome components. However, the issue of which metabolic syndrome components drive this association, in addition to hyperglycemia, remains unclear. Larger waist circumference and low HDL may be associated with DSP, but larger studies with more precise metabolic measures are needed.

Development and validation of a cost-utility model for Type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

To develop a health economic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of new interventions for Type 1 diabetes mellitus by their effects on long-term complications (measured through mean HbA1c ) while capturing the impact of treatment on hypoglycaemic events.

METHODS

Through a systematic review, we identified complications associated with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and data describing the long-term incidence of these complications. An individual patient simulation model was developed and included the following complications: cardiovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, microalbuminuria, end-stage renal disease, proliferative retinopathy, ketoacidosis, cataract, hypoglycemia and adverse birth outcomes. Risk equations were developed from published cumulative incidence data and hazard ratios for the effect of HbA1c , age and duration of diabetes. We validated the model by comparing model predictions with observed outcomes from studies used to build the model (internal validation) and from other published data (external validation). We performed illustrative analyses for typical patient cohorts and a hypothetical intervention.

RESULTS

Model predictions were within 2% of expected values in the internal validation and within 8% of observed values in the external validation (percentages represent absolute differences in the cumulative incidence).

CONCLUSIONS

The model utilized high-quality, recent data specific to people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. In the model validation, results deviated less than 8% from expected values.

Association of pre-pregnancy BMI and postpartum weight retention with postpartum HbA1c among women with Type 1 diabetes

AIM

To examine the association of pre-pregnancy BMI and postpartum weight retention with postpartum HbA(1c) levels in women with Type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

We longitudinally evaluated 136 women with Type 1 diabetes who received prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum care through Joslin Diabetes Center's Diabetes and Pregnancy Program between 2004 and 2009. Weight, BMI and HbA(1c) concentrations were assessed before the index pregnancy and repeatedly monitored after delivery until 12 months postpartum. We used linear mixed models to assess the association of postpartum HbA(1c) with pre-pregnancy BMI and postpartum weight retention.

RESULTS

The mean HbA(1c) concentration increased from 49 mmol/mol (6.6%) at 6 weeks postpartum to 58 mmol/mol (7.5%) by 10 months postpartum, a level similar to the mean pre-pregnancy HbA(1c) concentration. Postpartum weight retention showed a linearly decreasing trend of 0.06 kg/week (P < 0.0001), with -0.1 kg average postpartum weight retention by 1 year postpartum. Compared with women with a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², women with a lower pre-pregnancy BMI maintained a 3.4 mmol/mol (0.31%) lower HbA(1c) concentration, after adjusting for several sociodemographic, reproductive and diabetes-related factors (P = 0.03). There was a suggestion of a time-varying positive association between HbA1c and postpartum weight retention, with the most significant difference of 3.7 mmol/mol (0.34%; P = 0.05) at 30 weeks postpartum among women with postpartum weight retention ≥ 5 kg vs those with postpartum weight retention < 5 kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-pregnancy BMI and postpartum weight retention were positively associated with HbA(1c) during the first postpartum year in women with Type 1 diabetes. Interventions to modify the behaviours associated with these body weight factors before pregnancy and after delivery may help women with Type 1 diabetes maintain good glycaemic control after pregnancy.

Prevalence and correlates of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in a Saudi Arabic population: a cross-sectional study

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in a Saudi population. The study population consisted of 552 diabetic participants with an average age of 53.4 years. Among this population, 62.7% were male and 94.9% had type 2 diabetes. The average body mass index was 31.1 kg/m². DPN was diagnosed based on a combination of reduced vibration perception measured by neurothesiometer and/or reduced light touch perception evaluated by the 10-g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament, as well as neurological symptoms. Information on socio-demographic variables, smoking status, duration of diabetes, and medications was obtained through interviews by physicians. Body weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure and clinical markers were assessed following standard procedures. The prevalence of DPN in this population was 19.9% (95% CI, 16.7%-23.5%). In the multivariable analyses, longer duration of diabetes [odds ratio (OR) for every 5-year increase, 2.49, 95% CI, 1.75-3.53], abdominal obesity (OR, 2.53, 95% CI, 1.41-4.55), and higher levels of fasting blood glucose (OR for every 1 mmol/L increase, 1.05, 95% CI, 0.99-1.12), creatinine (OR for every 10 µmol/L increase, 1.07, 95% CI, 0.99-1.14) and white blood cell count (OR for every 10⁶/L increase, 1.08, 95% CI, 1.01-1.16) were associated with higher odds of DPN, while oral hypoglycemic medication use was associated with a lower odds of DPN (OR, 0.47, 95% CI, 0.26-0.85). In this large Saudi population, several correlates for DPN, in addition to glycemic control and diabetes duration, were identified, including abdominal obesity, creatinine and white blood cell count.

Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Germany are more overweight than healthy controls: results comparing DPV database and CrescNet database

AIMS

To describe the development of weight in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Germany.

METHODS

We analyzed the body mass index (BMI) of the most recent treatment year of each patient with diabetes in the Pediatric Quality Initiative (DPV) database. BMI SD score (SDS) was calculated based on pooled historical German normative data (AGA) and based on healthy children from the CrescNet database. Thus, 25,762 children and adolescents with diabetes were compared with more than 75,000 healthy controls.

RESULTS

BMI-SDS was 0.49±0.88 and 0.26±0.79 when children and adolescents, respectively, with diabetes were compared with AGA reference or with CrescNet controls from the same year. In both analyses, female patients (0.57±0.89 and 0.30±0.79) had significantly higher BMI-SDS than male patients (0.41±0.86 and 0.22±0.78; p<0.0001). Analysis of different age groups showed highest BMI-SDS in patients below 6 years (0.61 and 0.56, respectively). After adjustment for metabolic control, center, and insulin treatment, BMI-SDS was significantly influenced by diabetes duration, age, and female gender.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is higher compared with healthy children measured in the same year. Especially, very young children and adolescent girls are at risk for overweight independent of annual trends.