A qualitative study exploring the factors that influence the uptake of pre-pregnancy care among women with Type 2 diabetes

AIM

To elicit the views and experiences of women with Type 2 diabetes and healthcare professionals relating to the pregnancy and pre-pregnancy care they have received or provided.

METHODS

A qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews with women with Type 2 diabetes (n=30) and healthcare professionals (n=22) from primary and specialist care. Women were purposively sampled to include different experiences of pregnancy and pre-pregnancy care. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Framework Analysis.

RESULTS

The median age of the women was 37 years, and most were obese (median BMI 34.9 kg/m² ), of black or Asian ethnicity (n=24, 80%) and from areas of high deprivation (n=21, 70%). Participating healthcare professionals were from primary (n=14), intermediate (n=4) and secondary (n=4) care. Seven themes expressing factors that mediate reproductive behaviour and care in women with Type 2 diabetes were identified at the patient, professional and system levels. Type 2 diabetes was generally perceived negatively by the women and the healthcare professionals. There was a lack of awareness about the pre-pregnancy care needs for this population, and communication between both groups was unhelpful in eliciting the reproductive intentions of these women. The themes also reveal a lack of systemic processes to incorporate pre-pregnancy care into the care of women with Type 2 diabetes, and consequently, health professionals in primary care have limited capacity to provide such support.

CONCLUSION

If the current high levels of unprepared pregnancies in women with Type 2 diabetes are to be reduced, the reproductive healthcare needs of this group need to be embedded into their mainstream diabetes management.

Peripheral neuropathy in diabetes: it's not always what it looks like

BACKGROUND

Hereditary Neuropathy with liability to Pressure Palsies (HNPP) is an autosomal dominant neuropathy, associated with deletion of the Peripheral Myelin Protein-22 (PMP-22) gene, causing recurrent painless palsies with age of onset between 10 and 30 years old. Only a few cases of Type 2 Diabetes and HNPP have been described and the coexistence of HNPP and Type 1 diabetes has never been reported.

CASE REPORT

A 54-year old man with a history of Type 1 diabetes, managed with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), presented with deterioration of long-standing motor and sensory symptoms, previously attributed to golfer's elbow, diabetic neuropathy and spinal degenerative disease. He had multilevel severe spine degenerative changes and L4/L5 and L5/S1 root impingements with a L4/L5 discectomy performed when he was 25 years old. On physical examination he had normal power and distal hypoaesthesia of the digits and plantar aspect of the feet. Investigations revealed normal full blood count, liver and renal function, electrolytes, vitamin B12 and serum folate. He suffered from primary hypothyroidism and thyroid function tests indicated adequate levothyroxine replacement. Nerve conduction studies revealed a generalized demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy, with more severe involvement of nerves over entrapment sites. Further history that his father suffered from episodes of weakness and numbness was elicited. Genetic analysis revealed one copy of the PMP22 gene at 17p11.2 confirming the diagnosis of HNPP.

CONCLUSION

In people with diabetes the evaluation of peripheral neuropathy should include a careful history, a comprehensive physical examination, blood tests and in some cases nerve conduction studies and genetic testing.

Cerebral cavernoma: an emerging long-term consequence of external beam radiation in childhood

The long-term effects of cranial external beam radiotherapy are emerging as survival rates for cerebral tumours improve. Cerebral cavernoma are a recognized consequence of cranial irradiation. Endocrinologists managing the life-long complications of hypopituitarism associated with irradiation need to be aware and vigilant of the risks of cavernoma formation, in particular in the population with a history of childhood irradiation. We present three cases of young patients who were diagnosed with cerebral cavernoma many years after childhood irradiation treatment and review the current literature on this condition. We discuss implications for endocrine practice as rising numbers of patients survive childhood cancer and irradiation and are now attending adult endocrine services for long-term management of secondary hypopituitarism.

Emergency management of diabetes and hypoglycaemia

OBJECTIVE

Hypoglycaemia is the commonest diabetic emergency and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. This study looked at the use of the emergency services by people with diabetes, with particular reference to hypoglycaemia.

METHOD

Data were collected on all attendances related to diabetes at accident and emergency departments at two district general hospitals in Surrey, UK, over a one year period.

RESULTS

Hypoglycaemia was the commonest reason for attendance at accident and emergency. The management of hypoglycaemia was variable, the most frequent method of treatment being intramuscular glucagon administered by the ambulance service. Ninety per cent of patients with hypoglycaemia were either discharged or self-discharged from the accident and emergency department, and half of these patients had no follow up arranged.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoglycaemia is the commonest diabetic emergency and current management is suboptimal. Standardised protocols and better education of healthcare professionals and patients are required.

Clinical trial comparing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) plus brief counselling, brief counselling alone, and minimal intervention on smoking cessation in hospital inpatients

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend that smoking cessation interventions are offered in all clinical settings to all smokers willing to make a quit attempt. Since the effectiveness of routine provision of behavioural counselling and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to smokers admitted to hospital has not been established, a randomised controlled trial of these interventions given together compared with counselling alone or minimal intervention was performed in hospital inpatients.

METHODS

Medical and surgical inpatients who were current smokers at the time of admission were randomised to receive either usual care (no additional advice at admission), counselling alone (20 minute intervention with written materials), or NRT plus counselling (counselling intervention with a 6 week course of NRT). Continuous and point prevalence abstinence from smoking (validated by exhaled carbon monoxide <10 ppm) was measured at discharge from hospital and at 3 and 12 months, and self-reported reduction in cigarette consumption in smokers was assessed at 3 and 12 months.

RESULTS

274 inpatient smokers were enrolled. Abstinence was higher in the NRT plus counselling group (n=91) than in the counselling alone (n=91) or usual care (n=92) groups. The difference between the groups was significant for validated point prevalence abstinence at discharge (55%, 43%, 37% respectively, p=0.045) and at 12 months (17%, 6%, 8%, p=0.03). The respective differences in continuous validated abstinence at 12 months were 11%, 4%, 8% (p=0.25). There was no significant difference between counselling alone and usual care, or in reduction in cigarette consumption between the treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

NRT given with brief counselling to hospital inpatients is an effective routine smoking cessation intervention.