Pumps or Multiple Daily Injections in Pregnancy Involving Type 1 Diabetes: A Prespecified Analysis of the CONCEPTT Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare glycemic control, quality of life, and pregnancy outcomes of women using insulin pumps and multiple daily injection therapy (MDI) during the Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Women With Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy Trial (CONCEPTT).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a prespecified analysis of CONCEPTT involving 248 pregnant women from 31 centers. Randomization was stratified for pump versus MDI and HbA_1c. The primary outcome was change in HbA_1c from randomization to 34 weeks' gestation. Key secondary outcomes were continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) measures, maternal-infant health, and patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS

At baseline, pump users were more often in stable relationships (P = 0.003), more likely to take preconception vitamins (P = 0.03), and less likely to smoke (P = 0.02). Pump and MDI users had comparable first-trimester glycemia: HbA_1c 6.84 ± 0.71 vs. 6.95 ± 0.58% (51 ± 7.8 vs. 52 ± 6.3 mmol/mol) (P = 0.31) and CGM time in target (51 ± 14 vs. 50 ± 13%) (P = 0.40). At 34 weeks, MDI users had a greater decrease in HbA_1c (-0.55 ± 0.59 vs. -0.32 ± 0.65%, P = 0.001). At 24 and 34 weeks, MDI users were more likely to achieve target HbA_1c (P = 0.009 and P = 0.001, respectively). Pump users had more hypertensive disorders (P = 0.011), mainly driven by increased gestational hypertension (14.4 vs. 5.2%; P = 0.025), and more neonatal hypoglycemia (31.8 vs. 19.1%, P = 0.05) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions >24 h (44.5 vs. 29.6%; P = 0.02). Pump users had a larger reduction in hypoglycemia-related anxiety (P = 0.05) but greater decline in health/well-being (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In CONCEPTT, MDI users were more likely to have better glycemic outcomes and less likely to have gestational hypertension, neonatal hypoglycemia, and NICU admissions than pump users. These data suggest that implementation of insulin pump therapy is potentially suboptimal during pregnancy.

A Type 1 Diabetes Genetic Risk Score Predicts Progression of Islet Autoimmunity and Development of Type 1 Diabetes in Individuals at Risk

OBJECTIVE

We tested the ability of a type 1 diabetes (T1D) genetic risk score (GRS) to predict progression of islet autoimmunity and T1D in at-risk individuals.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied the 1,244 TrialNet Pathway to Prevention study participants (T1D patients' relatives without diabetes and with one or more positive autoantibodies) who were genotyped with Illumina ImmunoChip (median [range] age at initial autoantibody determination 11.1 years [1.2-51.8], 48% male, 80.5% non-Hispanic white, median follow-up 5.4 years). Of 291 participants with a single positive autoantibody at screening, 157 converted to multiple autoantibody positivity and 55 developed diabetes. Of 953 participants with multiple positive autoantibodies at screening, 419 developed diabetes. We calculated the T1D GRS from 30 T1D-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms. We used multivariable Cox regression models, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, and area under the curve (AUC) measures to evaluate prognostic utility of T1D GRS, age, sex, Diabetes Prevention Trial-Type 1 (DPT-1) Risk Score, positive autoantibody number or type, HLA DR3/DR4-DQ8 status, and race/ethnicity. We used recursive partitioning analyses to identify cut points in continuous variables.

RESULTS

Higher T1D GRS significantly increased the rate of progression to T1D adjusting for DPT-1 Risk Score, age, number of positive autoantibodies, sex, and ethnicity (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29 for a 0.05 increase, 95% CI 1.06-1.6; P = 0.011). Progression to T1D was best predicted by a combined model with GRS, number of positive autoantibodies, DPT-1 Risk Score, and age (7-year time-integrated AUC = 0.79, 5-year AUC = 0.73). Higher GRS was significantly associated with increased progression rate from single to multiple positive autoantibodies after adjusting for age, autoantibody type, ethnicity, and sex (HR 2.27 for GRS >0.295, 95% CI 1.47-3.51; P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

The T1D GRS independently predicts progression to T1D and improves prediction along T1D stages in autoantibody-positive relatives.

Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Risk in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Insights From the DCCT/EDIC Study

Background

Hyperglycemia leading to increased oxidative stress is implicated in the increased risk for the development of macrovascular and microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods and Results

A random subcohort of 349 participants was selected from the DCCT / EDIC (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications) cohort. This included 320 controls and 29 cardiovascular disease cases that were augmented with 98 additional known cases to yield a case cohort of 447 participants (320 controls, 127 cases). Biosamples from DCCT baseline, year 1, and closeout of DCCT , and 1 to 2 years post‐ DCCT ( EDIC years 1 and 2) were measured for markers of oxidative stress, including plasma myeloperoxidase, paraoxonase activity, urinary F 2α isoprostanes, and its metabolite, 2,3 dinor‐8 iso prostaglandin F 2α . Following adjustment for glycated hemoblobin and weighting the observations inversely proportional to the sampling selection probabilities, higher paraoxonase activity, reflective of antioxidant activity, and 2,3 dinor‐8 iso prostaglandin F 2α , an oxidative marker, were significantly associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (−4.5% risk for 10% higher paraoxonase, P <0.003; −5.3% risk for 10% higher 2,3 dinor‐8 iso prostaglandin F 2α , P =0.0092). In contrast, the oxidative markers myeloperoxidase and F 2α isoprostanes were not significantly associated with cardiovascular disease after adjustment for glycated hemoblobin. There were no significant differences between DCCT intensive and conventional treatment groups in the change in all biomarkers across time segments.

Conclusions

Heightened antioxidant activity (rather than diminished oxidative stress markers) is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk in type 1 diabetes mellitus, but these biomarkers did not change over time with intensification of glycemic control.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL : https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifiers: NCT 00360815 and NCT 00360893.

Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (CONCEPTT): a multicentre international randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes are a high-risk population who are recommended to strive for optimal glucose control, but neonatal outcomes attributed to maternal hyperglycaemia remain suboptimal. Our aim was to examine the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) on maternal glucose control and obstetric and neonatal health outcomes.

METHODS

In this multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial, we recruited women aged 18-40 years with type 1 diabetes for a minimum of 12 months who were receiving intensive insulin therapy. Participants were pregnant (≤13 weeks and 6 days' gestation) or planning pregnancy from 31 hospitals in Canada, England, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and the USA. We ran two trials in parallel for pregnant participants and for participants planning pregnancy. In both trials, participants were randomly assigned to either CGM in addition to capillary glucose monitoring or capillary glucose monitoring alone. Randomisation was stratified by insulin delivery (pump or injections) and baseline glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c). The primary outcome was change in HbA_1c from randomisation to 34 weeks' gestation in pregnant women and to 24 weeks or conception in women planning pregnancy, and was assessed in all randomised participants with baseline assessments. Secondary outcomes included obstetric and neonatal health outcomes, assessed with all available data without imputation. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01788527.

FINDINGS

Between March 25, 2013, and March 22, 2016, we randomly assigned 325 women (215 pregnant, 110 planning pregnancy) to capillary glucose monitoring with CGM (108 pregnant and 53 planning pregnancy) or without (107 pregnant and 57 planning pregnancy). We found a small difference in HbA_1c in pregnant women using CGM (mean difference -0·19%; 95% CI -0·34 to -0·03; p=0·0207). Pregnant CGM users spent more time in target (68% vs 61%; p=0·0034) and less time hyperglycaemic (27% vs 32%; p=0·0279) than did pregnant control participants, with comparable severe hypoglycaemia episodes (18 CGM and 21 control) and time spent hypoglycaemic (3% vs 4%; p=0·10). Neonatal health outcomes were significantly improved, with lower incidence of large for gestational age (odds ratio 0·51, 95% CI 0·28 to 0·90; p=0·0210), fewer neonatal intensive care admissions lasting more than 24 h (0·48; 0·26 to 0·86; p=0·0157), fewer incidences of neonatal hypoglycaemia (0·45; 0·22 to 0·89; p=0·0250), and 1-day shorter length of hospital stay (p=0·0091). We found no apparent benefit of CGM in women planning pregnancy. Adverse events occurred in 51 (48%) of CGM participants and 43 (40%) of control participants in the pregnancy trial, and in 12 (27%) of CGM participants and 21 (37%) of control participants in the planning pregnancy trial. Serious adverse events occurred in 13 (6%) participants in the pregnancy trial (eight [7%] CGM, five [5%] control) and in three (3%) participants in the planning pregnancy trial (two [4%] CGM and one [2%] control). The most common adverse events were skin reactions occurring in 49 (48%) of 103 CGM participants and eight (8%) of 104 control participants during pregnancy and in 23 (44%) of 52 CGM participants and five (9%) of 57 control participants in the planning pregnancy trial. The most common serious adverse events were gastrointestinal (nausea and vomiting in four participants during pregnancy and three participants planning pregnancy).

INTERPRETATION

Use of CGM during pregnancy in patients with type 1 diabetes is associated with improved neonatal outcomes, which are likely to be attributed to reduced exposure to maternal hyperglycaemia. CGM should be offered to all pregnant women with type 1 diabetes using intensive insulin therapy. This study is the first to indicate potential for improvements in non-glycaemic health outcomes from CGM use.

FUNDING

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Canadian Clinical Trials Network, and National Institute for Health Research.

CONCEPTT: Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Women with Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy Trial: A multi-center, multi-national, randomized controlled trial - Study protocol

BACKGROUND

Women with type 1 diabetes strive for optimal glycemic control before and during pregnancy to avoid adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes. For most women, optimal glycemic control is challenging to achieve and maintain. The aim of this study is to determine whether the use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) will improve glycemic control in women with type 1 diabetes who are pregnant or planning pregnancy.

METHODS/DESIGN

A multi-center, open label, randomized, controlled trial of women with type 1 diabetes who are either planning pregnancy with an HbA1c of 7.0 % to ≤10.0 % (53 to ≤ 86 mmol/mol) or are in early pregnancy (<13 weeks 6 days) with an HbA1c of 6.5 % to ≤10.0 % (48 to ≤ 86 mmol/mol). Participants will be randomized to either RT-CGM alongside conventional intermittent home glucose monitoring (HGM), or HGM alone. Eligible women will wear a CGM which does not display the glucose result for 6 days during the run-in phase. To be eligible for randomization, a minimum of 4 HGM measurements per day and a minimum of 96 hours total with 24 hours overnight (11 pm-7 am) of CGM glucose values are required. Those meeting these criteria are randomized to RT- CGM or HGM. A total of 324 women will be recruited (110 planning pregnancy, 214 pregnant). This takes into account 15 and 20 % attrition rates for the planning pregnancy and pregnant cohorts and will detect a clinically relevant 0.5 % difference between groups at 90 % power with 5 % significance. Randomization will stratify for type of insulin treatment (pump or multiple daily injections) and baseline HbA1c. Analyses will be performed according to intention to treat. The primary outcome is the change in glycemic control as measured by HbA1c from baseline to 24 weeks or conception in women planning pregnancy, and from baseline to 34 weeks gestation during pregnancy. Secondary outcomes include maternal hypoglycemia, CGM time in, above and below target (3.5-7.8 mmol/l), glucose variability measures, maternal and neonatal outcomes.

DISCUSSION

This will be the first international multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of RT- CGM before and during pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01788527 Registration Date: December 19, 2012.

Pregnancy snapshot: a retrospective, observational case-control study to evaluate the potential effects of maternal diabetes treatment during pregnancy on macrosomia

OBJECTIVE

Pregnancy in women with diabetes is associated with increased incidence of macrosomia (high birth weight) versus women without diabetes. Macrosomia increases the risk of complications during delivery and neonatally. The potential effect on macrosomia incidence certain diabetes treatments may have is not fully established. This study aims to identify whether specific components of the prenatal care of mothers with diabetes are associated with increased macrosomia risk in a real-world U.S.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Retrospective, observational case-controlled study of mothers either without diabetes, or with type 1 (T1D), type 2 (T2D), or gestational diabetes mellitus (G.D.M.), using data from a U.S. insurance claims database. Treatment selection was at physician discretion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Incidence of macrosomia.

RESULTS

For mothers with T2D, use of neutral protamine Hagedorn (N.P.H.) insulin and glyburide increased during pregnancy, from 3.4% to 33.3%, and 3.7% to 16.5%, respectively. The most common G.D.M. treatments during pregnancy were glyburide (15.5%), N.P.H. (12.9%), basal-bolus therapy (10.0%), and metformin (8.1%). Endocrinologist care during pregnancy was associated with insulin use - but not glyburide use - for mothers with G.D.M., and with insulin use for mothers with T1D and T2D (compared with mothers not visiting an endocrinologist). Glyburide was associated with higher odds for macrosomia: G.D.M. (odds ratio [O.R.] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [C.I.] 1.38-1.69, p < 0.0001); T2D (O.R. 1.93, 95% C.I. 1.51-2.47, p < 0.0001). Endocrinologist care was associated with lower odds for macrosomia overall (O.R. 0.86, 95% C.I. 0.81-0.92) and for mothers with G.D.M. (O.R. 0.85, 95% C.I. 0.75-0.97, p = 0.0156) when the sub-populations were examined in separate models.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare utilization and endocrinologist care were related to positive birth outcomes, especially with G.D.M. Further research into the safety and efficacy of glyburide in pregnancy is warranted. This study cannot infer causality and may not be representative of current U.S. healthcare practice.

EVERSUN: a phase 2 trial of alternating sunitinib and everolimus as first-line therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

We hypothesised that alternating inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways would delay the development of resistance in advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A single-arm, two-stage, multicentre, phase 2 trial to determine the activity, feasibility, and safety of 12-week cycles of sunitinib 50 mg daily 4 weeks on / 2 weeks off, alternating with everolimus 10 mg daily for 5 weeks on / 1 week off, until disease progression or prohibitive toxicity in favourable or intermediate-risk aRCC. The primary end point was proportion alive and progression-free at 6 months (PFS6m). The secondary end points were feasibility, tumour response, overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs). The correlative objective was to assess biomarkers and correlate with clinical outcome.

RESULTS

We recruited 55 eligible participants from September 2010 to August 2012.

DEMOGRAPHICS

mean age 61, 71% male, favourable risk 16%, intermediate risk 84%. Cycle 2 commenced within 14 weeks for 80% of participants; 64% received ≥22 weeks of alternating therapy; 78% received ≥22 weeks of any treatment. PFS6m was 29/55 (53%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 40% to 66%). Tumour response rate was 7/55 (13%; 95% CI 4% to 22%, all partial responses). After median follow-up of 20 months, 47 of 55 (86%) had progressed with a median progression-free survival of 8 months (95% CI 5-10), and 30 of 55 (55%) had died with a median OS of 17 months (95% CI 12-undefined). AEs were consistent with those expected for each single agent. No convincing prognostic biomarkers were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The EVERSUN regimen was feasible and safe, but its activity did not meet pre-specified values to warrant further research. This supports the current approach of continuing anti-VEGF therapy until progression or prohibitive toxicity before changing treatment.

AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY

ACTRN12609000643279.

Proposal for generating new beta cells in a muted immune environment for type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, many immune tolerance agents have shown promise in the non-obese diabetic mouse model for prevention and reversal of type 1 diabetes but have not been successful in clinical trials among recently diagnosed type 1 patients. The trials from decades ago using Cyclosporine A in significantly lower dosages than used for organ transplantation and in similar dosages that have increased T regulatory cell populations in conditions such as atopic dermatitis, demonstrated very high initial insulin-free remission rates when administered immediately after diagnosis. Over time, all newly diagnosed type 1 patients given Cyclosporine A required insulin. Human trials with immune tolerance agents suggest that in addition to an immune tolerance agent, a beta cell regeneration agent may also be necessary to induce long-lasting remission among patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind prospective trial among recent onset type 1 diabetes patients has been designed using Cyclosporine A and a proton-pump inhibitor, which increases gastrin levels and has been shown to work through the Reg receptor to transform pancreatic duct cells into islets.

KLF4 expression and apoptosis-related markers in gastric cancer

PURPOSE

To correlate the expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) with clinicopathological properties of gastric cancer (GC) and to evaluate any possible correlation between KLF4 expression and the expression of apoptosis-related markers p53, Fas, Bcl-2, survivin and FLICE inhibitory protein (Flip-l).

METHODS

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens obtained from 96 patients with GC who had undergone gastric surgery were analyzed for pathological parameters, while KLF4, p53, Fas, Bcl-2, survivin and Flip-l expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

TKLF4 immunohistochemical staining was noted in 78.1% of the cases. Strong positivity was found in 15.6% and weak in 62.5% of the samples. Positive expression of p53, Fas, Bcl-2, survivin, Flip-l was found in 56.2%, 44.8%, 15.6%, 41.7% and 38.5% of the samples, respectively. KLF4 expression was significantly associated with p53 nuclear staining and Fas immunoreactivity. p53-positive tumors demonstrated more often high KLF4 staining compared to p53-negative tumors. Fas-positive tumors were associated with decreased KLF4 expression. Logistic regression analysis of apoptosis-related markers to KLF4 expression revealed that Fas positivity significantly decreased the probability of strong KLF4 expression, and inversely, Bcl-2 expression improved the prediction of KLF4 staining. When all 5 predictive variables were considered together (p53, Fas, survivin, Bcl-2, Flip-l) they significantly predicted the type of KLF4 expression in GC cells (p=0.019).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the decrease or loss of KLF4 expression correlates with diffuse-type GC and immunoreactivity to Fas, and are inversely linked with p53 nuclear accumulation. The significance of KLF4 in GC requires further studies and should be more thoroughly investigated for potential use in the evaluation and better stratification of GC patients.

Clinical evaluation of a personalized artificial pancreas

OBJECTIVE

An artificial pancreas (AP) that automatically regulates blood glucose would greatly improve the lives of individuals with diabetes. Such a device would prevent hypo- and hyperglycemia along with associated long- and short-term complications as well as ease some of the day-to-day burden of frequent blood glucose measurements and insulin administration.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a pilot clinical trial evaluating an individualized, fully automated AP using commercial devices. Two trials (n = 22, n(subjects) = 17) were conducted using a multiparametric formulation of model predictive control and an insulin-on-board algorithm such that the control algorithm, or "brain," can be embedded on a chip as part of a future mobile device. The protocol evaluated the control algorithm for three main challenges: 1) normalizing glycemia from various initial glucose levels, 2) maintaining euglycemia, and 3) overcoming an unannounced meal of 30 ± 5 g carbohydrates.

RESULTS

Initial glucose values ranged from 84-251 mg/dL. Blood glucose was kept in the near-normal range (80-180 mg/dL) for an average of 70% of the trial time. The low and high blood glucose indices were 0.34 and 5.1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These encouraging short-term results reveal the ability of a control algorithm tailored to an individual's glucose characteristics to successfully regulate glycemia, even when faced with unannounced meals or initial hyperglycemia. To our knowledge, this represents the first truly fully automated multiparametric model predictive control algorithm with insulin-on-board that does not rely on user intervention to regulate blood glucose in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Technosphere insulin effectively controls postprandial glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

This pilot trial was designed to determine if an optimal dose of Technosphere(®) insulin (TI) inhalation powder (MannKind Corp., Valencia, CA) could be used regardless of variation in meal carbohydrate (CHO) content.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In total, eight subjects (seven men, one woman) with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Subjects underwent dose optimization meal challenge (MC) visits (100% CHO) and MCs with varied CHO meal contents (50%, 200%, and 0% calculated CHOs). Primary end point was change in postprandial glucose (PPG) excursions. Baseline demographics were 60±7 years of age, diabetes duration of 12.3±4.27 years, hemoglobin A1c (A1C) of 7.82±1.04%, and body mass index of 31.3±5.48 kg/m(2).

RESULTS

Maximum mean PPG excursions for the nominal 100% CHO meals were -13±15 mg/dL for breakfast (B) and -14±15 mg/dL for lunch (L), similar to those after 50% CHO meals (B, -17±16 mg/dL; L, +14±10 mg/dL). The largest excursions occurred during 200% CHO meals and remained below American Diabetes Association targets (B, +19±16 mg/dL; L, +32±29 mg/dL). During 15 of the MCs, subjects took their usual TI dose and then had no meal (0% CHO). For the 0% CHO MCs, the largest mean PPG excursion were -33±9 mg/dL at 60 min (B) and -31±10 mg/dL at 60 and 90 min (L). Mean A1C dropped from 7.82±1.04% at the Week 1 visit to 6.18±0.46% (P=0.00091) at the Week 19 visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Results in eight patients suggest that once an optimal dose of TI is determined, type 2 diabetes patients can ingest meals with a wide range of CHO content or even skip meals without severe hypoglycemia. During this pilot study TI therapy improved A1C by -1.63% (P=0.00091) during 19 weeks of treatment.

Turning the tide: type 2 diabetes trends in offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus

In this review, the thesis is presented that maternal hyperglycemia produces an overnourished, fat fetus. If the fetus has a predisposition for type 2 diabetes, then the fat deposition in the fetus is predominantly in the fetal visceral cavity. Visceral fat deposition is the origin of insulin resistance. The fat fetus begins life with its pancreatic output of insulin compromised. Thus, the stage is set for developing type 2 diabetes in its lifetime. This review supports the hypothesis that normalization of maternal nutrition and fucose will decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Maternal efficacy and safety outcomes in a randomized, controlled trial comparing insulin detemir with NPH insulin in 310 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

This randomized, controlled noninferiority trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of insulin detemir (IDet) versus neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) (both with prandial insulin aspart) in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients were randomized and exposed to IDet or NPH up to 12 months before pregnancy or at 8-12 weeks gestation. The primary analysis aimed to demonstrate noninferiority of IDet to NPH with respect to A1C at 36 gestational weeks (GWs) (margin of 0.4%). The data were analyzed using linear regression, taking several baseline factors and covariates into account.

RESULTS

A total of 310 type 1 diabetic women were randomized and exposed to IDet (n = 152) or NPH (n = 158) up to 12 months before pregnancy (48%) or during pregnancy at 8-12 weeks (52%). The estimated A1C at 36 GWs was 6.27% for IDet and 6.33% for NPH in the full analysis set (FAS). IDet was declared noninferior to NPH (FAS, -0.06% [95% CI -0.21 to 0.08]; per protocol, -0.15% [-0.34 to 0.04]). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was significantly lower with IDet versus NPH at both 24 GWs (96.8 vs. 113.8 mg/dL, P = 0.012) and 36 GWs (85.7 vs. 97.4 mg/dL, P = 0.017). Major and minor hypoglycemia rates during pregnancy were similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with IDet resulted in lower FPG and noninferior A1C in late pregnancy compared with NPH insulin. Rates of hypoglycemia were comparable.

Basal insulin analogues in diabetic pregnancy: a literature review and baseline results of a randomised, controlled trial in type 1 diabetes

As basal insulin analogues are being used off-label, there is a need to evaluate their safety (maternal hypoglycaemia and fetal and perinatal outcomes) and efficacy [haemoglobin A1c(HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, and maternal weight gain]. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current literature concerning basal insulin analogue use in diabetic pregnancy, and to present the design and preliminary, non-validated baseline characteristics of a currently ongoing randomized, controlled, open-label, multicentre, multinational trial comparing insulin detemir with neutral protamine hagedorn insulin, both with insulin aspart, in women with type 1 diabetes planning a pregnancy (n = 306) or are already pregnant (n = 164). Inclusion criteria include type 1 diabetes > 12 months' duration; screening HbA1c ≤ 9.0% (women recruited prepregnancy), or pregnant with gestational age 8-12 weeks and HbA1c ≤ 8.0% at randomization. At confirmation of pregnancy all subjects must have HbA1c ≤ 8.0%. Exclusion criteria include impaired hepatic function, cardiac problems, and uncontrolled hypertension. Subjects are randomized to either insulin detemir or neutral protamine hagedorn insulin, both with prandial insulin aspart. The results are expected mid-2011 with full publications expected later this year. Baseline characteristics show that basal insulin analogues are already frequently used in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. This study will hopefully elucidate the safety and efficacy of the basal insulin analogue detemir in diabetic pregnancy.

Frequent monitoring of A1C during pregnancy as a treatment tool to guide therapy

OBJECTIVE

No guidelines for A1C measurement exist for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The aim of this study was to document the rate of A1C decline in women with GDM.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Women with GDM in the Santa Barbara County Endocrine Clinic are managed with a carbohydrate-restricted diet and self-monitored blood glucose before and 1-h postprandial. Insulin is started if the preprandial glucose concentration is ≥90 mg/dl and/or a 1-h postprandial glucose concentration is ≥120 mg/dl. Capillary A1C was tested weekly using the DCA2000+ analyzer.

RESULTS

Twenty-four women with GDM (aged 29.0 ± 7.3 years) with initial A1C ≥7.0% were recruited. Baseline A1C was 8.8 ± 1.8%. Mean A1C decline was 0.47% per week (range 0.10-1.15%); the maximum was 4.3% in 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

This study documents rapid decline in A1C during pregnancy and the utility of weekly A1C to guide therapy.

Quest for the artificial pancreas: combining technology with treatment

The various components of the artificial pancreas puzzle are being put into place. Features such as communication, control, modeling, and learning are being realized presently. Steps have been set in motion to carry the conceptual design through simulation to clinical implementation. The challenging pieces still to be addressed include stress and exercise; as integral parts of the ultimate goal, effort has begun to shift toward overcoming the remaining hurdles to the full artificial pancreas. The artificial pancreas is close to becoming a reality, driven by technology, and the expectation that lives will be improved.

Association between insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and hypertension in pregnancy

There is an association between insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and essential hypertension, but the relation between insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and hypertension diagnosed during pregnancy is not well understood. Transient hypertension of pregnancy, the new-onset nonproteinuric hypertension of late pregnancy, is associated with a high risk of later essential hypertension and glucose intolerance; thus, these conditions may have a similar pathophysiology. To assess the association between insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, essential hypertension, and subsequent development of proteinuric and nonproteinuric hypertension in pregnancy in women without underlying essential hypertension, we performed a prospective study comparing glucose (fasting, 1 and 2 hours postglucose load), insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides levels on routine screening for gestational diabetes mellitus. Women who developed hypertension in pregnancy (n = 37) had higher glycemic levels (fasting, 1 and 2 hours postglucose load) on a 100-gram oral glucose loading test, although only the fasting values showed a statistical significance (p < 0.05), and a significantly higher frequency of abnormal glucose loading tests, two hours after glucose load (>or=140 mg/dL) (p < 0.05) than women who remained normotensive (n = 180). Glucose intolerance was common in women who developed both subtypes of hypertension, particularly preeclampsia. Women who developed hypertension had greater prepregnancy body mass index (p < 0.0001), higher frequency and intensity of acanthosis nigricans (p < 0.0001), and higher baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p <or= 0.0001 for both), although all subjects were normotensive at baseline by study design; they also presented lower levels of HDL-C (p < 0.05). However, after adjustment for these and other potential confounders, an abnormal glucose loading test remained a significant predictor of development of hypertension (p < 0.05) and, specifically, preeclampsia (p < 0.01). There was a trend toward higher insulin and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels in women developing any type of hypertension. When comparing women that remained normotensive to term with those with transient hypertension and preeclampsia, the preeclamptic women were born with lower weight (p < 0.05) and shorter length (p < 0.005); at screening they were older (p < 0.005), showed higher frequency and intensity of acanthosis nigricans (p < 0.0001), had higher prepregnancy BMI (p < 0.0005), as well as higher baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p <or= 0.0001 for both). They also showed higher HOMA-IR levels that did not show a statistical significance. When glucose tolerance status was taken in account, an association was found between increasing indexes of hypertension (p < 0.05) and of HOMA-IR (p < 0.05) with the worsening of glucose tolerance. These results suggest that insulin resistance and relative glucose intolerance are associated with an increased risk of new-onset hypertension in pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia, and support the hypothesis that insulin resistance may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Technology and pregnancy

In the USA, depending upon the diagnosis criteria used, 135,000-200,000 women annually develop gestational diabetes mellitus, adding to the number of pregnant women already suffering from either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Maternal hyperglycaemia and the resultant fetal hyperinsulinaemia are central to the pathophysiology of diabetic complications of pregnancy. These complications include congenital malformations and an increase in neonatal intensive care unit admission and birth trauma. In addition, there is an increased rate of accelerated fetal growth, neonatal metabolic complications and risk for stillbirth. Importantly, during the last century there were two breakthroughs in diabetes management and monitoring that changed the course of treatment: the discovery of insulin and the progress in the understanding of glucose monitoring. As technology has evolved, both glucose monitoring and insulin administration can now be achieved in a continuous fashion. In this review of the literature we focus on the utility of new technologies in the management and monitoring of diabetes in pregnancy.

Approach to the patient with diabetes during pregnancy

The epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) globally are paralleling an increase in the number of women with T2DM becoming pregnant. Because T2DM is frequently undiagnosed before pregnancy, the risk of major malformations in the developing fetus is increased due to uncontrolled hyperglycemia. The lack of preconception care and the increase in complications of pregnancy due to the coexistence of obesity and T2DM are of concern from both an individual and a public health standpoint. Rapid achievement of normoglycemia with limited weight gain is critical to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes in all women with diabetes during pregnancy, regardless of the type of diabetes. This article will focus on T2DM preceding pregnancy due to its increasing prevalence and potentially dire fetal and maternal consequences. Euglycemia before, during, and after all pregnancies complicated by diabetes results in the best opportunity for optimal outcomes for mother and infant.

Gestational diabetes guidelines in a HAPO world

The impact of gestational diabetes on maternal and fetal health has been increasingly recognized. However, universal consensus on the diagnostic methods and thresholds has long been lacking. Published guidelines from major societies differ considerably from one another, ranging in recommendations from aggressive screening to no routine screening at all. As a result, real-world practice is equally varied. The recently published Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (HAPO) study, and two randomized controlled trials evaluating treatment of mild maternal hyperglycemia, have served to confirm the findings of smaller, nonrandomized studies solidifying the link between maternal hyperglycemia and adverse perinatal outcomes. In response to these studies, the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) has formulated new guidelines for screening and diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy. Key components of the IADPSG guidelines include the recommendation to screen high-risk women at the first encounter for pre-gestational diabetes, to screen universally at 24-28 weeks' gestation, and to screen with use of the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test interpreting abnormal fasting, 1-h, and 2-h plasma glucose concentrations as individually sufficient for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Furthermore, to translate the continuous association between maternal glucose and adverse outcomes demonstrated in the HAPO cohort, they recommend thresholds for positive screening tests at which the odds of elevated birth weight, cord C-peptide, and fetal percent body fat are 1.75 relative to odds of those outcomes at mean glucose values. Opponents to the IADPSG recommendations will likely be those who favor risk-based screening in addition to those who endorse the 50-g glucose challenge test followed by the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test as a more cost-effective, familiar, and possibly, well-validated screening tool. Others may argue that the diagnostic thresholds chosen by the IADPSG are arbitrary and will continue to miss many cases of abnormal glucose metabolism and therefore leave open the possibility of adverse perinatal outcomes due to untreated gestational diabetes. Finally, the potential economic impact of the IADPSG guidelines are unknown, and with minimal long-term data yet available on the offspring of the HAPO cohort, a true cost-effectiveness analysis will be difficult to perform accurately. Given these potential points of contention, the responses of professional and international groups to the IADPSG guidelines are difficult to gauge. Regardless, these guidelines serve to advance the discussion on appropriate screening and diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy.

Zone model predictive control: a strategy to minimize hyper- and hypoglycemic events

BACKGROUND

Development of an artificial pancreas based on an automatic closed-loop algorithm that uses a subcutaneous insulin pump and continuous glucose sensor is a goal for biomedical engineering research. However, closing the loop for the artificial pancreas still presents many challenges, including model identification and design of a control algorithm that will keep the type 1 diabetes mellitus subject in normoglycemia for the longest duration and under maximal safety considerations.

METHOD

An artificial pancreatic beta-cell based on zone model predictive control (zone-MPC) that is tuned automatically has been evaluated on the University of Virginia/University of Padova Food and Drug Administration-accepted metabolic simulator. Zone-MPC is applied when a fixed set point is not defined and the control variable objective can be expressed as a zone. Because euglycemia is usually defined as a range, zone-MPC is a natural control strategy for the artificial pancreatic beta-cell. Clinical data usually include discrete information about insulin delivery and meals, which can be used to generate personalized models. It is argued that mapping clinical insulin administration and meal history through two different second-order transfer functions improves the identification accuracy of these models. Moreover, using mapped insulin as an additional state in zone-MPC enriches information about past control moves, thereby reducing the probability of overdosing. In this study, zone-MPC is tested in three different modes using unannounced and announced meals at their nominal value and with 40% uncertainty. Ten adult in silico subjects were evaluated following a scenario of mixed meals with 75, 75, and 50 grams of carbohydrates (CHOs) consumed at 7 am, 1 pm, and 8 pm, respectively. Zone-MPC results are compared to those of the "optimal" open-loop preadjusted treatment.

RESULTS

Zone-MPC succeeds in maintaining glycemic responses closer to euglycemia compared to the "optimal" open-loop treatment in te three different modes with and without meal announcement. In the face of meal uncertainty, announced zone-MPC presented only marginally improved results over unannounced zone-MPC. When considering user error in CHO estimation and the need to interact with the system, unannounced zone-MPC is an appealing alternative.

CONCLUSIONS

Zone-MPC reduces the variability of control moves over fixed set point control without the need to detune the controller. This strategy gives zone-MPC the ability to act quickly when needed and reduce unnecessary control moves in the euglycemic range.

An advisory protocol for rapid- and slow-acting insulin therapy based on a run-to-run methodology

BACKGROUND

Emerging technology, such as an artificial pancreatic beta-cell, is not likely to be affordable to people who live in developing nations in the next 20-30 years. However, multiple-daily injection (MDI) therapy can be improved using similar advanced control algorithms designed for continuous glucose monitoring and continuous insulin infusion pumps.

METHODS

A simulation study of run-to-run control was developed for MDI therapy. Rapid- and slow-acting insulins were used in the protocol, which uses pre- and postprandial glucose measurements. The key information for the synthesis of the control algorithm is the subject insulin sensitivity that is calculated for two cases: (a) when the subject's glycemia and insulin dosing information is known (sensitivity response) and (b) when there is no previous information about the subject's response to the insulin protocol. In the latter case, this information needs to be estimated recursively using online data. After the sensitivity is recalculated, the run-to-run correction scheme is updated, obtaining an adaptive MDI therapy. The robustness of the advisory algorithm was evaluated by constant random parameter variations and superimposing sinusoidal oscillations on glucose-insulin model parameters to simulate intra-individual variability of the glucoregulatory system.

RESULTS

Optimal glycemic control has been achieved for both cases (a and b) despite variable meals (15% variation in carbohydrate content and 15-min variation in timing) and parametric variations in the glucose-insulin model. In Case (b), no profound hypoglycemic (<60 mg/dL) or hyperglycemic (>180 mg/dL) events were observed on average during all evaluations.

CONCLUSIONS

This work shows that the run-to-run framework for insulin updating can be successfully extended to an adaptive MDI protocol. These results motivate the practical implementation of this scheme in portable units such as personal digital assistants or smartphones.

Temporal trends in incidence of Type 1 diabetes between 1986 and 2006 in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Scarce information is available about the variation in the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in the Brazilian population in the last decades.

AIM

The objective of this study was to assess the long-term trends (1986-2006) in the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The annual incidence of Type 1 diabetes (per 100,000 per yr) from 1986 to 2006 was determined in children <or=14 yr of age, using the capture and recapture method.

RESULTS

A total of 176 cases were diagnosed in the study population. The overall incidence was 10.4/100,000 with a range of 2.82/100,000 in 1987 to 18.49/100,000 in 2002 representing a 6.56-fold increase within the same population. The estimated incidence, using the capture and recapture method varied from 2.82/100,000 per yr in 1987 to 27.20/100,000 per yr in 2002, representing a 9.6-fold variation. The global pattern of incidence variation was categorized as high (10-19.99/100,000 per yr), and very high (>or=20/100,000 per yr) in 71.43% of the study-years. Incidence was slightly higher among females, Caucasians, children in the 5-9 yr of age range and belonging to lower socio-economic classes. Most diagnoses were established during the colder months and/or with higher pluviometric indexes.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children is increasing in Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil, and the global pattern of incidence was classified as high or very high, mainly in the last 10 yr. All Brazilian regions should be involved in the study.

Insulin pumps and their use in pregnancy

The prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy has continued to increase, both as obesity drives up the rate of glucose intolerance itself and as improvements in diabetes and infertility treatments allow more women with diabetes to become and remain pregnant into the third trimester. With this increase has come a concomitant increase in the number of pregnant women using insulin to control their blood glucose in pregnancy. This review seeks to identify advantages and disadvantages of insulin pump use in pregnancy, as compared to a more traditional multiple daily injection (MDI) insulin regimen. Insulin pumps have not yet been shown to offer superior glucose control compared to MDI insulin, and thus many healthcare practitioners and health insurance companies are hesitant to adopt such a practice; however, insulin pumps often facilitate ease of usage of insulin and promote postpartum insulin use when indicated. Although only a small percentage of pregnant women with diabetes in the United States currently use insulin pumps, we believe that insulin pumps may represent a superior mode of insulin delivery for many women with diabetes in pregnancy.

Real-Time hypoglycemia prediction suite using continuous glucose monitoring: a safety net for the artificial pancreas

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to develop an advanced algorithm that detects pending hypoglycemia and then suspends basal insulin delivery. This approach can provide a solution to the problem of nocturnal hypoglycemia, a major concern of patients with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This real-time hypoglycemia prediction algorithm (HPA) combines five individual algorithms, all based on continuous glucose monitoring 1-min data. A predictive alarm is issued by a voting algorithm when a hypoglycemic event is predicted to occur in the next 35 min. The HPA system was developed using data derived from 21 Navigator studies that assessed Navigator function over 24 h in children with type 1 diabetes. We confirmed the function of the HPA using a separate dataset from 22 admissions of type 1 diabetic subjects. During these admissions, hypoglycemia was induced by gradual increases in the basal insulin infusion rate up to 180% from the subject's own baseline infusion rate. RESULTS Using a prediction horizon of 35 min, a glucose threshold of 80 mg/dl, and a voting threshold of three of five algorithms to predict hypoglycemia (defined as a FreeStyle plasma glucose readings <60 mg/dl), the HPA predicted 91% of the hypoglycemic events. When four of five algorithms were required to be positive, then 82% of the events were predicted.

CONCLUSIONS

The HPA will enable automated insulin-pump suspension in response to a pending event that has been detected prior to severe immediate complications.

Dysglycemias in pregnancy: from diagnosis to treatment. Brazilian consensus statement

There is an urgent need to find consensus on screening, diagnosing and treating all degrees of dysglycemia that may occur during pregnancies in Brazil, considering that many cases of dysglycemia in pregnant women are currently not diagnosed, leading to maternal and fetal complications. For this reason the Brazilian Diabetes Society (SBD) and the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Societies (FEBRASGO), got together to introduce this proposal. We present here a joint consensus regarding the standardization of clinical management for pregnant women with any degree of dysglycemia, on the basis of current information, to improve medical assistance and to avoid related complications of dysglycemia in pregnancy to the mother and the fetus. This consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis among general practitioners, endocrinologists and obstetricians allowing the dissemination of information in basic health units, public and private services, that are responsible for screening, diagnosing and treating disglycemic pregnant patients.

Siphon effects on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump delivery performance

BACKGROUND

The objective was to quantify hydrostatic effects on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pumps during basal and bolus insulin delivery.

METHODS

We tested CSII pumps from Medtronic Diabetes (MiniMed 512 and 515), Smiths Medical (Deltec Cozmo 1700), and Insulet (OmniPod) using insulin aspart (Novolog, Novo Nordisk). Pumps were filled and primed per manufacturer's instructions. The fluid level change was measured using an inline graduated glass pipette (100 microl) when the pipette was moved in relation to the pump (80 cm Cosmo and 110 cm Medtronics) and when level. Pumps were compared during 1 and 5 U boluses and basal insulin delivery of 1.0 and 1.5 U/h.

RESULTS

Pronounced differences were seen during basal delivery in pumps using 80-100 cm tubing. For the 1 U/h rate, differences ranged from 74.5% of the expected delivery when the pumps were below the pipettes and pumping upward to 123.3% when the pumps were above the pipettes and pumping downward. For the 1.5 U/h rate, differences ranged from 86.7% to 117.0% when the pumps were below or above the pipettes, respectively. Compared to pumps with tubing, OmniPod performed with significantly less variation in insulin delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

Changing position of a conventional CSII pump in relation to its tubing results in significant changes in insulin delivery. The siphon effect in the tubing may affect the accuracy of insulin delivery, especially during low basal rates. This effect has been reported when syringe pumps were moved in relation to infusion sites but has not been reported with CSII pumps.

Responses to continuous glucose monitoring in subjects with type 1 diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or multiple daily injections

OBJECTIVE

We compared changes in response to unmasking of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in subjects with type 1 diabetes who use multiple daily injections (MDI) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Use of real-time CGM (DexCom [San Diego, CA] SEVEN was studied in 38 subjects using CSII and 26 using MDI. CGM output was masked during Week 1 and unmasked during Weeks 2 and 3. We evaluated changes in 16 criteria for quality of glycemic control and eight criteria for glycemic variability.

RESULTS

All 24 criteria showed highly statistically significant improvement when considered simultaneously (P < 0.000001). For subjects using CSII, 18 of 24 criteria improved significantly (nominal P < 0.05); for subjects using MDI, 16 of 24 criteria improved significantly (P < 0.05). Twelve of the comparisons remained significant (P < 0.05) after applying the overconservative Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. The percentage of glucose values within the range 80-140 mg/dL increased by 19% and 17% relative to their control values (Week 1) for subjects using MDI and CSII, respectively. Mean glucose, overall SD (SD(T)), SD between daily means (SD(dm)), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), and mean of daily differences (MODD) improved significantly. Responses to CGM display were not significantly different between the MDI and CSII subject groups for any of the 24 criteria considered individually or in groups of eight, 16, or 24.

CONCLUSION

CGM has similar effectiveness in subjects with type 1 diabetes using either CSII or MDI.

Using Meal-Based Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) Data to Guide Dietary Recommendations in Patients With Diabetes

The purpose of this article is to describe how self- monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) data is a useful tool for identifying and managing postprandial hypergly- cemia (PPHG). PPHG and postprandial glucose excur- sions occur frequently in patients with diabetes even when hemoglobin A1C is controlled below 7.0%, and convey increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Consequently, effective management of diabe- tes must include control of postprandial glucose levels. Postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) depends on the com- position of meals, specifically the amount of carbohy- drates. Reduced-carbohydrate diets offer short-term improvements in glycemic control and other metabolic parameters, but await the support of long-term efficacy and safety studies. Glucose profiling and paired-meal SMBG are useful tools for detecting PPHG and glucose excursions. They provide immediate feedback to patients on the effect of foods and meals, thereby allowing appro- priate food and medication adjustments to improve post- prandial glycemic control

Enhanced 911/global position system wizard: a telemedicine application for the prevention of severe hypoglycemia--monitor, alert, and locate

Intensive insulin therapy has an inherent risk of hypoglycemia that can lead to loss of consciousness, cardiac arrhythmia, seizure, and death ("dead-in-bed syndrome"). This risk of hypoglycemia is a major concern for patients, families, and physicians. The need for an automated system that can alert in the event of severe hypoglycemia is evident. In engineering systems, where there is a risk of malfunction of the primary control system, alert and safety mechanisms are implemented in layers of protection. This concept has been adopted in the proposed system that integrates a hypoglycemia prediction algorithm with a global position system (GPS) locator and short message service such that the current glucose value with the rate of change (ROC) and the location of the subject can be communicated to a predefined list. Furthermore, if the system is linked to the insulin pump, it can suspend the pump or decrease the basal insulin infusion rate to prevent the pending event. The system was evaluated on clinical datasets of glucose tracings from the DexCom Seven system. Glucose tracings were analyzed for hypoglycemia events and then a text message was broadcast to a predefined list of people who were notified with the glucose value, ROC, GPS coordinates, and a Google map of the location. In addition to providing a safety layer to a future artificial pancreas, this system also can be easily implemented in current continuous glucose monitors to help provide information and alerts to people with diabetes.

Association between different levels of dysglycemia and metabolic syndrome in pregnancy

BACKGROUND

In this study, we sought to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in a cohort of pregnant women with a wide range of glucose tolerance, prepregnancy risk factors for MS during pregnancy, and the effects of MS in the outcomes in the mother and in the newborn.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty six women with positive screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were classified by two diagnostic methods: glycemic profile and 100 g OGTT as normoglycemic, mild gestational hyperglycemic, GDM, and overt GDM. Markers of MS were measured between 2428th during the screening.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MS was: 0%; 20.0%; 23.5% and 36.4% in normoglycemic, mild hyperglycemic, GDM, and overt GDM groups, respectively. Previous history of GDM with or without insulin use, BMI >/= 25, hypertension, family history of diabetes in first degree relatives, non-Caucasian ethnicity, history of prematurity and polihydramnios were statistically significant prepregnancy predictors for MS in the index pregnancy, that by its turn increased the adverse outcomes in the mother and in the newborn.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of MS increases with the worsening of glucose tolerance; impaired glycemic profile identifies pregnancies with important metabolic abnormalities even in the presence of a normal OGTT, in patients that are not classified as having GDM.

Continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy

Diabetes throughout gestation presents challenges that greatly influence maternal and fetal outcomes. Since the degree of maternal hyperglycemia is the most deterministic of these risks, glucose monitoring has become a fundamental tool in the management of diabetes in pregnancy. While most patients with diabetes are in need of improved glucose control, certain circumstances beg for more detailed glucose information than is available by conventional methods alone. In this article, we will review the state of diabetes during pregnancy and the serious outcomes that persist despite the overall improvement in glycemic control today. We will discuss the advantages of incorporating continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), specifically in the treatment of pregnancies complicated by diabetes. In addition to its clinical utility, CGM can advance our understanding and classification of normoglycemia during pregnancy. Demarcation of the normal glucose profile that is present during gestation better defines the therapeutic goals for women with diabetes and ultimately promotes success in pregnancy.

Clinical update on optimal prandial insulin dosing using a refined run-to-run control algorithm

BACKGROUND

This article provides a clinical update using a novel run-to-run algorithm to optimize prandial insulin dosing based on sparse glucose measurements from the previous day's meals. The objective was to use a refined run-to-run algorithm to calculate prandial insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios (I:CHO) for meals of variable carbohydrate content in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

METHOD

The open-labeled, nonrandomized study took place over a 6-week period in a nonprofit research center. Nine subjects with T1DM using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion participated. Basal insulin rates were optimized using continuous glucose monitoring, with a target fasting blood glucose of 90 mg/dl. Subjects monitored blood glucose concentration at the beginning of the meal and at 60 and 120 minutes after the start of the meal. They were instructed to start meals with blood glucose levels between 70 and 130 mg/dl. Subjects were contacted daily to collect data for the previous 24-hour period and to give them the physician-approved, algorithm-derived I:CHO ratios for the next 24 hours. Subjects calculated the amount of the insulin bolus for each meal based on the corresponding I:CHO and their estimate of the meal's carbohydrate content. One- and 2-hour postprandial glucose concentrations served as the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

The mean 1-hour postprandial blood glucose level was 104 +/- 19 mg/dl. The 2-hour postprandial levels (96.5 +/- 18 mg/dl) approached the preprandial levels (90.1 +/- 13 mg/dl).

CONCLUSIONS

Run-to-run algorithms are able to improve postprandial blood glucose levels in subjects with T1DM.

Influence of lower cutoff values for 100-g oral glucose tolerance test and glycemic profile for identification of pregnant women at excessive fetal growth risk

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate data from patients with normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results and a normal or impaired glycemic profile (GP) to determine whether lower cutoff values for the OGTT and GP (alone or combined) could identify pregnant women at risk for excessive fetal growth.

METHODS

We classified 701 pregnant women with positive screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) into 2 categories -- (1) normal 100-g OGTT and normal GP and (2) normal 100-g OGTT and impaired GP-to evaluate the influence of lower cutoff points in a 100-g OGTT and GP (alone or in combination) for identification of pregnant women at excessive fetal growth risk. The OGTT is considered impaired if 2 or more values are above the normal range, and the GP is impaired if the fasting glucose level or at least 1 postprandial glucose value is above the normal range. To establish the criteria for the OGTT (for fasting and 1, 2, and 3 hours after an oral glucose load, respectively), we considered the mean (75 mg/dL, 120 mg/dL, 113 mg/dL, and 97 mg/dL), mean plus 1 SD (85 mg/dL, 151 mg/dL, 133 mg/dL, and 118 mg/dL), and mean plus 2 SD (95 mg/dL, 182 mg/dL, 153 mg/dL, and 139 mg/dL); and for the GP, we considered the mean and mean plus 1 SD (78 mg/dL and 92 mg/dL for fasting glucose levels and 90 mg/dL and 130 mg/dL for 1- or 2-hour postprandial glucose levels, respectively).

RESULTS

Subsequently, the women were reclassified according to the new cutoff points for both tests (OGTT and GP). Consideration of values, in isolation or combination, yielded 6 new diagnostic criteria. Excessive fetal growth was the response variable for analysis of the new cutoff points. Odds ratios and their respective confidence intervals were estimated, as were the sensitivity and specificity related to diagnosis of excessive fetal growth for each criterion. The new cutoff points for the tests, when used independently rather than collectively, did not help to predict excessive fetal growth in the presence of mild hyperglycemia.

CONCLUSION

Decreasing the cutoff point for the 100-g OGTT (for fasting and 1, 2, and 3 hours) to the mean (75 mg/dL, 120 mg/dL, 113 mg/dL, and 97 mg/dL) in association with the GP (mean or mean plus 1 SD-78 mg/dL and 92 mg/dL for the fasting state and 90 mg/dL and 130 mg/dL for 1- or 2-hour postprandial values-increased the sensitivity and specificity, and both criteria had statistically significant predictive power for detection of excessive fetal growth.

New modalities in the treatment of pregnancies complicated by diabetes: drugs and devices

The development of drugs and devices in the treatment of pregnancies complicated by diabetes is in constant forward progression to compensate for pancreatic beta cell insufficiency. Maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy is of particular interest due to the severe consequences that surface when a fetus is in development. The drugs that are currently recommended for use during pregnancy include rapid-acting insulin analogs lispro and aspart for meal-related bolus insulin and intermediate-acting NPH for basal insulin. Oral anti-diabetic agents are not recommended for use during pregnancy. Better control may be achieved with the incorporation of real-time glucose sensors and new insulin pumps with hopes of improving pregnancy outcome.

In silico evaluation platform for artificial pancreatic beta-cell development--a dynamic simulator for closed-loop control with hardware-in-the-loop

BACKGROUND

A critical step in algorithm development for an artificial beta-cell is extensive in silico testing. Computer simulations usually involve only the controller software, leaving untested the hardware elements, including the critical communication interface between the controller and the glucose sensor and insulin pump.

METHODS

An in silico simulation platform has been developed that uses all of the components of the clinical system. At the core is a comprehensive in silico population model that covers the variability of principal metabolic parameters observed in vivo, to replace the human subject, with the ability to use historical clinical data. A continuous glucose monitor, in this case either the Abbott Diabetes Care (Alameda, CA) FreeStyle Navigator or the DexCom (San Diego, CA) STS7, is supplied with a glucose signal provided by the simulator. The Insulet (Bedford, MA) OmniPod insulin pump is also interfaced with the simulator to provide insulin delivery data. These hardware elements are an integral part of the system under testing, which also includes the algorithm components.

RESULTS

The system is unique in that it uses the same hardware components for simulations as are required in clinical trials, allowing for full-system level verification and validation. With a detailed mathematical model, a suite of patients can be simulated to reflect various conditions. Because all hardware is used, their related limitations are automatically included.

CONCLUSIONS

A complete artificial beta-cell evaluation platform was realized with the flexibility to interface various algorithms and patient models, allowing for the systematic analysis of monitoring and control algorithms. The system facilitates a variety of tests and challenges to the software and the component devices, streamlining preclinical validation trials.

Bolus calculator: a review of four "smart" insulin pumps

Abstract The use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pumps has been gaining popularity since 1979, when the first research report on insulin pumps was published. Insulin pumps-small medical devices that are programmed to infuse insulin through a catheter placed under the skin-are a replacement for multiple daily injections of insulin. They are currently being used by 375,000 people with type 1 diabetes, many of whom prefer CSII to multiple daily injections because of the increased flexibility of diet and exercise, increased convenience and precision when dosing, and better predictability of blood glucose levels that insulin pumps can provide when used correctly. Recent pump manufacturers have engineered a new feature called a bolus calculator, which calculates bolus insulin doses based on input from the pump wearer, which functions to help patients obtain optimum control over blood glucose levels. The bolus calculator takes into account the patient's current blood glucose, target blood glucose, amount of carbohydrate consumed, and other factors such as insulin sensitivity and insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio as well as duration of insulin action ("insulin on board"). Each pump company calculates insulin doses in a slightly different way. This article will review differences in bolus calculator recommendations between four insulin pumps, as well as errors that may occur when using bolus calculators. It will also include an in silico simulation of a meal followed by a snack using multiple insulin decay curves.

Consensus report of the coalition for clinical research-self-monitoring of blood glucose

The Coalition for Clinical Research-Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Scientific Board, a group of nine academic clinicians and scientists from the United States and Europe, convened in San Francisco, California, on June 11-12, 2008, to discuss the appropriate uses of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and the measures necessary to accurately assess the potential benefit of this practice in noninsulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thirteen consultants from the United States, Europe, and Canada from academia, practice, and government also participated and contributed based on their fields of expertise. These experts represent a range of disciplines that include adult endocrinology, pediatric endocrinology, health education, mathematics, statistics, psychology, nutrition, exercise physiology, and nursing. This coalition was organized by Diabetes Technology Management, Inc. Among the participants, there was consensus that: protocols assessing the performance of SMBG in noninsulin treated T2DM must provide the SMBG intervention subjects with blood glucose (BG) goals and instructions on how to respond to BG data in randomized controlled trials (RCTs);intervention subjects in clinical trials of SMBG-driven interventions must aggressively titrate their therapeutic responses or lifestyle changes in response to hyperglycemia;control subjects in clinical trials of SMBG must be isolated from SMBG-driven interventions and not be contaminated by physician experience with study subjects receiving a SMBG intervention;the best endpoints to measure in a clinical trial of SMBG in T2DM include delta Hemoglobin A1c levels, hyperglycemic events, hypoglycemic events, time to titrate noninsulin therapy to a maximum necessary dosage, and quality of life indices;either individual randomization or cluster randomization may be appropriate methods for separating control subjects from SMBG intervention subjects, provided that precautions are taken to avoid bias and that the sample size is adequate;treatment algorithms for assessing SMBG in T2DM may include a dietary, exercise, and/or medication intervention, which are all titratable according to the SMBG values;the medical literature contains very little information about the performance of SMBG in T2DM from RCTs in which treatment algorithms were used for dysglycemic values; and research on the performance of SMBG in T2DM based on sound scientific principles and clinical practices is needed at this time.

Safety and efficacy of inhaled human insulin (Exubera) during discontinuation and readministration of therapy in adults with type 1 diabetes: A 3-year randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess pulmonary safety during discontinuation and readministration of inhaled human insulin (EXU; Exubera((R)) insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder) therapy in adults with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

Patients were randomized to receive basal insulin plus either pre-meal EXU (n=290) or a short-acting subcutaneous (SC) insulin (n=290) for 2 years (comparative phase), followed by 6 months of SC insulin (washout) and 6 months of their original therapy (readministration). Highly standardized lung function tests were performed throughout.

RESULTS

Small treatment group differences favoring SC insulin in change from baseline forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DL(CO)) occurred early and were non-progressive. These differences resolved during washout and recurred at the same magnitude during readministration. Both groups maintained glycemic control, and hypoglycemic event rates were similar. In the EXU group, insulin antibody (IAb) levels plateaued at 12 months, declined to near baseline levels during washout and increased during readministration to levels observed in the comparative phase.

CONCLUSIONS

FEV(1) and DL(CO) changes observed during discontinuation and readministration of EXU therapy are consistent with a reversible, non-progressive and non-pathological effect on lung function. EXU readministration is not associated with an augmented IAb response.

Continuous glucose monitoring: is it helpful in pregnancy?

The effects of diabetes in pregnancy were first noticed in the beginning of the 19(th) century. Today approximately seven percent of all pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes. Since becoming more knowledgeable of the disease, the medical community has developed diagnostic criteria for detecting gestational diabetes and has created treatment options for lowering the risk of adverse fetal outcomes. A pregnancy affected by diabetes is associated with macrosomia, fetal malformations, spontaneous preterm delivery, and labor complications. These risks can be minimized by tight glycemic control through diet, insulin, and attentive monitoring of blood glucose levels. Although most pregnant diabetic women currently monitor their diabetes using self-monitoring blood glucose, the technology of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers a myriad of benefits. This mini-review looks at the advantages of using CGM in pregnancy which includes decreasing the risks of poor fetal outcomes, improving a patient's overall glucose profile, helping start or adjust insulin treatment, adjusting current screening protocol and developing a normoglycemic target for gestational diabetic women to aim for during their pregnancy. With the use of CGM, the complications of diabetic pregnancies first seen nearly two centuries ago will become a problem of the past.

Mild gestational hyperglycaemia as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome in pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in a cohort of pregnant women with a wide range of glucose tolerance, pre-pregnancy risk factors for MS during pregnancy and the effects of MS in the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

One hundred and thirty six women with positive screening for gestational diabetes (GDM) were classified by two diagnostic methods: glycaemic profile and 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as normoglycaemic, mild gestational hyperglycaemic, GDM, and overt GDM. Markers of insulin resistance were measured between 24-28 and 36th week of gestation, and 6 weeks after delivery.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MS was 0; 20.0; 23.5 and 36.4% in normoglycaemic, mild hyperglycaemic, GDM and overt GDM groups, respectively. Previous history of GDM with or without insulin use, body mass index (BMI) > or = 25, hypertension, family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives, non-Caucasian ethnicity, history of prematurity and polyhydramnios were statistically significant pre-pregnancy predictors for MS in the index pregnancy, that by its turn increased the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of MS increases with the worsening of glucose tolerance and is an independent predictor of adverse perinatal outcomes; impaired glycaemic profile identifies pregnancies with important metabolic abnormalities that are linked to the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes even in the presence of a normal OGTT, in patients that are not currently classified as having GDM.

Waiting for HAPO

The recent global increase in gestational diabetes has paralleled the increased prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study is an attempt to establish gestational diabetes diagnostic criteria as well as to clarify the accurate glucose threshold for the relationship between maternal hyperglycaemia and adverse perinatal outcomes. Although five international workshops have convened to address the importance of gestational diabetes, a resolution towards a general consensus for diagnosis and clinical management of gestational diabetes has not been achieved. Such a resolution may never appear, much like the outcome in the play Waiting for Godot, a character who in the end never arrives, and may not even exist. The accompanying article by Mathiesen and Vaz highlights the fetal, neonatal and maternal risks that accompany inadequate glycaemic control during pregnancies complicated by diabetes, even in the presence of only mild maternal hyperglycaemia. Diet, exercise and an optimised treatment regimen based on regular pre- and postprandial monitoring of blood glucose are essential throughout pregnancy. Pivotal to this goal is the recognition that insulin requirements in pregnancy are distinct from those of the prepregnancy state, and that these requirements change throughout gestation, labour and lactation.

An improved PID switching control strategy for type 1 diabetes

In order for an "artificial pancreas" to become a reality for ambulatory use, a practical closed-loop control strategy must be developed and validated. In this paper, an improved PID control strategy for blood glucose control is proposed and critically evaluated in silico using a physiologic model of Hovorka et al. [1]. The key features of the proposed control strategy are: 1) a switching strategy for initiating PID control after a meal and insulin bolus; 2) a novel time-varying setpoint trajectory; 3) noise and derivative filters to reduce sensitivity to sensor noise; and 4) a practical controller tuning strategy. Simulation results demonstrate that proposed control strategy compares favorably to alternatives for realistic conditions that include meal challenges, incorrect carbohydrate meal estimates, changes in insulin sensitivity, and measurement noise.