Weight loss experiences and willingness to intervention with pharmacotherapy among obese and very obese Danish people

OBJECTIVES

Obesity is a growing issue with increasing impact on healthcare budgets, yet very little is known about weight loss experiences of people with body mass index (BMI)≥30kg/m(2) and their willingness to try and pay for weight loss interventions (WLI). The objective of this survey was to gather knowledge about weight loss experiences among obese and severely obese people.

METHODS

1,003 Danish people >18 years of age with BMI≥30 who wanted to lose weight completed an online survey. Data included demographics, experience with WLI, awareness of anti-obesity medication (AOM), and willingness to try and pay for WLI including AOM.

RESULTS

Respondents had been trying to lose weight for several years (medium [25% percentile;75% percentile]);5.1[2.0;10.3] years (BMI 30-35) and 10.0 [5.0;20.0] (very obese (BMI>35) with co-morbidities (OWC). The desired weight loss was 20.0 [15.0;25.0] kg (BMI 30-35) and 35.0 [28.0;47.5] kg (OWC). Independent of educational level and gender, health concern was the main incentive for weight loss. Several WLI had been tried repeatedly, yet 60% of respondents with BMI 30-35 and 50% of the OWC were unaware of AOM. Among those who had tried AOM, side effects and lack of effectiveness were the main reasons to stop. 50-73% were willing to try AOM dependent on expected weight loss. Willingness to try and pay for new AOM was strongest for the OWC.

CONCLUSION

Respondents had made repeated attempts for up to a decade to lose weight, yet remained far from their ideal weight. They had spent a substantial amount of money on WLI, had limited information of AOM, and indicated a desire for increased professional support.

Individual and societal consequences of hypoglycemia: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia and fear of hypoglycemia threaten individuals' ability to work and drive. We studied the effect of hypoglycemia on the individual and society, with a focus on possible implications of new European union legislation on patients' continued ability to drive.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of Danish Diabetes Association members was conducted to investigate individual and societal consequences of hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

A total of 3117/9951 individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) (32.2%) or type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (67.8%) completed the survey. The calculated incidence rates of self-reported severe and mild hypoglycemia were 2.9, 0.6 and 0.1 events per patient year (ppy) in patients with T1DM, insulin using T2DM and non-insulin using T2DM, respectively; and incidence rates of self-reported mild hypoglycemia were 99.0, 23.2 and 10.9 events ppy, respectively. Self-care strategies to avoid hypoglycemia include maintaining higher blood glucose levels (45.7%) and reducing physical activity (15.7%). Few people take sick leave as a result of hypoglycemia, but prolonged mental recovery ≥4 h following an episode of mild or severe hypoglycemia was reported by 8.7 and 31.0%, respectively. 26.5% of patients holding a valid driving license reported having ever had at least one episode of severe hypoglycemia. Patients considering underreporting of hypoglycemia to maintain their driving license were more likely to have experienced severe hypoglycemia (odds ratio [OR]: 3.03; 95% CI: 2.42-3.79; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

A high proportion of insulin-treated patients experience hypoglycemia resulting in fear of hypoglycemia and changes in self-care behavior that may compromise glycemic control. Many patients with a history of severe hypoglycemia consider underreporting hypoglycemic events through concern over retaining their driving license.

The use of double-balloon enteroscopy in retrieving mucosal biopsies from the entire human gastrointestinal tract

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this explorative study was to evaluate double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) as a new tool for collecting mucosal biopsies from well-defined parts of the entire small and large bowel in patients with type 2 diabetes and in matched healthy subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twelve subjects with type 2 diabetes and 12 body mass index and age-matched healthy subjects underwent anterograde and retrograde DBE under nurse-administered propofol sedation on two separate days. We attempted to collect two mucosal biopsies from every 30 cm from pylorus to rectum.

RESULTS

A mean of 21 biopsy sites were sampled in the diabetic group versus 25 in the healthy group. In 4 out of 24 patients (2 [17%] from each group) sampling from the entire gastrointestinal system was possible. Mean depth of maximal insertion (anterograde) was 478 ± 32 cm in patients with type 2 diabetes versus 465 ± 44 cm in healthy subjects (p = 0.81) and with retrograde access 230 ± 36 cm (type 2 diabetes) versus 207 ± 26 cm (healthy subjects).

CONCLUSIONS

DBE is a minimally invasive way of collecting fresh biopsies from the entire gastrointestinal tract and, thus provides research and clinical communities with a new possibility to access hitherto unexplored human anatomy and physiology.

The impact of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibition on incretin effect, glucose tolerance, and gastrointestinal-mediated glucose disposal in healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE

Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is thought to intensify the physiological effects of the incretin hormones. We investigated the effects of DPP4 inhibition on plasma levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), incretin effect, glucose tolerance, gastrointestinal-mediated glucose disposal (GIGD) and gastric emptying in healthy subjects.

DESIGN

A randomised, controlled and open-labelled study.

METHODS

Ten healthy subjects (six women; age, 40±5 years (mean±s.e.m.); BMI, 24±3 kg/m(2); fasting plasma glucose, 5.1±0.2 mmol/l and HbA1c, 34±1 mmol/mol (5.3±0.1%)) were randomised to two-paired study days comprising a 4-h 50 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with paracetamol (A) and an isoglycaemic intravenous (i.v.) glucose infusion (B), with (A1+B1) and without (A2+B2) preceding administration of the DPP4 inhibitor sitagliptin.

RESULTS

Isoglycaemia was obtained in all subjects on the paired study days. Significant increases in fasting levels and OGTT-induced responses of active GLP1 and GIP were seen after DPP4 inhibition. No significant impact of DPP4 inhibition on fasting plasma glucose (5.1±0.1 vs 4.9±0.1 mmol/l, P=0.3), glucose tolerance (area under the curve (AUC) for plasma glucose, 151±35 vs 137±26 mmol/l×min, P=0.7) or peak plasma glucose during OGTT (8.5±0.4 vs 8.1±0.3 mmol/l, P=0.3) was observed. Neither incretin effect (40±9% (without DPP4 inhibitor) vs 40±7% (with DPP4 inhibitor), P=1.0), glucagon responses (1395±165 vs 1223±195 pmol/l×min, P=0.41), GIGD (52±4 vs 56±5%, P=0.40) nor gastric emptying (Tmax for plasma paracetamol: 86±9 vs 80±12 min, P=0.60) changed following DPP4 inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that acute increases in active incretin hormone levels do not affect glucose tolerance, GIGD, incretin effect, glucagon responses or gastric emptying in healthy subjects.

Current evidence for a role of GLP-1 in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass-induced remission of type 2 diabetes

Weight-reducing surgical procedures such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) have proven efficient as means of decreasing excess body weight. Furthermore, some studies report that up to 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergoing RYGB experience complete remission of their T2DM. Interestingly, the majority of remissions occur almost immediately following the operation and long before significant weight loss has taken place. Following RYGB, dramatic increases in postprandial plasma concentrations of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) have been recorded, and the known antidiabetic effects of GLP-1 are thought to be key mediators in RYGB-induced remission of T2DM. However, the published studies on the impact of RYGB on GLP-1 secretion are few, small and often not controlled properly. Furthermore, mechanistic studies delineating the role of endogenous GLP-1 secretion in RYGB-induced remission of T2DM are lacking. This article critically evaluates the current evidence for a role of GLP-1 in RYGB-induced remission of T2DM.