The increased risk of microvascular complications in South Asians with type 1 diabetes is influenced by migration

AIM

We aimed to explore the association between South Asian ethnicity and complications of type 1 diabetes, and whether this is affected by migration.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, data on diabetes control and complications were obtained for South Asians in India (South Asians_India , n = 2592) and the UK (South Asians_UK , n = 221) and white Europeans in the UK (n = 1431). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations between ethnicity and diabetic kidney disease, retinopathy and neuropathy adjusting for age, sex, BMI, disease duration, HbA_1c , blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol.

RESULTS

South Asians_India had significantly greater adjusted odds of diabetic kidney disease [odds ratio (OR) 5.0, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.6-7.1] and retinopathy (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.5), but lower odds of neuropathy (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4-0.6) than white Europeans. South Asians_India had significantly greater adjusted odds of diabetic kidney disease (OR 3.0, 95% 1.8-5.3) than South Asians_UK , but there was no significant difference in the odds of other complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In this hypothesis-generating study, we report that South Asian ethnicity is associated with greater risk of diabetic kidney disease and retinopathy, and lower risk of neuropathy than white European ethnicity. Part of the excess diabetic kidney disease risk is reduced in South Asians_UK . These associations cannot be accounted for by differences in vascular risk factors. Our findings in South Asians with type 1 diabetes mirror previous findings in type 2 diabetes and now need to be validated in a study of the effect of ethnicity on type 1 diabetes complications where healthcare is provided in the same setting.

Lipid Profile in Childhood-and Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes and their Association with Microvascular Complications

AIM

To assess the lipid profiles in childhood and youth onset type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and study their association with microvascular complications.

METHODS

Clinical details of individuals with childhood and youth onset T2DM, age at diagnosis between 10 and 25 yrs (n=1340) were retrieved from electronic medical records. Lipid abnormalities were classified based on the NCEP (ATP III) guidelines and management of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents with diabetes. Retinopathy was assessed by retinal photography; nephropathy, if albumin excretion was ≥300 mg/g of creatinine or if the 24 hour protein excretion was >500 mg and neuropathy by elevated vibration perception threshold (≥20 V) on biothesiometry.

RESULTS

Out of 1,340 individuals with childhood and youth with T2DM, 53.3% of them were male. The mean age and duration of diabetes were 28.4 ± 10.4 and 7.4 ± 9.5 years respectively. Overall, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 82.1%. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C and high LDL-C were 40.7%, 52.8%, 59.1 % and 64.5% respectively. In logistic regression, both in unadjusted and adjusted model, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were associated with diabetic retinopathy [OR:1.8, CI:1.4-2.4, p<0.001 and 1.7, 1.3-2.2, p<0.001] and nephropathy [OR:1.7, CI:1.1-2.5, p=0.015 and 1.8, 1.2-2.8, p=0.007]. Additionally, hypercholesterolemia was associated with neuropathy, even after adjusting for age at diagnosis of diabetes and glycated hemoglobin [OR1.6, 1.0-2.5, p=0.041].

CONCLUSIONS

Lipid abnormalities are common and associated with microvascular complications among these T2DM individuals. This underscores the need for effective control of lipids among childhood and youth onset T2DM.

Clinical and molecular characterization of neonatal diabetes and monogenic syndromic diabetes in Asian Indian children

Mutations in the pancreatic ATP sensitive K(+) channel proteins [sulfonyluea receptor 1 (SUR1) and inward rectifier K(+) channel Kir6.2 (Kir6.2), encoded by ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily C member 8 (ABCC8) and potassium channel J11 (KCNJ11), respectively], are the most common cause of neonatal diabetes. We describe the clinical presentation and molecular characterization of Asian Indian children with neonatal diabetes mellitus and monogenic syndromes of diabetes. We sequenced KCNJ11, ABCC8 and insulin (INS) genes in 33 unrelated Indian probands with onset of diabetes below one year of age. A total of 12 mutations were identified which included ABCC8 mutations in seven, KCNJ11 mutations in three and INS mutations in two children. The Asp212Tyr mutation in ABCC8 was novel. We also detected two novel mutations (Val67Met and Leu19Arg) in children with syndromic forms of diabetes like Berardinelli Seip syndrome [1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase beta (AGPAT2)] and Fanconi Bickel syndrome [solute carrier family 2A2 (SLC2A2)]. Children carrying the KCNJ11 (Cys42Arg, Arg201Cys) and ABCC8 (Val86Ala, Asp212Tyr) mutations have been successfully switched over from insulin therapy to oral sulfonylurea. Our study is the first large genetic screening study of neonatal diabetes in India.