Updated risk factors should be used to predict development of diabetes

Aims Predicting incident diabetes could inform treatment strategies for diabetes prevention, but the incremental benefit of recalculating risk using updated risk factors is unknown. We used baseline and 1-year data from the Nateglinide and Valsartan in Impaired Glucose Tolerance Outcomes Research (NAVIGATOR) Trial to compare diabetes risk prediction using historical or updated clinical information. Methods Among non-diabetic participants reaching 1 year of follow-up in NAVIGATOR, we compared the performance of the published baseline diabetes risk model with a “landmark” model incorporating risk factors updated at the 1-year time point. The C-statistic was used to compare model discrimination and reclassification analyses to demonstrate the relative accuracy of diabetes prediction. Results A total of 7527 participants remained non-diabetic at 1 year, and 2375 developed diabetes during a median of 4 years of follow-up. The C-statistic for the landmark model was higher (0.73 [95% CI 0.72–0.74]) than for the baseline model (0.67 [95% CI 0.66–0.68]). The landmark model improved classification to modest (< 20%), moderate (20%–40%), and high (> 40%) 4-year risk, with a net reclassification index of 0.14 (95% CI 0.10–0.16) and an integrated discrimination index of 0.01 (95% CI 0.003–0.013). Conclusions Using historical clinical values to calculate diabetes risk reduces the accuracy of prediction. Diabetes risk calculations should be routinely updated to inform discussions about diabetes prevention at both the patient and population health levels. © 2017 Elsevier Inc

Qualidade de vida da pessoa diabética Quality of life of the people who suffer from Diabetes Mellitus

Trata-se de um estudo que teve por objetivos identificar o significado de qualidade de vida para a pessoa diabética, reconhecer os aspectos mais influenciados pela doença e o seu grau de satisfação com a vida. Participaram do estudo 46 pacientes diabéticos, adultos, de ambos os sexos, em tratamento ambulatorial. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o significado de qualidade de vida relacionou-se, prioritariamente, ao bem estar físico (54,5%), à estabilidade sócio-econômica 26,0%) e ao bem-estar psico-emocional e espiritual (16,9%). Os aspectos mais afetados pela doença foram: trabalho, estudo e atividades do lar (38,5%), capacidade física (25,6%) e relacionamento familiar (10,3%). Quanto ao grau de satisfação com a vida, a maioria dos pacientes (66,6%) considerou-se satisfeita ou muito satisfeita. Ressalta-se a importância de que, na assistência à pessoa diabética, seja considerada a multidimensionalidade do conceito de qualidade de vida.<br>The purposes of this study were to identify the meaning of the quality of life for the people who suffer from Diabetes Mellitus, to recognize the aspects which affect most their lives due to this disease and the degree of the satisfaction in their lives as well. Participated In this research forty-six (46) diabetic patients, adults of both sexes, who were in a policlinic for treatment. The results showed that the meaning of the quality of life had priority related to the physical well-being (54,5%), to the social and economical stability (26,0%), and to the spiritual and emocional well-being (16,9%). The most affected aspects due to this disease were: studying and home activities (38, 5%) physical ability (25,6%) and family relationship (10,3%). Concerning about the degree of satisfaction with their lives, the majority of them (66,6%) considered themselves satisfied or very satisfied. It is worth while to point out the importance of considering the multimensionality of the concept of quality of life while attending the diabetic person

Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin and hyperproinsulinemia as markers of increased pancreatic ß-cell demand in men

Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are considered to be an indirect index of hyperinsulinemia, predicting the later onset of diabetes mellitus type 2. In the insulin resistance state and in the presence of an increased pancreatic ß-cell demand (e.g. obesity) both absolute and relative increases in proinsulin secretion occur. In the present study we investigated the correlation between SHBG and pancreatic ß-cell secretion in men with different body compositions. Eighteen young men (30.0 &plusmn; 2.4 years) with normal glucose tolerance and body mass indexes (BMI) ranging from 22.6 to 43.2 kg/m2 were submitted to an oral glucose tolerance test (75 g) and baseline and 120-min blood samples were used to determine insulin, proinsulin and C-peptide by specific immunoassays. Baseline SHBG values were significantly correlated with baseline insulin (r = -0.58, P<0.05), proinsulin (r = -0.47, P<0.05), C-peptide (r = -0.55, P<0.05) and also with proinsulin at 120 min after glucose load (r = -0.58, P<0.05). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that proinsulin values at 120 min were the strongest predictor of SHBG (r = -0.58, P<0.05). When subjects were divided into obese (BMI >28 kg/m2, N = 8) and nonobese (BMI <FONT FACE="Symbol">&pound;</FONT>25 kg/m2, N = 10) groups, significantly lower levels of SHBG were found in the obese subjects. The obese group had significantly higher baseline proinsulin, C-peptide and 120-min proinsulin and insulin levels. For the first time using a specific assay for insulin determination, a strong inverse correlation between insulinemia and SHBG levels was confirmed. The finding of a strong negative correlation between SHBG levels and pancreatic ß-cell secretion, mainly for the 120-min post-glucose load proinsulin levels, reinforces the concept that low SHBG levels are a suitable marker of increased pancreatic ß-cell demand

Influence of dexamethasone and weight loss on the regulation of serum leptin levels in obese individuals

The adipocyte hormone leptin is thought to serve as a signal to the central nervous system reflecting the status of fat stores. Serum leptin levels and adipocyte leptin messenger RNA levels are clearly increased in obesity. Nevertheless, the factors regulating leptin production are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of in vivo administration of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone and weight loss on serum leptin levels in two independent protocols. Twenty-five obese subjects were studied (18 women and 7 men, mean age 26.6 ± 6 years, BMI 31.1 ± 2.5 kg/m², %fat 40.3 ± 8.3) and compared at baseline to 22 healthy individuals. Serum levels of leptin, insulin, proinsulin and glucose were assessed at baseline and after ingestion of dexamethasone, 4 mg per day (2 mg, twice daily) for two consecutive days. To study the effects of weight loss on serum leptin, 17 of the obese subjects were submitted to a low-calorie dietary intervention trial for 8 weeks and again blood samples were collected. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in the obese group compared to the control group and a high positive correlation between leptinemia and the magnitude of fat mass was found (r = 0.88, P<0.0001). After dexamethasone, there was a significant increase in serum leptin levels (22.9 ± 12.3 vs 51.4 ± 23.3 ng/ml, P<0.05). Weight loss (86.1 ± 15.1 vs 80.6 ± 14.2 kg, P<0.05) led to a reduction in leptin levels (25.13 ± 12.8 vs 15.9 ± 9.1 ng/ml, P<0.05). We conclude that serum leptin levels are primordially dependent on fat mass magnitude. Glucocorticoids at supraphysiologic levels are potent secretagogues of leptin in obese subjects and a mild fat mass reduction leads to a disproportionate decrease in serum leptin levels. This suggests that, in addition to the changes in fat mass, complex nutritional and hormonal interactions may also play an important role in the regulation of leptin levels