Perspectives of Patients with Insulin-Treated Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes on Hypoglycemia: Results of the HAT Observational Study in Central and Eastern European Countries

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the level of awareness of hypoglycemia, the level of fear for hypoglycemia, and the response to hypoglycemic events among insulin-treated diabetes patients from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The impact of hypoglycemia on the use of healthcare resources and patient productivity was also assessed. METHODS: This was a multicenter, non-interventional, two-part, patient self-reported questionnaire study that comprised both a retrospective cross-sectional evaluation and a prospective observational evaluation. Study participants were insulin-treated adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from CEE. RESULTS: Most patients (85.4% T1DM and 83.6% T2DM) reported normal hypoglycemia awareness. The median hypoglycemia fear score was 5 out of 10 for T1DM and 4 out of 10 for T2DM patients. Patients increased glucose monitoring, consulted a doctor/nurse, and/or reduced the insulin dose in response to hypoglycemia. As a consequence of hypoglycemia, patients took leave from work/studies or arrived late and/or left early. Hospitalization was required for 31 (1.2%) patients with T1DM and 66 (2.1%) patients with T2DM. CONCLUSION: Hypoglycemia impacts patients' personal and social functioning, reduces productivity, and results in additional costs, both direct (related to increased use of healthcare resources) and indirect (related to absenteeism. FUNDING: Novo Nordisk

Plasma surface treatment of AISI 4140 steel for improved corrosion resistance

Alloy AISI 4140 steel was plasma-nitrided in a low-pressure abnormal glow discharge in 75% N-2+25% H-2 atmosphere (P=3 torr and T=540 degrees C for 2h) using a home-made laboratory reactor. The corrosion behaviour was evaluated in a chloride environment by potentiostatic and potentiodynamic polarization as a function of thermal treatment and cooling cycle. Results from potentiodynamic polarization in NaCl (3%) indicated the presence of a low anodic dissolution current of about 1 mu Acm(-2) for ionitrided steel having layers thickness >5 mu m as compared to 0.1 Acm(-2) for untreated steel. In addition, the open circuit potential shifted to noble potential clearly indicating that the ionitridation process is a very efficient process for corrosion protection of AISI 4140 steel. Typical results obtained from samples oxidized during the cooling cycle showed an improvement in the corrosion resistance. The potential for pitting initiation and propagation as well as for pitting protection has been determined in a chloride environment. The use of electrochemical techniques as a control of standard parameters has been suggested.31243143