Characterization of pre-transplant psychosocial burden in an integrated national islet transplant programme

The psychological burden experienced by people with diabetes prior to islet transplantation is recognized but has not been studied comprehensively, especially in relation to glycemia. Therefore, we conducted a rigorous pre-operative psychosocial profile of UK islet transplant recipients, and compared groups with higher/lower HbA1 c to test the null hypothesis that pre-transplant hypoglycemia awareness and psychosocial burden would not be related to baseline HbA1 c in this high-risk cohort. Pre-transplant, recipients (n = 44) completed validated hypoglycemia awareness questionnaires and generic/diabetes-specific measures of psychological traits and states. Scores were compared in groups, dichotomized by HbA1 c (≤8% versus >8%). Participants were aged (mean±SD) 53 ± 10 years; 64% were women; with HbA1 c 8.3 ± 1.7%. Median rate of severe hypoglycemia over the preceding 12 months was 13 events/person-year and 90% had impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (Gold/Clarke score ≥4). Participants had elevated fear of hypoglycemia (HFS-II Worry), impaired diabetes-specific quality of life (DQoL) and low generic health status (SF-36; EQ-5D). One quarter reported scores indicating likely anxiety/depression (HAD). Dispositional optimism (LOT-R) and generalized self-efficacy (GSE) were within published ‘norms.’ Despite negative perceptions of diabetes (including low personal control), participants were confident that islet transplantation would help (BIPQ). Hypoglycemia awareness and psychosocial profile were comparable in lower (n = 24) and higher (n = 20) HbA1 c groups. Islet transplant candidates report sub-optimal generic psychological states (anxiety/depressive symptoms), health status and diabetes-specific psychological states (fear of hypoglycemia, diabetes-specific quality of life). While their generic psychological traits (optimism, self-efficacy) are comparable with the general population, they are highly optimistic about forthcoming transplant. HbA1 c is not a proxy measure of psychosocial burden, which requires the use of validated questionnaires to systematically identify those who may benefit most from psychological assessment and support

Predictors of Recurrent Severe Hypoglycemia in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes and Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia During the HypoCOMPaSS Study.

OBJECTIVE: The HypoCOMPaSS study was designed to test the hypothesis that successful avoidance of biochemical hypoglycemia without compromising overall glycemic control would restore sufficient hypoglycemia awareness to prevent recurrent severe hypoglycemia in the majority of participants with established type 1 diabetes. Before starting the study, we planned to investigate associations between baseline characteristics and recurrent severe hypoglycemia over 2 years' follow-up. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 96 adults with type 1 diabetes and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia participated in a 24-week 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial comparing insulin delivery and glucose monitoring modalities, with the goal of rigorous biochemical hypoglycemia avoidance. The analysis included 71 participants who had experienced severe hypoglycemia in the 12-month prestudy with confirmed absence (complete responder) or presence (incomplete responder) of severe hypoglycemia over 24 months' follow-up. RESULTS: There were 43 (61%) complete responders and 28 (39%) incomplete responders experiencing mean ± SD 1.5 ± 1.0 severe hypoglycemia events/person-year. At 24 months, incomplete responders spent no more time with glucose ≤3 mmol/L (1.4 ± 2.1% vs. 3.0 ± 4.8% for complete responders; P = 0.26), with lower total daily insulin dose (0.45 vs. 0.58 units/24 h; P = 0.01) and greater impairment of hypoglycemia awareness (Clarke score: 3.8 ± 2.2 vs. 2.0 ± 1.9; P = 0.01). Baseline severe hypoglycemia rate (16.9 ± 16.3 vs. 6.4 ± 10.8 events/person-year; P = 0.002) and fear of hypoglycemia were higher in incomplete responders. Peripheral neuropathy was more prevalent in incomplete responders (11 [39%] vs. 2 [4.7%]; P < 0.001) with a trend toward increased autonomic neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent severe hypoglycemia was associated with higher preintervention severe hypoglycemia rate, fear of hypoglycemia, and concomitant neuropathy