Metabolic health and vascular complications in type 1 diabetes

AIMS: Optimal glycaemic control benefits risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) but the importance of other components of metabolic health is less certain, particularly in the context of routine clinical practice. METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional analysis derived from a database covering inner North West London adult diabetes clinics. People with T1DM and with complete information for height, weight, blood pressure and serum high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c and LDL-c) and triglyceride concentration measurements were included. RESULTS: Among the 920 participants, those with complications were older and had longer duration of diabetes but had similar HbA1c to people without complications. Systolic hypertension and low HDL-c were independently associated with complications. From having 0 risk factors, the prevalence of micro and macrovascular disease increased with increasing number of risk factors. Relative to those with ≥1 risk factor, those with 0 risk factors (n = 179) were at lower risk of retinopathy (OR 0.6 (0.4-0.9), p = 0.01) and nephropathy [OR 0.1 (0.04-0.3), p = 0.002], independent of individual characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: In routine clinical management of T1DM, associations between lipid and blood pressure risk factors and prevalent micro and macrovascular disease remain, implying that more intensive risk factor management may be beneficial

Biochemical, physiological and psychological changes during endurance exercise in people with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of people with diabetes are adopting exercise programs. Fear of hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia itself, and injuries are major issues for many people with diabetes undertaking physical activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of type 1 diabetes mellitus on the risk of hypoglycemia, glycemic variability, exercise performance, changes in body composition, changes in insulin dosage, and psychosocial well-being during a multiday endurance exercise event. METHODS: Eleven participants (7 with type 1 diabetes, 4 with normal glucose tolerance) undertook a 15-day, 2300 km cycling tour from Barcelona to Vienna. Data were prospectively collected using bike computers, continuous glucose monitors, body composition analyzers, and mood questionnaires. RESULTS: Mean blood glucose in riders with and without diabetes significantly reduced as the event progressed. Glycemic variability and time spent in hypoglycemia did not change throughout the ride for either set of riders. Riders with diabetes in the lowest quartile of sensor glucose values had significantly reduced power output. Percentage body fat also significantly fell. Hypo- and hyperglycemia provoked feelings of anxiety and worry. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe a real-time endurance event in type 1 diabetes, and provides important new data that cannot be studied in laboratory conditions. Hypoglycemia continues to occurs in spite of peer support and large reductions in insulin dose. Glycemic variability is shown as a potential barrier to participation in physical activity through effects on mood and psychological well-being

Diabetes risk and amino acid profiles: cross-sectional and prospective analyses of ethnicity, amino acids and diabetes in a South Asian and European cohort from the SABRE (Southall And Brent REvisited) Study.

Aims/hypothesis: South Asian individuals have an increased risk of diabetes compared with Europeans that is unexplained by obesity and traditional or established metabolic measures. Circulating amino acids (AAs) may provide additional explanatory insights. In a unique cohort of European and South Asian men, we compared cross-sectional associations between AAs, metabolic and obesity traits, and longitudinal associations with incident diabetes. / Methods: Nuclear magnetic spectroscopy was used to measure the baseline (1988–1991) levels of nine AAs in serum samples from a British population-based cohort of 1,279 European and 1,007 South Asian non-diabetic men aged 40–69 years. Follow-up was complete for 19 years in 801 European and 643 South Asian participants. / Results: The serum concentrations of isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and alanine were significantly higher in South Asian men, while cross-sectional correlations of AAs with glycaemia and insulin resistance were similar in the two ethnic groups. However, most AAs were less strongly correlated with measures of obesity in the South Asian participants. Diabetes developed in 227 (35%) South Asian and 113 (14%) European men. Stronger adverse associations were observed between branched chain and aromatic AAs and incident diabetes in South Asian men. Tyrosine was a particularly strong predictor of incident diabetes in South Asian individuals, even after adjustment for metabolic risk factors, including obesity and insulin resistance (adjusted OR for a 1 SD increment, 1.47, 95% CI 1.17,1.85, p = 0.001) compared with Europeans (OR 1.10, 0.87, 1.39, p = 0.4; p = 0.045 for ethnicity × tyrosine interaction). / Conclusions/interpretation: Branched chain and aromatic AAs, particularly tyrosine, may be a focus for identifying novel aetiological mechanisms and potential treatment targets for diabetes in South Asian populations and may contribute to their excess risk of diabetes

Hyperglycemia recognised in early pregnancy is phenotypically type 2 diabetes mellitus not gestational diabetes mellitus: a case control study

OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as "diabetes recognized in the second or third trimester that is not clearly overt diabetes". Evidence relating to women with hyperglycemia early in pregnancy is limited. We aimed to evaluate women diagnosed with hyperglycemia early in pregnancy (eGDM) and compared them to those with pregestational established type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gestational diabetes diagnosed routinely at 24-28-week gestation (rtGDM) to determine if the length of exposure to hyperglycemia adversely affected outcomes. METHODS: Forty consecutive women with eGDM who attended a multidisciplinary antenatal clinic were reviewed. Two separate BMI-matched control groups were identified, recognized pregestational T2DM (n = 80) and rtGDM (n = 80). Baseline demographics and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: A higher proportion of women in the eGDM and T2DM group required insulin and the incidence of hypertensive disorders was similarly increased compared with the rtGDM group (88.6, 77.0 versus 8.1%, p < .001 and 42.5%, 37.5 versus 12.5% p < .001, respectively). The proportion of infants born small for gestational age varied (eGDM 11.1%, T2DM 13.0%, and rtGDM 2.5%, p=.049). Postpartum, 7.5% of eGDM women were diagnosed with T2DM versus 1.3% in the rtGDM group (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: These novel data demonstrate that the length of exposure to glucose adversely affects materno-foetal outcomes independent of maternal adiposity

Rationale and protocol for the After Diabetes Diagnosis REsearch Support System (ADDRESS): an incident and high risk type 1 diabetes UK cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Type 1 diabetes is heterogeneous in its presentation and progression. Variations in clinical presentation between children and adults, and with ethnic group warrant further study in the UK to improve understanding of this heterogeneity. Early interventions to limit beta cell damage in type 1 diabetes are undergoing evaluation, but recruitment is challenging. The protocol presented describes recruitment of people with clinician-assigned, new-onset type 1 diabetes to understand the variation in their manner of clinical presentation, to facilitate recruitment into intervention studies and to create an open-access resource of data and biological samples for future type 1 diabetes research. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network, patients >5 years of age diagnosed clinically with type 1 diabetes (and their siblings) are recruited within 6 months of diagnosis. Participants agree to have their clinical, laboratory and demographic data stored on a secure database, for their clinical progress to be monitored using information held by NHS Digital, and to be contacted about additional research, in particular immunotherapy and other interventions. An optional blood sample is taken for islet autoantibody measurement and storage of blood and DNA for future analyses. Data will be analysed statistically to describe the presentation of incident type 1 diabetes in a contemporary UK population. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the independent NHS Research Ethics Service. Results will be presented at national and international meetings and submitted for publication to peer-reviewed journals.This work was supported by Diabetes UK grant number 09/0003919 and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation grant number 9-2010-407. Recruitment is supported by staff at the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network

Improved glycaemia during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown is sustained post-lockdown and during the "Eat Out to Help Out" Government Scheme, in adults with Type 1 diabetes in the United Kingdom

Aims The majority of studies report that the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown did not have a detrimental effect on glycaemia. We sought to explore the impact of lockdown on glycaemia and whether this is sustained following easing of restrictions. Methods Retrospective, observational analysis in adults and children with type 1 diabetes attending a UK specialist centre, using real-time or intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring. Data from the following 28-day time periods were collected: (i) pre-lockdown; (ii) during lockdown; (iii) immediately after lockdown; and (iv) a month following relaxation of restrictions (coinciding with Government-subsidised restaurant food). Data were analysed for times in glycaemic ranges and are expressed as median (IQR). Results 145 adults aged 35.5 (25.8–51.3) years with diabetes duration of 19.0 (7.0–29.0) years on multiple daily injections of insulin (60%) and continuous insulin infusion (40%) were included. In adults, % time in range (70-180mg/dL) increased during lockdown (60.2 (45.2–69.3)%) compared to pre-lockdown (56.7 (43.5–65.3)%; p180mg/dL) reduced in lockdown compared to pre-lockdown (p = 0.01), which was sustained thereafter. In children, no significant changes to glycaemia were observed during lockdown. In multivariable analysis, a greater increase in %TIR 3.9-10mmol/L (70-180mg/dL) during lockdown was associated with higher levels of deprivation (coefficient: 4.208, 95% CI 0.588 to 7.828; p = 0.02). Conclusions Glycaemia in adults improved during lockdown, with people from more deprived areas most likely to benefit. This effect was sustained after easing of restrictions, with government-subsidised restaurant eating having no adverse impact on glycaemia

Forecasting Tunisian type 2 diabetes prevalence to 2027: validation of a simple model.

BACKGROUND: Most projections of type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence are simply based on demographic change (i.e. ageing). We developed a model to predict future trends in T2D prevalence in Tunisia, explicitly taking into account trends in major risk factors (obesity and smoking). This could improve assessment of policy options for prevention and health service planning. METHODS: The IMPACT T2D model uses a Markov approach to integrate population, obesity and smoking trends to estimate future T2D prevalence. We developed a model for the Tunisian population from 1997 to 2027, and validated the model outputs by comparing with a subsequent T2D prevalence survey conducted in 2005. RESULTS: The model estimated that the prevalence of T2D among Tunisians aged over 25 years was 12.0% in 1997 (95% confidence intervals 9.6%-14.4%), increasing to 15.1% (12.5%-17.4%) in 2005. Between 1997 and 2005, observed prevalence in men increased from 13.5% to 16.1% and in women from 12.9% to 14.1%. The model forecast for a dramatic rise in prevalence by 2027 (26.6% overall, 28.6% in men and 24.7% in women). However, if obesity prevalence declined by 20% in the 10 years from 2013, and if smoking decreased by 20% over 10 years from 2009, a 3.3% reduction in T2D prevalence could be achieved in 2027 (2.5% in men and 4.1% in women). CONCLUSIONS: This innovative model provides a reasonably close estimate of T2D prevalence for Tunisia over the 1997-2027 period. Diabetes burden is now a significant public health challenge. Our model predicts that this burden will increase significantly in the next two decades. Tackling obesity, smoking and other T2D risk factors thus needs urgent action. Tunisian decision makers have therefore defined two strategies: obesity reduction and tobacco control. Responses will be evaluated in future population surveys