Degludec is superior to glargine in terms of daily glycemic variability in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus

To investigate the differences in glycemic variability between the long-acting insulins glargine and degludec using continuous glucose monitoring, we conducted an open-label, multicenter, prospective, observational study that enrolled 21 participants with type 1 diabetes mellitus currently receiving basal-bolus insulin therapy with glargine. To avoid the potential influence of diet and exercise on glycemic control, all participants were housed and monitored within the hospital for the duration of the study. Once glycemic control was achieved with glargine, glycemic variability was evaluated using continuous glucose monitoring for 3 days. Glargine was then replaced by degludec and glycemic variability again assessed via continuous glucose monitoring. The primary outcome measure of mean amplitude of glycemic excursions was significantly reduced with degludec (p = 0.028), as was area under the curve for daily blood glucose level <70 mg/dL (p = 0.046). The required insulin dose was reduced up to 25% in the degludec group, although 24-h mean glucose concentrations were not different between groups. In conclusion, once or twice daily glargine was successfully replaced by a daily injection of degludec. When replacing glargine with degludec, a lower dose should be utilized to avoid hypoglycemia. Degludec is an effective and promising long-acting insulin that reduced hypoglycemia and daily blood glucose variability in participants with type 1 diabetes

Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on renal function in participants with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease with normoalbuminuria

Background We compared the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on renal function in participants with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) classified by degree of albuminuria. Methods A retrospective review of the clinical records of Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes (age > 20 years; SGLT2 inhibitor treatment > 2 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) = 300 mg/g Cr or UPCR >= 0.50 g/g Cr). The study outcome was a comparison of the rates of change in renal function evaluated by eGFR at 2 years after starting SGLT2 inhibitor among the three groups. Results A total of 87 participants (40 females, 47 males) were categorized into three groups: A1 (n = 46), A2 (n = 25), and A3 (n = 16). eGFR was similarly decreased at 2 years before starting SGLT2 inhibitor in all three groups. However, the decline in eGFR was ameliorated at 2 years after starting SGLT2 inhibitor, and eGFR was rather increased in the A1 and A2 groups. Interestingly, the rate of change in eGFR at 2 years after starting SGLT2 inhibitor in the A1 group was significantly higher than that in the A3 group. Conclusions These results demonstrate that more favorable effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on renal function were observed in participants with type 2 diabetes and CKD with normoalbuminuria compared with those with macroalbuminuria. Trial registration UMIN-CTR: UMIN000035263. Registered 15 December 201

Beneficial effects of switching to denosumab from bisphosphonates or selective estrogen receptor modulators in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes and osteopenia/osteoporosis

Aims/Introduction Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a higher bone fracture risk than patients without diabetes. Although denosumab (Dmab) is a potent bone resorption inhibitor, its efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of switching to Dmab from bisphosphonates (BP) or a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Materials and Methods This was a three medical institutions, prospective, observational study for postmenopausal patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus whose T‐score of femoral neck or lumbar spine bone mineral density was under -1.0 standard deviation, even after >6 months of BP or SERM administration. After obtaining consent, participants were treated for osteopenia/osteoporosis by either continuing BP (BP‐BP group)/SERM (SERM‐SERM group), or by switching to Dmab (BP‐Dmab or SERM‐Dmab groups). Changes in bone mineral density and bone metabolism marker levels were evaluated after 6 months. Results A total of 48 patients were included in this study, and each group comprised 12 patients. No significant difference existed in baseline characteristics among the groups. The average age and glycated hemoglobin were 71 ± 8 years and 7.2 ± 0.9%, respectively. In the SERM‐Dmab group, lumbar spine bone mineral density was significantly increased by 5.0% compared with the SERM‐SERM group (P < 0.04). Serum bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase 5b were significantly decreased in the BP‐Dmab and SERM‐Dmab groups compared with the BP‐BP and SERM‐SERM groups, respectively. Conclusions Switching to Dmab from BP or SERM is beneficial to prevent osteoporosis progression in postmenopausal patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Protective effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with rapid renal function decline, stage G3 or G4 chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes

Aims/Introduction The risk of end-stage kidney disease increases in proportion to the decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Although protective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on the eGFR decline were shown in several large-scale clinical trials, there are no studies investigating patients with a high risk of end-stage kidney disease. We investigated the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in advanced renal dysfunction patients (stage G3 or G4 of chronic kidney disease) with a rapid decline in eGFR. Materials and Methods This retrospective, longitudinal study enrolled patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with SGLT2i, and whose eGFR was 20% over 2 years (%Delta eGFR-2y) before initiating SGLT2i. The primary end-point was the change in eGFR 2 years after initiation (%Delta eGFR+2y) compared with %Delta eGFR-2y. Results A total of 17 patients among 553 patients treated with SGLT2i for >= 2 years were included in the study. The average age, glycated hemoglobin and eGFR at SGLT2i initiation were 68.5 years, 7.3% and 38.3 mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively. %Delta eGFR+2y in patients who were treated with SGLT2i was significantly increased compared with the patients not treated with SGLT2i (2.3 and -21.7%, respectively; P < 0.0001). A multiple regression analysis showed that only the proportion of the rate of eGFR decline was the independent factor associated with improvement of %Delta eGFR+2y. There was no increase in serious adverse events including acute kidney injury. Conclusions SGLT2i was safe, and prevented further eGFR decline in patients with type 2 diabetes and advanced renal dysfunction

Positive association between the proinsulin-to-C-peptide ratio and prolonged hyperglycemic time in type 2 diabetes

The proinsulin-to-C-peptide (PI:C) ratio is an index applied during the early stage of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics associated with the PI:C ratio to discuss pancreatic β-cell dysfunction progression during the natural course of type 2 diabetes and its relationship with glycemic management. This multicenter, prospective observational study included 272 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring was performed and fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed. We identified the clinical factors associated with the PI:C ratio by multiple regression analysis. The mean age of the cohort was 68.0 years, mean hemoglobin A1c 7.1% (54 mmol/mol), and mean body mass index 24.9 kg/m2. Multiple regression analysis showed that a prolonged time above the target glucose range (&gt;180 mg/dL) and high body mass index contributed to a high PI:C ratio. However, no associations were found between the PI:C ratio and glucose variability indices. These findings suggested that the PI:C ratio is positively associated with a prolonged hyperglycemic time in type 2 diabetes, whereas its relationship with glucose variability remains unclear

Breakdown of Autonomously Functioning Thyroid Nodule Accompanied by Acromegaly After Octreotide Treatment

Patients with acromegaly are at increased risk of developing certain tumors, including goiter and thyroid nodules, and occasionally autonomous thyroid nodules. A 53-year-old woman presented at our hospital with untreated acromegaly. She had typical physical features of acromegaly with pituitary adenoma, and thyrotoxicosis with thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression was also confirmed. Thyroid ultrasonography and scintigraphy showed an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule on her right lobe. Because her thyrotoxicosis was mild, she was initially treated with octreotide for acromegaly. However, 1 month after octreotide administration, she developed neck pain and fever with transient thyrotoxicosis. The blood flow around the nodule then decreased and the excess trapping of isotope detected by scintigraphy was reduced, followed by normalization of insulin-like growth factor-1 levels and thyroid function. This case suggests that octreotide may have unexpected effects on autonomous thyroid nodules. However, further studies are needed to determine the clinical course of autonomously functioning thyroid nodules, including thyroid function and tumor manifestations, during octreotide therapy

Effects of 50 mg vildagliptin twice daily vs. 50 mg sitagliptin once daily on blood glucose fluctuations evaluated by long-term self-monitoring of blood glucose

To date, several clinical trials have compared differences in glucose fluctuation observed with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, most patients were assessed for limited periods or during hospitalization. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of switching from sitagliptin to vildagliptin, or vice versa, on 12-week glucose fluctuations using self-monitoring of blood glucose in the standard care setting. We conducted a multicenter, prospective, open-label controlled trial in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Thirty-two patients were treated with vildagliptin (50 mg) twice daily or sitagliptin (50 mg) once daily and were allocated to one of two groups: vildagliptin treatment for 12 weeks before switching to sitagliptin for 12 weeks, or vice versa. Daily profiles of blood glucose were assessed several times during each treatment period, and the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions and M-value were calculated. Metabolic biomarkers such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), glycated albumin, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol were also assessed. With vildagliptin treatment, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions was significantly improved compared with sitagliptin treatment (57.9 ± 22.2 vs. 68.9 ± 33.0 mg/dL; p=0.0045). M-value (p=0.019) and mean blood glucose (p=0.0021) were also lower with vildagliptin, as were HbA1c, glycated albumin, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol. There were no significant differences in other metabolic parameters evaluated. Reduction of daily blood glucose profile fluctuations by vildagliptin was superior to that of sitagliptin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Gitelman's syndrome with hyperphosphatemia, effectively responding to single oral magnesium oxide administration A case report

Rationale: The Gitelman's syndrome (GS) is characterized by metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria. However, the involvement of this deranged electrolyte balance in patients with GS in parathyroid hormone action has not been known. Patient concerns: We report a 34-year-old woman with muscle weakness and tetany/seizures caused by electrolyte imbalance. She had hyperphosphatemia and hypocalciuric hypocalcemia in addition to severe hypomagnesemia with low potassium in the absence of metabolic alkalosis. We identified 2 heterozygous mutations in the solute carrier family 12 member 3 gene in this case (c.1732G>A, p.Val578Met and c.2537_38delTT, p.846fs) by targeted sequence for all causative genes of salt-losing tubulopathies. Diagnoses: A diagnosis of GS. Hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia were suggested to relate with the secondary obstruction of appropriate parathyroid hormone release following severe hypomagnesemia in GS. Interventions: She was treated with single oral magnesium oxide administration. Outcomes: The electrolyte imbalance including hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia were resolved with a remission of clinical manifestations. Lessons: These observations, in this case, suggest that even severe hypomagnesemia caused by GS was associated with resistance to appropriate parathyroid hormone secretion. Through this case, we recognize that secondary hypoparathyroidism would be triggered by severe hypomagnesemia in GS