Effects of acarbose (Glucobay) in persons with type 1 diabetes: a multicentre study.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. [email protected] The aim of this multicentre study was to investigate the effect--in everyday life--of long term administration of acarbose on parameters of glycaemic control, daily insulin requirements, lipid parameters and tolerability in ambulant type 1 diabetic subjects insufficiently controlled with diet and insulin. Furthermore, effects on lipid parameters were to be studied. A total of 16 patients withdrew from the study, 13 of these during the acarbose medication period. For four of these 13 patients the adverse event started during the placebo run-in period. The data of 62 patients (35 men and 27 women, mean age 38 (range 18-64) years, median duration of diabetes 10 (range 1-40) years) were valid for statistical analysis. The median daily dose of acarbose at the final assessment (i.e. after 16 weeks of active treatment) was 200 (range 75-300) mg. During the placebo run-in period HbA1c levels tended to decrease from 8.9 +/- 1.1 to 8.5 +/- 0.9%. After 8 and 16 weeks of acarbose treatment the mean level had decreased further to 8.1 +/- 0.9 and 8.2 +/- 0.9%, respectively (both P < 0.001). After stopping acarbose HbA1c levels increased again to a mean level of 8.6 +/- 0.9%. Mean levels of HbA1c per centre followed the same profile. Seven-point blood glucose profiles followed the same pattern. None of these changes over time reached statistical significance except for a significant drop during acarbose treatment of the time-point 90 min after lunch (P < 0.01). After stopping acarbose treatment values returned to pre-study levels. For total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, Apo A1 and Apo B, and Lp(a) no significant changes were observed. Daily insulin dose was 48 (range 26-92) U at the start of the study and did not change. The most frequent reported adverse events were flatulence (43%), diarrhoea (27%), and abdominal pain (11%). We conclude that acarbose up to 3 x 100 mg/day can be a valuable adjunct to insulin in improving metabolic control in persons with type 1 diabetes. Publication Types: Clinical Trial Multicenter Stud

Rosiglitazone

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterised by impaired insulin secretion, diminished peripheral insulin action and increased hepatic glucose production. Clinical trials have indicated that near-normal glucose control may reduce the risk for microvascular and - to a lesser extent - macrovascular complications in Type 2 diabetic patients. Thiazolidinediones improve insulin action by activating a nuclear receptor, PPARgamma. Therefore, these drugs are often referred to as 'insulin sensitisers'. Rosiglitazone is the second compound of this group. Clinical studies with rosiglitazone have shown that it is effective in lowering blood glucose levels in Type 2 diabetic patients treated with either diet alone, sulphonylurea or metformin. Preliminary studies suggest that rosiglitazone also improves glycaemic control in insulin-treated patients while even slightly decreasing insulin dose. The magnitude of the effects is, however, moderate. In diet-treated patients, the reduction of HbA1c levels amounted on average 0.5 - 1.5% and addition to existing sulphonylurea therapy decreased HbA1c by 1.0 - 1.2%. The clinical relevance of additional beneficial effects, i.e., on blood pressure and microalbuminuria, needs to be determined further. Rosiglitazone does not cause hypoglycaemia or gastrointestinal side effects. There is however some concern related to fluid retention, which seems to be an effect of all PPARgamma agonists. In patients treated with rosiglitazone, no severe hepatotoxic side effects have been noticed until now. In the treatment of our patients with Type 2 diabetes, drugs like rosiglitazone which directly reduce insulin resistance are very welcome but more data on its combined use with insulin are needed. Additional studies will also explore its long-term effects in sparing beta-cell function and reducing diabetes-related complications and atherosclerosis

Effect of atorvastatin on LDL oxidation and antioxidants in normocholesterolemic type 2 diabetic patients

Effect of atorvastatin on LDL oxidation and antioxidants in normocholesterolemic type 2 diabetic patients. Oranje WA, Sels JP, Rondas-Colbers GJ, Lemmens PJ, Wolffenbuttel BH. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. [email protected] BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress in diabetes increases lipid peroxidation, which stimulates the development of atherosclerosis. METHODS: We investigated in a 3-month placebo-controlled study with 19 normocholesterolemic type 2 diabetic patients whether treatment with 10-mg atorvastatin influenced antioxidants and reduced LDL oxidizability, assessed by in vitro production of conjugated dienes after copper-induced LDL oxidation. RESULTS: The lag phase, as a measure of the resistance of LDL to oxidation, did not change (62.8+/-8.2 respectively 59.6+/-9.7 min, p=n.s.), while conjugated dienes decreased (512+/-74 respectively 487+/-50 nmol, p=0.012). Plasma alpha-tocopherol and ubiquinol levels decreased, while their ratios to LDL cholesterol remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin favourably influences some parameters of LDL oxidation. Whether this effect is clinically relevant remains to be determined

Untreated classical galactosemia patient with mild phenotype

Despite life-long galactose restriction, long-term complications generally occur in classical galactosemia. We report an adult male with classical galactosemia (Q188R homozygosity, severely reduced erythrocyte galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase activity) who has a surprisingly mild phenotype despite genotype and enzyme activity associated with severe phenotype. Moreover he has a normal galactose intake from the age of 3 years. This case is probably an example of the important role of yet unknown susceptibility and or modifier genes