Type 1 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

The presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Type 1 diabetes largely impairs life expectancy. Hyperglycemia leading to an increase in oxidative stress is considered to be the key pathophysiological factor of both micro- and macrovascular complications. In Type 1 diabetes, the presence of coronary calcifications is also related to coronary artery disease. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy, which significantly impairs myocardial function and blood flow, also enhances cardiac abnormalities. Also hypoglycemic episodes are considered to adversely influence cardiac performance. Intensive insulin therapy has been demonstrated to reduce the occurrence and progression of both micro- and macrovascular complications. This has been evidenced by the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) / Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study. The concept of a metabolic memory emerged based on the results of the study, which established that intensified insulin therapy is the standard of treatment of Type 1 diabetes. Future therapies may also include glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-based treatment therapies. Pilot studies with GLP-1-analogues have been shown to reduce insulin requirements

Hypoglycaemia and its management in primary care setting

Abstract Hypoglycemia is common in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and constitutes a major limiting factor in achieving glycemic control among people with diabetes. While hypoglycemia is defined as a blood glucose level under 70 mg/dL (3.9?mmol/L), symptoms may occur at higher blood glucose levels in individuals with poor glycemic control. Severe hypoglycemia is defined as an episode requiring the assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrate, glucagon, or take other corrective actions to assure neurologic recovery. Hypoglycemia is the most important safety outcome in clinical studies of glucose lowering agents. The ADA Standards of Medical Care recommends that a management protocol for hypoglycemia should be designed and implemented by every hospital, along with a clear prevention and treatment plan. A tailored approach, using clinical and pathophysiologic disease stratification, can help individualize glycemic goals and promote new therapies to improve quality of life of patients. Data from recent large clinical trials reported low risk of hypoglycemic events with the use of newer antidiabetic drugs. Increased hypoglycemia risk is observed with the use of insulin and/or sulfonylureas. Vulnerable patients with T2D at dual risk of severe hypoglycemia and Cardiovascular (CV) outcomes show features of ?frailty?. Many of such patients may be better treated by the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists or SGLT2 inhibitors rather than insulin. CGM should be considered for all individuals with increased risk for hypoglycemia, impaired hypoglycemia awareness, frequent nocturnal hypoglycemia and with history of severe hypoglycemia. Patients with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) benefit from real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The diabetes educator is an invaluable resource and can devote the time needed to thoroughly educate the individual to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and integrate the information within the entire construct of diabetes self-management. Conversations about hypoglycemia facilitated by a healthcare professional may reduce the burden and fear of hypoglycemia among patients with diabetes and their family members. Optimizing insulin doses and carbohydrate intake, in addition to a short warm up before or after the physical activity sessions may help avoiding hypoglycemia. Several therapeutic considerations are important to reduce hypoglycemia risk during pregnancy including administration of rapid-acting insulin analogs rather than human insulin, pre-conception initiation of insulin analogs, and immediate postpartum insulin dose reduction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Predictors of cardiovascular events in a contemporary population with impaired glucose tolerance: An observational analysis of the Nateglinide and Valsartan in impaired glucose tolerance outcomes research (NAVIGATOR) trial

Objectives: Risk factors for cardiovascular events are well established in general populations and those with diabetes but have been sparsely studied in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We sought to identify predictors of (1) a composite cardiovascular outcome (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke) and (2) cardiovascular death, among patients with IGT