Diabetic dyslipidemia is a well-known issue, but what about lipoprotein a levels in type 2 diabetics?

Type 2 DM is a worldwide endemic disease. Dyslipidemia is also a frequent disorder associated with diabetic patients. Lipid profiles can vary in distinct ethnic groups and population. There have been few trials about lipoprotein a (Lpa) levels in type 2 diabetic patients. We investigated serum lipid profiles, Lpa levels and metabolic syndrome findings in type 2 diabetic patients. In this prospective trial, 709 type 2 diabetic patients (407 F; 302 M) and 157 healthy control subjects (91F; 66M) living in the same geographic region were included. The mean age of patients was 53.4 ± 9.2 years. After 12-h overnight fasting, blood samples were obtained for analyzing the serum lipids. The serum total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides levels were measured by glucose enzymatic calorimetric method and apo-B, lipoprotein (a) levels by electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay. All patients were also evaluated for metabolic syndrome by NCEP ATP III criteria. Type 2 diabetic patients had higher serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride and apo-B levels and lesser HDL-cholesterol, compared with the control group (p<0.001). The serum Lpa was found to be similar in both type 2 diabetic and control subjects (p=0.519). Of the 709 diabetic patients, 516 (72.9%) had metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, as expected, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome was found to be higher in diabetic patients with respect to healthy controls, however, serum Lpa levels were not different in both groups

Effect of polyneuropathy on development of unilateral diabetic foot ulcer

Aim: This study investigates polyneuropathy in patients with unilateral diabetic foot ulcer by using electrophysiological methods and discusses whether electrophysiological parameters are predictive of diabetic foot ulcer development. Materials and methods: Fifty-two diabetic patients with unilateral diabetic foot ulcers (31 females, 21 males; mean age of 58.5 years) were included in the study. Results: In the upper extremities, motor fibers were affected in 82% and sensorial fibers were affected in 85% of the subjects. In the lower extremities, motor fibers were affected in 90% of the subjects in the injured site and in 79% of the patients in the intact site, and sensorial fibers were affected in 100% of the patients bilaterally. H-reflex was delayed in 93.2% of the patients at the injured site and in 86.4% of the patients at the intact site. Sensorial fibers were affected more than motor fibers and the condition was more pronounced in the lower extremities. Conclusion: The electrophysiological data were statistically different between injured and healthy extremities (P < 0.005). Our data revealed that nerve conduction studies have an important value in predicting diabetic foot ulcers and even showed that development of ulceration could be prevented in clinically and neurophysiologically documented diabetic neuropathy. © TÜBITAK

Turkish nationwide survEy of glycemic and other Metabolic parameters of patients with Diabetes mellitus (TEMD study)

AIMS: Turkey has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Europe. It is therefore essential to know the overall cardiovascular risk and reveal the predictors of metabolic control in Turkish adults with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A nationwide, multicenter survey consecutively enrolled patients who were under follow up for at least a year. Optimal control was defined as HbA1c < 7%, home arterial blood pressure (ABP) < 135/85 mmHg, or LDL-C < 100 mg/dL. Achieving all parameters indicated triple metabolic control. RESULTS: HbA1c levels of patients (n = 5211) were 8.6 ± 1.9% (71 ± 22 mmol/mol) and 7.7 ± 1.7% (61 ± 19 mmol/mol), in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, respectively. Glycemic control was achieved in 15.3% and 40.2%, and triple metabolic control was achieved in 5.5% and 10.1%, respectively. Only 1.5% of patients met all the criteria of being non-obese, non-smoker, exercising, and under triple metabolic control. Low education level was a significant predictor of poor glycemic control in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Few patients with Type 2, and even fewer with Type 1 diabetes have optimal metabolic control in Turkey. TEMD study will provide evidence-based information to policy makers to focus more on the quality and sustainability of diabetes care in order to reduce the national burden of the disease