Connected Insulin Pens and Caps: An Expert's Recommendation from the Area of Diabetes of the Spanish Endocrinology and Nutrition Society (SEEN).

Undoubtedly, technological advances have revolutionised diabetes management in recent years. The development of advanced closed hybrid loop insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, among others, have increased the quality of life and improved glycaemic control of people with diabetes. However, only some patients have access to such technology, and only some want to use it. CGM has become much more widespread, but in terms of insulin delivery, most people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and almost all people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on insulin therapy are treated with multiple-dose insulin injections (MDI) rather than an insulin pump. For these patients, using connected insulin pens or caps has shown benefits in reducing missed insulin injections and promoting correct administration over time. In addition, using these devices improves the quality of life and user satisfaction. The integration of insulin injection and CGM data facilitates both users and the healthcare team to analyse glucose control and implement appropriate therapeutic changes, reducing therapeutic inertia. This expert's recommendation reviews the characteristics of the devices marketed or in the process of being marketed and their available scientific evidence. Finally, it suggests the profile of users and professionals who would benefit most, the barriers to its generalisation and the changes in the care model that implementing these devices can bring with it.

A real-life study of the medium to long-term effectiveness of a hypercaloric, hyperproteic enteral nutrition formula specifically for patients with diabetes on biochemical parameters of metabolic control and nutritional status.

INTRODUCTION: Although current recommendations suggest the use of specific formulas in enteral nutrition in people with diabetes, there is little evidence of their long-term effectiveness in glycemic control. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term efficacy (24 weeks) of a specific high-protein hypercaloric enteral nutrition formula for people with diabetes in glycemic control and in their improvement in nutritional status. METHODOLOGY: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational, real-life study of patients with long-term enteral nutrition prescription through gastrostomy or nasogastric tube who received a high protein hypercaloric formula specific for diabetes. Once the participant's informed consent was obtained and the inclusion and exclusion criteria were verified, data relating to glycemic control, inflammation parameters, biochemical data, nutritional status and gastrointestinal tolerance at 0, 12 and 24 weeks were collected. RESULTS: 112 patients were recruited, 44.6% women, age 75.0 (12.0) years and a mean time of evolution of diabetes of 18.1 (9.5) years. The percentage of patients with malnutrition according to VGS decreased throughout the treatment from 78.6% to 29.9% (p < 0.001). Glycemic and HbA1c levels were significantly reduced at 12 and 24 weeks (Blood glucose 155.9-139.0-133.9 mg/dl, p < 0.001; HbA1c 7.7-7.3-7.1%, p < 0.001) while no significant changes were observed in cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, or glomerular filtration. A significant increase in variables related to nutritional status was observed: weight, the BMI, albumin, prealbumin and transferrin, and CRP levels were significantly reduced and the CRP/Albumin ratio decreased. Gastrointestinal tolerance was good, the number of patients with moderate-severe symptoms was small, and did not change throughout the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our real-life study suggests that the use of a specific hyperprotein hypercaloric formula for diabetes during a 6-month nutritional treatment allows adequate glycemic control and nutritional evolution, with good gastrointestinal tolerance.

A real-life study of the medium to long-term effectiveness of a hypercaloric, hyperproteic enteral nutrition formula specifically for patients with diabetes on biochemical parameters of metabolic control and nutritional status. / Estudio en vida real de la efectividad a medio-largo plazo en parámetros bioquímicos de control metabólico y estado nutricional de una fórmula de nutrición enteral hipercalórica hiperproteica específica para pacientes con diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Although current recommendations suggest the use of specific formulas in enteral nutrition in people with diabetes, there is little evidence of their long-term effectiveness in glycemic control. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term efficacy (24 weeks) of a specific high-protein hypercaloric enteral nutrition formula for people with diabetes in glycemic control and in their improvement in nutritional status. METHODOLOGY: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational, real-life study of patients with long-term enteral nutrition prescription through gastrostomy or nasogastric tube who received a high protein hypercaloric formula specific for diabetes. Once the participant's informed consent was obtained and the inclusion and exclusion criteria were verified, data relating to glycemic control, inflammation parameters, biochemical data, nutritional status and gastrointestinal tolerance at 0, 12 and 24 weeks were collected. RESULTS: 112 patients were recruited, 44.6% women, age 75.0 (12.0) years and a mean time of evolution of diabetes of 18.1 (9.5) years. The percentage of patients with malnutrition according to VGS decreased throughout the treatment from 78.6% to 29.9% (P<.001). Glycemic and HbA1c levels were significantly reduced at 12 and 24 weeks (Blood glucose 155.9-139.0-133.9mg/dl, P<.001; HbA1c 7.7-7.3-7.1%, P<.001) while no significant changes were observed in cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, or glomerular filtration. A significant increase in variables related to nutritional status was observed: weight, the BMI, albumin, prealbumin and transferrin, and CRP levels were significantly reduced and the CRP / Albumin ratio decreased. Gastrointestinal tolerance was good, the number of patients with moderate-severe symptoms was small, and did not change throughout the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our real-life study suggests that the use of a specific hyperprotein hypercaloric formula for diabetes during a 6-month nutritional treatment allows adequate glycemic control and nutritional evolution, with good gastrointestinal tolerance.

Neck circumference is associated with nutritional status in elderly nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: Anthropometry is an easy and noninvasive method to evaluate nutritional status in institutionalized elderly people who are often bedridden. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the neck circumference (NC) and nutritional status of elderly nursing home residents and to find cutoff points for NC size to identify individuals at risk of malnutrition. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was developed with data collected from 352 elderly people living in five public nursing homes. Different anthropometric measures and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were used to determine nutritional status. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were built for each anthropometric variable to determine their sensitivity and specificity for predicting the risk of malnutrition according to the MNA. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants (59% females) was 83 years old. In total, 48.3% of women and 45.5% of men were at risk of malnutrition according to their MNA scores. All anthropometric measurements were highly intercorrelated in both men and women, indicating a high degree of collinearity. Bootstrapped linear regression was used to assess the strength of the association between an individuals' nutritional status and their anthropometric parameters. Calf circumference and NC presented the best predictive value with the highest sensitivity for diagnosing the risk of malnutrition in both institutionalized elderly men and women. The best cutoff points of NC to identify elderly nursing home residents at risk of malnutrition were 35.2 cm for females and 37.8 cm for males. CONCLUSIONS: NC is associated with other classical anthropometric parameters and malnutrition status in elderly people living in nursing homes.

Disability and its influence in nutritional assessment tools in elderly people living in nursing homes.

INTRODUCTION: Poor nutritional status is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially in older people. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status in elderly nursing home residents with different nutritional test, and to determine which parameters used for nutritional assessment can be carried out in this population, which usually have a high prevalence of functionally dependent residents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 383 elderly. The nutritional assessment tools used were the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the new ESPEN consensus definition of malnutrition, and the tool for Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT). Moreover, the ability to perform basic activities of daily living was assessed with the Barthel index (BI). RESULTS: According to BI, 78.9% had a total dependence and only 20.9% could be weighed and heighed. The prevalence of malnutrition with MNA, ESPEN and CONUT was 21.3%, 17.6% and 20.7%, respectively. The agreement between MNA vs ESPEN criteria was moderate (kappa = 0.483), but with CONUT was low. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing homes had a high percentage of totally dependent residents. This high degree of functional dependence made difficult to obtain some anthropometric parameters such as weight and height, which are essential to carry out most nutritional tests. MNA, CONUT and the new ESPEN criteria of malnutrition showed a high prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in subjects in which they could be performed.

Influence of nutritional status in the diagnosis of sarcopenia in nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition and sarcopenia frequently coexist in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nutritional status in the diagnosis of sarcopenia in nursing home residents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with data collected from 339 elderly patients living in five nursing homes. Sarcopenia was defined according to the consensus definition of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Body mass composition was assessed using bioimpedance analysis, handgrip strength using a dynamometer, and physical performance by 5-m gait speed test. The nutritional status of residents was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). RESULTS: Of 436 patients, 339 (77.8%) were included. The mean age of participants was 84.9 y and 64.3% were women. More than one-third (38.1%) of the population had sarcopenia, with a higher prevalence in women (39.4%). According to the MNA, 32.4% of participants were at risk for malnutrition and 42.5% were malnourished. When analyzed together, the presence of malnutrition plus malnutrition risk, there was no difference between individuals with or without sarcopenia. However, the presence of malnutrition was statistically higher in individuals with sarcopenia compared with those without it. The prevalence of malnutrition was highest in individuals with low handgrip strength (62.8%), and in participants with severe sarcopenia. There were no significant differences in calf circumference between sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic participants. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, body mass index <22 kg/m2 and age >80 y remained predictive of sarcopenia status after adjustment. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of sarcopenia and malnutrition were significant in this population, especially in women. Approximately two-thirds of sarcopenic individuals were malnourished. A low body mass index may be a better predictor of sarcopenia in this population than a small calf circumference (<1 cm).

Health-Care Costs, Glycemic Control and Nutritional Status in Malnourished Older Diabetics Treated with a Hypercaloric Diabetes-Specific Enteral Nutritional Formula.

Diabetes-specific formulas are an effective alternative for providing nutrients and maintaining glycemic control. This study assesses the effect of treatment with an oral enteral nutrition with a hypercaloric diabetes-specific formula (HDSF) for one year, on health-care resources use, health-care costs, glucose control and nutritional status, in 93 type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) malnourished patients. Changes in health-care resources use and health-care costs were collected the year before and during the year of intervention. Glucose status and nutritional laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline and one-year after the administration of HDSF. The administration of HDSF was significantly associated with a reduced use of health-care resources, fewer hospital admissions (54.7%; p < 0.001), days spent at hospital (64.1%; p < 0.001) and emergency visits (57.7%; p < 0.001). Health-care costs were reduced by 65.6% (p < 0.001) during the intervention. Glycemic control (short- and long-term) and the need of pharmacological treatment did not change, while some nutritional parameters were improved at one year (albumin: +10.6%, p < 0.001; hemoglobin: +6.4%, p = 0.026). In conclusion, using HDSF in malnourished older type-2 diabetic patients may allow increasing energy intake while maintaining glucose control and improving nutritional parameters. The use of health-care resources and costs were significantly reduced during the nutritional intervention.

Baseline ALT levels as a marker of glycemic response to treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess if ALT levels, as a marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, may predict HbA1c response to treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, longitudinal, analytical study was conducted including patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus continuously treated with GLP-1 agonists (85% with liraglutide) for one year. Patients were divided into two groups according to baseline ALT levels, with 24 U/L (the median of the distribution) as the cut-off point. The dependent variable was HbA1c change (one-year follow-up minus baseline). The predictive value of ALT levels above 24 U/L and ALT change was analyzed using multivariate linear regression adjusted to age, gender, diabetes duration, type and dose of GLP-1 RA, baseline HbA1c, baseline body mass index (BMI), and change in BMI. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients (48% females) aged 58.6 (SD 9.6) years were enrolled into the study. Treatment was associated with a change in ALT of -4.3 U/L (p=0.041) and a change in HbA1c of -1.1% (p<0.0001). Decreases in HbA1c (-1.41% vs -0.76%; p=0.045) and ALT (-9.25 vs 0.46 U/L; p=0.002) were significantly higher in patients with ALT levels above the median. In the multivariate analysis, both ALT>24 U/L (b=-0.74; 95%CI: -1.31 to -0.18; p=0.011) and ALT change (b=0.028; 95%CI: 0.010 to 0.046; p=0.003), were significant response predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated baseline transaminase values and decreased transaminase levels during follow-up are associated to a favorable glycemic response to GLP-1 RAs.