A Novel Algorithm for the Management of Inpatient COVID-19 Glucocorticoid-Induced Hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked to increased morbidity and mortality. This article reports on a novel insulin titration protocol for the management of glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Sixty-five patients with COVID-19 and glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia admitted after the protocol implementation were matched 1:1 to patients admitted before the treatment protocol rollout for analysis. In a large, diverse health system, the protocol achieved reductions in hypoglycemic events without increasing hyperglycemia or insulin use.

Assessing Glycemic Control Using CGM for Women with Diabetes in Pregnancy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal and fetal complications. This article reviews the types of CGM currently available, the glucose metrics which correlate with pregnancy outcomes, endocrine organization recommendations, clinical considerations for CGM implementation, and anticipated directions for future research. RECENT FINDINGS: CGM use during pregnancy is increasing, and recommendations for use have been incorporated into many organizations' consensus guidelines. Increased time spent within a target range of 63-140 mg/dL and lower mean glucose are associated with lower risk of neonatal complications including large for gestational age infants. Use of CGM during pregnancy can detect postprandial and nocturnal hyperglycemia missed by self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) which can be used for prognosis and to guide pharmacologic interventions. The use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) during pregnancies complicated by type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes has been shown to improve outcomes.

Concordance of Blood Glucose and CGM During a Pilot Trial of Automated Insulin Delivery in Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancies.

Background: Customized and standard automated insulin delivery (AID) systems for use in pregnancies of women with preexisting type 1 diabetes (T1D) are being developed and tested to achieve pregnancy appropriate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) targets. Guidance on the use of CGM for treatment decisions during pregnancy in the United States is limited. Methods: Ten pregnant women with preexisting T1D participated in a trial evaluating at-home use of a pregnancy-specific AID system. Seven-point self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) was compared to the closest sensor glucose (Dexcom G6 CGM) value biweekly to assess safety and reliability based on the 20%/20 mg/dL criteria. Results: All participants completed the study with 7 participants satisfying the safety and reliability criteria with a mean absolute relative difference of 10.3%. Three participants did not fulfill the criteria, mainly because the frequency of SMBG did not meet the requirements. Conclusion: Dexcom G6 CGM is safe and accurate in the real-world setting for use in pregnant women with preexisting T1D with reduced SMBG testing as part of a pregnancy-specific AID system.

RANKL/RANK is required for cytokine-induced beta cell death; osteoprotegerin, a RANKL inhibitor, reverses rodent type 1 diabetes.

Treatment for type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires stimulation of functional ß cell regeneration and survival under stress. Previously, we showed that inhibition of the RANKL/RANK [receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa Β (NF-κB) ligand] pathway, by osteoprotegerin and the anti-osteoporotic drug denosumab, induces rodent and human ß cell proliferation. We demonstrate that the RANK pathway mediates cytokine-induced rodent and human ß cell death through RANK-TRAF6 interaction and induction of NF-κB activation. Osteoprotegerin and denosumab protected ß cells against this cytotoxicity. In human immune cells, osteoprotegerin and denosumab reduce proinflammatory cytokines in activated T-cells by inhibiting RANKL-induced activation of monocytes. In vivo, osteoprotegerin reversed recent-onset T1D in nonobese diabetic/Ltj mice, reduced insulitis, improved glucose homeostasis, and increased plasma insulin, ß cell proliferation, and mass in these mice. Serum from T1D subjects induced human ß cell death and dysfunction, but not α cell death. Osteoprotegerin and denosumab reduced T1D serum-induced ß cell cytotoxicity and dysfunction. Inhibiting RANKL/RANK could have therapeutic potential.

At-Home Use of a Pregnancy-Specific Zone-MPC Closed-Loop System for Pregnancies Complicated by Type 1 Diabetes: A Single-Arm, Observational Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: There are no commercially available hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery systems customized to achieve pregnancy-specific glucose targets in the U.S. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and performance of at-home use of a zone model predictive controller-based closed-loop insulin delivery system customized for pregnancies complicated by type 1 diabetes (CLC-P). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes using insulin pumps were enrolled in the second or early third trimester. After study sensor wear collecting run-in data on personal pump therapy and 2 days of supervised training, participants used CLC-P targeting 80-110 mg/dL during the day and 80-100 mg/dL overnight running on an unlocked smartphone at home. Meals and activities were unrestricted throughout the trial. The primary outcome was the continuous glucose monitoring percentage of time in the target range 63-140 mg/dL versus run-in. RESULTS: Ten participants (HbA1c 5.8 ± 0.6%) used the system from mean gestational age of 23.7 ± 3.5 weeks. Mean percentage time in range increased 14.1 percentage points, equivalent to 3.4 h per day, compared with run-in (run-in 64.5 ± 16.3% versus CLC-P 78.6 ± 9.2%; P = 0.002). During CLC-P use, there was significant decrease in both time over 140 mg/dL (P = 0.033) and the hypoglycemic ranges of less than 63 mg/dL and 54 mg/dL (P = 0.037 for both). Nine participants exceeded consensus goals of above 70% time in range during CLC-P use. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the extended use of CLC-P at home until delivery is feasible. Larger, randomized studies are needed to further evaluate system efficacy and pregnancy outcomes.

Impact of a Novel Diabetes Support System on a Cohort of Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes Treated With Multiple Daily Injections: A Multicenter Randomized Study.

OBJECTIVE: Achieving optimal glycemic control for many individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains challenging, even with the advent of newer management tools, including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Modern management of T1D generates a wealth of data; however, use of these data to optimize glycemic control remains limited. We evaluated the impact of a CGM-based decision support system (DSS) in patients with T1D using multiple daily injections (MDI). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The studied DSS included real-time dosing advice and retrospective therapy optimization. Adults and adolescents (age >15 years) with T1D using MDI were enrolled at three sites in a 14-week randomized controlled trial of MDI + CGM + DSS versus MDI + CGM. All participants (N = 80) used degludec basal insulin and Dexcom G5 CGM. CGM-based and patient-reported outcomes were analyzed. Within the DSS group, ad hoc analysis further contrasted active versus nonactive DSS users. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected between experimental and control groups (e.g., time in range [TIR] +3.3% with CGM vs. +4.4% with DSS). Participants in both groups reported lower HbA1c (-0.3%; P = 0.001) with respect to baseline. While TIR may have improved in both groups, it was statistically significant only for DSS; the same was apparent for time spent <60 mg/dL. Active versus nonactive DSS users showed lower risk of and exposure to hypoglycemia with system use. CONCLUSIONS: Our DSS seems to be a feasible option for individuals using MDI, although the glycemic benefits associated with use need to be further investigated. System design, therapy requirements, and target population should be further refined prior to use in clinical care.

Feasibility of Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery with a Pregnancy-Specific Zone Model Predictive Control Algorithm.

Objective: Evaluating the feasibility of closed-loop insulin delivery with a zone model predictive control (zone-MPC) algorithm designed for pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes (T1D). Research Design and Methods: Pregnant women with T1D from 14 to 32 weeks gestation already using continuous glucose monitor (CGM) augmented pump therapy were enrolled in a 2-day multicenter supervised outpatient study evaluating pregnancy-specific zone-MPC based closed-loop control (CLC) with the interoperable artificial pancreas system (iAPS) running on an unlocked smartphone. Meals and activities were unrestricted. The primary outcome was the CGM percentage of time between 63 and 140 mg/dL compared with participants' 1-week run-in period. Early (2-h) postprandial glucose control was also evaluated. Results: Eleven participants completed the study (age: 30.6 ± 4.1 years; gestational age: 20.7 ± 3.5 weeks; weight: 76.5 ± 15.3 kg; hemoglobin A1c: 5.6% ± 0.5% at enrollment). No serious adverse events occurred. Compared with the 1-week run-in, there was an increased percentage of time in 63-140 mg/dL during supervised CLC (CLC: 81.5%, run-in: 64%, P = 0.007) with less time >140 mg/dL (CLC: 16.5%, run-in: 30.8%, P = 0.029) and time <63 mg/dL (CLC: 2.0%, run-in:5.2%, P = 0.039). There was also less time <54 mg/dL (CLC: 0.7%, run-in:1.6%, P = 0.030) and >180 mg/dL (CLC: 4.9%, run-in: 13.1%, P = 0.032). Overnight glucose control was comparable, except for less time >250 mg/dL (CLC: 0%, run-in:3.9%, P = 0.030) and lower glucose standard deviation (CLC: 23.8 mg/dL, run-in:42.8 mg/dL, P = 0.007) during CLC. Conclusion: In this pilot study, use of the pregnancy-specific zone-MPC was feasible in pregnant women with T1D. Although the duration of our study was short and the number of participants was small, our findings add to the limited data available on the use of CLC systems during pregnancy (NCT04492566).

Hypoglycemia in Prospective Multicenter Study of Pregnancies with Pre-Existing Type 1 Diabetes on Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy: The LOIS-P Study.

Background: Pregnancies in type 1 diabetes are high risk, and data in the United States are limited regarding continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-based hypoglycemia throughout pregnancy while on sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy. Materials and Methods: Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes in the LOIS-P Study (Longitudinal Observation of Insulin use and glucose Sensor metrics in Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes using continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps) were enrolled before 17 weeks gestation at three U.S. centers and we used their personal insulin pump and a study Dexcom G6 CGM. We analyzed data of 25 pregnant women for CGM hypoglycemia based on international consensus guidelines for percentage time <63 and 54 mg/dL, hypoglycemic events and prolonged hypoglycemia events for 24-h, daytime, and overnight periods, and severe hypoglycemia (SH) episodes. Results: For a 24-h period, biweekly median percentage of time <63 mg/dL ranged from 0.8% at biweek 4-5 to 3.7% at biweek 14-15 with high variability throughout pregnancy. Median percentage of time <63 and 54 mg/dL was higher overnight than daytime (P < 0.01). Hypoglycemic events occurred throughout the pregnancy, ranged 1-4 events per 2 weeks, significantly decreased after the 20th week, and occurred predominantly during daytime (P < 0.01). For overnight period, hypoglycemia and events were more concentrated from 12 to 3 am. Seven prolonged hypoglycemia events without any associated SH occurred in four participants (16%), primarily overnight. Three participants experienced a single episode of SH. Conclusions: Our results suggest a higher overall risk of hypoglycemia throughout pregnancy during the overnight period with continued daytime risk of hypoglycemic events in pregnancies complicated by type 1 diabetes.