Impact of socioeconomic status on chronic control and complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus in users of glucose flash systems: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and glycemic control in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using flash glucose monitoring (FGM) devices within a public health system where these technologies are freely available and utilized according to recommended guidelines. METHODS: A follow-up study of 1060 adults (mean age 47.4 ± 15.0 years, 49.0% women) with T1D, receiving care at three Spanish university hospitals that regularly employ the FGM system. SES was assessed using the Spanish Deprivation Index and the average annual net income per person. Glycemic data were collected over a 14-day follow-up period, including baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels prior to sensor placement, the last available HbA1c levels, and FGM-derived glucose metrics. Individuals with sensor usage time < 70% were excluded. Chronic micro and macrovascular complications related to diabetes were documented. Regression models, adjusted for clinical variables, were employed to determine the impact of SES on optimal sensor control (defined as time in range (TIR) ≥ 70% with time below range < 4%) and disease complications. RESULTS: The average follow-up was of 2 years. The mean TIR and the percentage of individuals with optimal control were higher in individuals in the highest SES quartile (64.9% ± 17.8% and 27.9%, respectively) compared to those in the lowest SES quartile (57.8 ± 17.4% and 12.1%) (p < 0.001). Regression models showed a higher risk of suboptimal control (OR 2.27, p < 0.001) and ischemic heart disease and/or stroke (OR 3.59, p = 0.005) in the lowest SES quartile. No association was observed between SES and the risk of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. FGM system improved HbA1c levels across all SES quartiles. Although individuals in the highest SES quartile still achieved a significantly lower value at the end of the follow-up 55 mmol/mol (7.2%) compared to those in the lowest SES quartile 60 mmol/mol (7.6%) (p < 0.001), the significant disparities in this parameter between the various SES groups were significantly reduced after FGM technology use. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status plays a significant role in glycemic control and complications in individuals with T1D, extending beyond access to technology and its proper utilization. The free utilization of FGM technology helps alleviate the impact of social inequalities on glycemic control.

Effect of Christmas Holidays on Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Users of Glucose Flash Systems.

OBJECTIVE: Christmas holidays can impact weight and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, but their effect on type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains understudied. This study assessed how Christmas holidays affect individuals with T1D who use flash continuous glucose monitoring systems. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 812 adults diagnosed with T1D recruited from 3 hospitals. Clinical, anthropometric, and socioeconomic data were collected. Glucose metrics from 14 days before January 1st, and before December 1st and February 1st as control periods, were recorded. Analyses adjusted for multiple variables were conducted to assess the holiday season's impact on glycemic control. RESULTS: The average time in range during the holidays (60.0 ± 17.2%) was lower compared to December (61.9 ± 17.2%, P < .001) and February (61.7 ± 17.7%, P < .001). Time above range (TAR > 180 mg/dL) was higher during Christmas (35.8 ± 18.2%) compared to December (34.1 ± 18.3%, P < .001) and February (34.2 ± 18.4%, P < .001). Differences were also observed in TAR >250 mg/dL, coefficient of variation, and average glucose (P < .05). No differences were found in time below range or other metrics. Linear regression models showed that the holidays reduced time in range by 1.9% (ß = -1.92, P = .005) and increased TAR >180 mg/dL by 1.8% (ß = 1.75, P = .016). CONCLUSION: Christmas holidays are associated with a mild and reversible deterioration in glucose metrics among individuals with T1D using flash continuous glucose monitoring, irrespective of additional influencing factors. These discoveries can be useful to advise individuals with diabetes during the festive season and to recognize potential biases within studies conducted during this timeframe.

Scans per day as predictors of optimal glycemic control in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus using flash glucose monitoring: what number of scans per day should raise a red flag?

AIMS: This study aimed to determine the minimum frequency of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) scans necessary for optimal glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: Data were collected from 692 patients (47.5% female, with a median age of 47.4 years) who used FGM systems daily and recorded their clinical variables and device data. RESULTS: Logistic regression models showed that performing more than 12 scans per day was associated with improved T1D control (OR = 4.22, p < 0.001) and a reduction in HbA1c (7.6 vs 7.0%, 60-53 mmol/mol p < 0.001). However, those performing less than 6 scans showed no improvement in HbA1c (7.9 vs 7.8%, 63-61 mmol/mol p = 0.514). Thirteen daily scans were determined as the optimal cutoff point for predicting optimal glycemic control using a maximally selected rank algorithm. Significant reductions were observed in mean glucose (< 0.001), coefficient of variation (< 0.001), HbA1c (< 0.001), and an increase in TIR (< 0.001) in patients who performed more than 12 daily scans. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a higher frequency of daily scans by T1D patients using FGM systems leads to improved chronic glycemic control. The minimum recommended frequency for optimal control is 13 scans per day, and more than 6 daily scans are needed to improve HbA1c.

Factors Accounting for Obesity and Its Perception among the Adult Spanish Population: Data from 1,000 Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to go deeper in the self-perception of weight and health status among the Spanish population, together with the connections of familiar relationships, physical activity practice, nutritional habits, and sleep patterns with the presence of obesity. METHODS: A total of 1,000 subjects were enrolled in April 2017 in a representative adult Spanish population sample. Computer-assisted telephone interviewing was used and self-reported anthropometric data was obtained. RESULTS: The population was composed of 51.3% women, with a mean age of 48 (36-63) years and a BMI of 23.2 (20.3-26.6). Although only 17.7% of subjects with self-reported obesity exhibited the self-perception to suffer from obesity, they referred a bad (16%) or regular (47%) self-perceived health status. Subjects who considered themselves as people with overweight and obesity displayed a BMI of 30.5 (28.7-32.2) and 37.1 (34.8-41.5), respectively. The obesity group displayed the highest percentage (71.9%) of participants with some first-degree relative with overweight or obesity (p < 0.001) in comparison with the other groups. The main reason put forward of preventing healthy eating among subjects with obesity was that they dislike healthy food. The multivariable logistic regression model for presence of obesity showed that there was a significant association with older age, presence of a first-degree relative with weight excess, a positive snacking habit, and daily alcohol consumption (p ≤ 0.019). CONCLUSION: The Spanish population has a low self-perception of obesity. Our data also reinforces the strong association between obesity and age, family interactions, usual snacking, and daily consumption of wine or beer.

Prevalence of acromegaly in patients with symptoms of sleep apnea.

Acromegaly is a rare disease with nonspecific symptoms with acral enlargement being almost universally present at diagnosis. The estimated prevalence is 40-125 cases/million but targeted universal screening studies have found a higher prevalence (about 10 fold). The aim of the ACROSAHS study was to investigate the prevalence of acromegaly and acromegaly comorbidities in patients with sleep apnea symptoms and acral enlargement. ACROSAHS was a Spanish prospective non-interventional epidemiological study in 13 Hospital sleep referral units. Facial and acral enlargement symptoms including: ring size and shoe size increase, tongue, lips and jaws enlargement, paresthesia or carpal tunnel syndrome and widening of tooth spaces, as well as other typical acromegaly comorbidities were recorded with a self-administered questionnaire of patients who attended a first visit for sleep apnea symptoms between 09/2013 and 07/2014. Serum insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF1) was measured in patients with ≥1 acral symptom to determine the prevalence of acromegaly. Of the 1557 patients enrolled, 1477 with complete data (72% male) were analyzed. 530 patients (36%) reported at least 1 acral enlargement symptom and were tested for IGF-1, 41 were above range, persisted in 7, and among those, 2 cases of acromegaly were diagnosed (prevalence of at least 1.35 cases/1000). Overall, 1019 patients (69%) had ≥2 acromegaly symptoms and should have been screened according to guidelines; moreover 373 patients (25%) had ≥1 symptom of acral enlargement plus ≥3 other acromegaly symptoms. In conclusion, in patients with sleep apnea symptoms and acral enlargement, we found an acromegaly prevalence of at least 1.35 cases per 1000 and a high prevalence of typical acromegaly symptoms. It is important that sleep specialists are aware of acromegaly symptoms to aid with acromegaly diagnosis.

Role of fermented beverages in the maintenance of weight loss / Papel de las bebidas fermentadas en el mantenimiento del peso perdido.

Obesity is a very prevalent disease with multiple chronic complications that decrease or disappear after a small (5-10%) but maintained weight loss. Nevertheless, maintaining weight loss after the treatment is very difficult and it involves one of the biggest challenges to control this epidemic. Although the reasons that contribute to regain the lost weight are diverse and related to the biological response to caloric restriction and the lack of adherence to treatment, up to 20% of the patients are able to keep it off. The keys to success, involve the maintenance of healthy habits, exercise and a reasonable daily calorie intake to allow a normal way of life, without sacrificing the social life. At this point, learning to distinguish food and drink options in a society where social life often revolves around the table is very important. We review the keys to keep the weight off after a diet as well as the role of fermented beverages such as beer, in this process. In conclusion, maintenance the weight loss is harder than losing it. The mild-to-moderate consumption of fermented beverages such as beer is not associated with weight increase.

La obesidad es una enfermedad muy prevalente con múltiples complicaciones crónicas que se reducen o desaparecen tras pérdidas pequeñas (5-10%) pero mantenidas de peso. Sin embargo, mantener la pérdida de peso tras el tratamiento es muy difícil, siendo uno de los mayores retos en el control de esta enfermedad. Aunque las razones que contribuyen a recuperar el peso perdido son de diversa índole, relacionadas con la respuesta biológica a la restricción calórica y con la pérdida de adherencia al tratamiento, hasta un 20% de los pacientes son capaces de mantenerlo. Las claves del éxito están relacionadas con el mantenimiento de los hábitos de vida saludable, el ejercicio físico y una ingesta calórica razonable que permita realizar una vida normal, sin pérdida de vida social. En este sentido, aprender a distinguir las opciones de comida y bebida en una sociedad donde la vida social gira en torno a la mesa en muchas ocasiones es muy importante. Revisamos en este artículo las claves para mantener el peso tras una dieta, así como el papel de las bebidas fermentadas, en especial, la cerveza, en este proceso. En conclusión, mantener el peso perdido es más difícil que perderlo. El consumo leve-moderado de bebidas fermentadas como la cerveza no se asocia con incremento del peso.

Analysis of IGF(CA)19 and IGFBP3-202A/C gene polymorphisms in patients with acromegaly: association with clinical presentation and response to treatments.

OBJECTIVE: IGF1 and IGFBP3 gene polymorphisms have been recently described. However, their potential role in the setting of acromegaly and its outcome is unknown. In this study, we analyze these polymorphisms in patients with acromegaly and investigate their association with clinical presentation and response to treatments. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with acromegaly to analyze IGF1 and IGFBP3 gene polymorphisms. METHODS: A total of 124 patients with acromegaly (57.3% women, mean age 44.9±13.1 years old) were followed up for a period of 11.4±8.0 years in eight tertiary referral hospitals in Spain. Clinical and analytical data were evaluated at baseline and after treatment. IGF1 and IGFBP3 gene polymorphisms were analyzed using PCR and specific primers. RESULTS: Baseline laboratory test results were GH 19.3 (8.0-39.6) ng/ml, nadir GH 11.8 (4.1-21.5) ng/ml, and index IGF1 2.65±1.25 upper limit of normal. Regarding the IGF1 gene polymorphism, we did not find any association between the number of cyto-adenosine (CA) repeats and patients' baseline characteristics. Nevertheless, a trend for higher nadir GH values was observed in patients with <19 CA repeats. Regarding the IGFBP3 polymorphism, the absence of an A allele at the -202 position was associated with a higher baseline IGF1 and a higher prevalence of cancer and polyps. There were no differences in response to therapies according to the specific genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms in the IGF1 and IGFBP3 genes may not be invariably determinant of treatment outcome in acromegalic patients, but they may be associated with higher nadir GH levels or baseline IGF1, and determine a higher rate of colorectal polyps and cancer.