Exercise in patients with Type 2 diabetes: Facilitators and barriers - A qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a major noncommunicable disease affecting more than 65 million Indians. Although treatment algorithms suggest lifestyle measures (diet and exercise) along with medications data regarding adherence to exercise as well as facilitators and barriers to the practice of physical activity in such patients are limited. Hence, this qualitative study was conducted. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to describe the factors which (1) Facilitated and (2) hindered the practice of regular exercise in patients with Type 2 diabetes. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted on 13 diabetic patients admitted to a tertiary care center in Bengaluru - St. John's Medical College Hospital, to explore factors that acted as facilitators and barriers to physical activity. Data saturation with the coded themes was achieved on interviewing 13 patients, after which, thematic analysis was done, and final themes reported. RESULTS: The age of the study participants (7 males, 6 females) ranged from 40 to 80 years. Among those who did exercise, factors such as awareness regarding the benefits of exercise and complications linked with diabetes, positive family support, and emphasis by nursing staff emerged as facilitators. Lack of time, obligations to others, inability to link exercise with blood sugar control, lack of perception of obesity as a health issue, inadequate emphasis by physicians, social/cultural issues, lack of infrastructure, and physical restriction were the factors that acted as barriers to physical activity. In addition to the above, a clear lack of adherence to standard guidelines, while advising patients by physicians was also noted. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive approach by both doctors and nurses, based on standard guidelines, could help in implementing adherence to exercise in patients with diabetes.

Correlation of CD4 counts with the FNAC patterns of tubercular lymphadenitis in patients with HIV: a cross sectional pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of TB lymphadenitis (TBL) in HIV shows four different patterns, which may be reflective of immune status. We hypothesize that the CD(4) counts, a marker of immunologic status, correlates with FNAC morphology of TBL. This study was undertaken to compare the mean CD(4) counts across the different cytology patterns and to correlate the CD(4) counts with FNAC patterns in these patients. METHODS: Forty newly diagnosed HIV patients with TBL on FNAC (10 in each pattern) were selected by convenient sampling based on inclusion exclusion criteria. The CD(4) counts were obtained in these patients. Its correlation with different FNAC patterns was assessed using SPSS version 16. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance showed significant difference in the mean CD(4) counts between all the four patterns [F (374), df (3), P-value = 0.000]. Spearman's correlation analysis showed significant correlation of CD(4) counts with the FNAC patterns (correlation coefficient of 0.967; P-value of 0.01) with pattern 1 having low CD(4) counts and pattern 4 having high CD(4) counts. CONCLUSION: CD(4) counts show significant correlation with FNAC patterns of TBL in HIV patients. Pattern 1, suggestive of poor immunological response (chiefly necrosis, occasional ill defined granuloma, AFB 3+) had low CD(4) counts, while pattern 4, suggestive of good immunological response (well defined granuloma, no necrosis and AFB 1+), had high CD(4) counts. Thus FNAC patterns may be used to predict the CD(4) counts in HIV patients where CD(4) facilities are not available or vice versa.

Evaluation of serum vitamin B12 levels in type 1 diabetics attending a tertiary care hospital: A preliminary cross - sectional study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To estimate serum vitamin B12 levels in type 1 diabetes and to evaluate the influence of duration of diabetes, diabetic control, and age on B 12 levels. IMPORTANCE OF STUDY: Vitamin B12 deficiency is known to be associated with autoimmune disorders. However, currently there is very limited and controversial data regarding the prevalence of B12 deficiency in type 1 diabetes in South Indian population. If our study demonstrates the presence of low serum B12 levels in type1 diabetes in our population, a recommendation for regular screening and supplementation of vitamin B12 could be considered in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross- sectional study. Ninety type 1 diabetic patients (44 males and 46 females) were randomly selected based on inclusion/ exclusion criteria from the diabetes registry at Bangalore Diabetes Centre. Serum vitamin B12 level and parameters for diabetic controls were estimated using fully automated methods. All statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16. RESULTS: The study showed that 45.5% of the diabetics had low B12 using the manufacturer's cut - off of 180 pg/mL and 54% had low B12 using the published cut - off of 148 pmol/l (200pg/mL). There was no significant difference in B12 levels between males and females (mean difference = - 14.3: P > 0.05). The study did not demonstrate any significant correlation between vitamin B12 levels and age, duration of diabetes, and diabetes control (the r values being - 0.18, - 0.11, and - 0.08 respectively and the P-value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of our study shows the presence of low serum B12 levels in type 1 diabetics. These findings merits further research on a larger population to investigate into the cause of deficiency and the benefit of B12 supplementation in these patients.

Serum Lp(a) in diabetics with and without evidence of clinical nephropathy-A preliminary study.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with a marked increase in the risk of coronary artery disease. Dyslipidaemia is believed to be a major cause of this increased risk. Recently, elevated levels of lipoprotein (a), Lp(a), have been reported to be associated with an increased risk. However there is very little data regarding Lp(a) concentrations and type 2 diabetes from India. The objective of the study was to assess serum Lp(a) levels in type 2 diabetics with and with out evidence of clinical nephropathy. We estimated serum Lp(a) levels in 30 control subjects, 30 diabetics without evidence of clinical nephropathy and 30 diabetics with evidence of clinical nephropathy. Statistical analysis showed that Lp(a) levels were increased in diabetic patients with nephropathy (mean 46.3±17.6 mg/dl). The Lp(a) levels however did not differ significantly between control (mean 20.2±15.9 mg/dl) and diabetics without nephropathy (mean 22.6±13.1mg/dl). Thus diabetes per se seems to have little or no influence on serum Lp(a) levels, however elevated levels were seen in patients with nephropathy.