Serum Urate Lowering with Allopurinol and Kidney Function in Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Higher serum urate levels are associated with an increased risk of diabetic kidney disease. Lowering of the serum urate level with allopurinol may slow the decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in persons with type 1 diabetes and early-to-moderate diabetic kidney disease. METHODS: In a double-blind trial, we randomly assigned participants with type 1 diabetes, a serum urate level of at least 4.5 mg per deciliter, an estimated GFR of 40.0 to 99.9 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area, and evidence of diabetic kidney disease to receive allopurinol or placebo. The primary outcome was the baseline-adjusted GFR, as measured with iohexol, after 3 years plus a 2-month washout period. Secondary outcomes included the decrease in the iohexol-based GFR per year and the urinary albumin excretion rate after washout. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 267 patients were assigned to receive allopurinol and 263 to receive placebo. The mean age was 51.1 years, the mean duration of diabetes 34.6 years, and the mean glycated hemoglobin level 8.2%. The mean baseline iohexol-based GFR was 68.7 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 in the allopurinol group and 67.3 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 in the placebo group. During the intervention period, the mean serum urate level decreased from 6.1 to 3.9 mg per deciliter with allopurinol and remained at 6.1 mg per deciliter with placebo. After washout, the between-group difference in the mean iohexol-based GFR was 0.001 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.9 to 1.9; P = 0.99). The mean decrease in the iohexol-based GFR was -3.0 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 per year with allopurinol and -2.5 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 per year with placebo (between-group difference, -0.6 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 per year; 95% CI, -1.5 to 0.4). The mean urinary albumin excretion rate after washout was 40% (95% CI, 0 to 80) higher with allopurinol than with placebo. The frequency of serious adverse events was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of clinically meaningful benefits of serum urate reduction with allopurinol on kidney outcomes among patients with type 1 diabetes and early-to-moderate diabetic kidney disease. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and others; PERL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02017171.).

IMpact of flash glucose Monitoring in pEople with type 2 Diabetes Inadequately controlled with non-insulin Antihyperglycaemic ThErapy (IMMEDIATE): A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To examine the efficacy and patient satisfaction of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) in adults using non-insulin therapies for the management of type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IMMEDIATE study was a multisite, open label, randomized controlled trial with follow-up at 16 weeks. Adults with type 2 diabetes using at least one non-insulin therapy, with an HbA1c of 7.5% or higher (≥ 58 mmol/mol), were randomized 1:1 to receive an isCGM device plus diabetes self-management education (isCGM + DSME) or DSME alone. Enrolment occurred from 8 September 2020 to 24 December 2021. The primary outcome was percentage mean time in range (TIR), in the final 2-week period, measured via blinded CGM. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen participants were randomized (mean age, 58 years; diabetes duration, 10 years; mean HbA1c, 8.6% [70 mmol/mol]). At 16 weeks of follow-up, the isCGM and DSME arm had a significantly greater mean TIR by 9.9% (2.4 hours) (95% CI, -17.3% to -2.5%; P < .01), significantly less time above range by 8.1% (1.9 hours) (95% CI, 0.5% to 15.7%; P = .037), and a greater reduction in mean HbA1c by 0.3% (3 mmol/mol) (95% CI, 0% to 0.7%; P = .048) versus the DSME arm. Time below range was low and not significantly different between groups and hypoglycaemic events were few in both groups. Glucose monitoring satisfaction was higher among isCGM users (adjusted difference -0.5 [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.3], P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The IMMEDIATE study has shown that among non-insulin-treated individuals with type 2 diabetes, use of isCGM is associated with an improvement in glycaemic outcomes.

Ultra rapid lispro showed greater reduction in postprandial glucose versus Humalog in children, adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: This study compared the pharmacokinetics, glucodynamics and tolerability following single subcutaneous doses of ultra rapid lispro (URLi) versus Humalog in children (6-11 years), adolescents (12-17 years) and adults (18-64 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a randomized, two-period, subject- and investigator-blind, crossover design in participants with T1D. Participants received a 0.2 U/kg bolus dose immediately before a liquid mixed meal tolerance test. Insulin lispro and glucose concentrations were measured. RESULTS: The study included 13 children, 14 adolescents and 15 adults. Consistently across the age groups, onset of appearance was 4-5 min faster, the early 50% tmax was reduced by 7-13 min, and exposure in the first 15 min was increased by 3.5-6.5-fold following URLi compared with Humalog (all p < .01). Exposure after 3 h was decreased by 37-58% (p = .02) and the duration was reduced by 56 min (p = .006) in children and 36 min (p = .022) in adolescents with URLi compared with Humalog. The maximum and overall exposure were similar between treatments. Postprandial glucose at 1 h was reduced by 42 mg/dl in children (p = .008), 19 mg/dl (p = .195) in adolescents and 34 mg/dl (p = .018) in adults following URLi versus Humalog. The glucose excursion during a 5-h test meal period was reduced by 16% in children and 9% in adolescents compared with Humalog. URLi was well tolerated in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: URLi showed an accelerated insulin lispro absorption and greater postprandial glucose reduction compared with Humalog in children, adolescents and adults with T1D.

Integrated safety and efficacy analysis of dasiglucagon for the treatment of severe hypoglycaemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: To perform an integrated analysis of the safety and efficacy of dasiglucagon, a glucagon analogue available in a ready-to-use aqueous formulation, to treat severe hypoglycaemia (SH) in type 1 diabetes (T1D). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An integrated analysis of dasiglucagon safety was conducted on data from two placebo-controlled trials (placebo-controlled pool) and two placebo-controlled and four non-placebo-controlled trials (broad pool) in adults with T1D. An integrated analysis of dasiglucagon efficacy was conducted of pooled data and within demographic subgroups from the two placebo-controlled and two non-placebo-controlled trials in adults with T1D. RESULTS: Dasiglucagon had a similar safety and tolerability profile to that of reconstituted glucagon. In the placebo-controlled datasets, no serious adverse events (AEs), AEs leading to withdrawal from the trial, or deaths were reported. The most common causally related AEs were nausea (56.5%) and vomiting (24.6%). The broad pool safety analysis showed similar results. Dasiglucagon efficacy in time to plasma glucose recovery from insulin-induced SH was similar to that of reconstituted glucagon (median 10.0 and 12.0 minutes, respectively) and superior to placebo (median 40.0 minutes; P < 0.0001). The median recovery time was consistent across all placebo-controlled trial subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Dasiglucagon was well tolerated and effective as a rapid rescue agent for insulin-induced SH in people with T1D.

International comparison of glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes: an update and extension.

AIMS: To update and extend a previous cross-sectional international comparison of glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Data were obtained for 520,392 children and adults with type 1 diabetes from 17 population and five clinic-based data sources in countries or regions between 2016 and 2020. Median HbA1c (IQR) and proportions of individuals with HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%), 58-74 mmol/mol (7.5-8.9%) and ≥75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) were compared between populations for individuals aged <15, 15-24 and ≥25 years. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) relative to ≥58 mmol/mol (≥7.5%), stratified and adjusted for sex, age and data source. Where possible, changes in the proportion of individuals in each HbA1c category compared to previous estimates were calculated. RESULTS: Median HbA1c varied from 55 to 79 mmol/mol (7.2 to 9.4%) across data sources and age groups so a pooled estimate was deemed inappropriate. OR (95% CI) for HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) were 0.91 (0.90-0.92) for women compared to men, 1.68 (1.65-1.71) for people aged <15 years and 0.81 (0.79-0.82) aged15-24 years compared to those aged ≥25 years. Differences between populations persisted after adjusting for sex, age and data source. In general, compared to our previous analysis, the proportion of people with an HbA1c  < 58 mmol/l (<7.5%) increased and proportions of people with HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Glycaemic control of type 1 diabetes continues to vary substantially between age groups and data sources. While some improvement over time has been observed, glycaemic control remains sub-optimal for most people with Type 1 diabetes.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the LMC Skills, Confidence & Preparedness Index (SCPI) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: A variety of diabetes self-management instruments have been developed but few of them consist of the preparedness for diabetes self-management behavior. The novel psychometric evaluation tool "the LMC Skills, Confidence & Preparedness Index (SCPI)" measures three key aspects of a patient's diabetes self-management: knowledge of the skill, confidence in being able to perform skill and preparedness to implement the skill. The objective of this study was to translate, adapt and validate the SCPI for use in Chinese adult patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This study followed the guideline recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Evidence Based Medicine Committee (AAOS) to indigenize the scale. Forward and back translation, and cross-cultural language debugging were completed according to the recommended steps. A convenience sample of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 375) were recruited from a university-affiliated hospital in Shanghai. The validity (criterion, discriminant validity, and construct validity), reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and the interpretability of the instrument were examined. The content validity was calculated by experts' evaluation. RESULTS: The Chinese version of SCPI (C-SCPI) has good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92. The ceiling effects of the preparedness subscales is 21%. The criterion validity of three dimensions of C-SCPI was established with significantly moderate correlations between the DKT, DES-SF and SDSCA (p < 0.05). The S-CVI of the whole scale was 0.83. Except for entry 21, the I-CVI values of all entries were greater than 0.78. The C-SCPI has also shown good discriminative validity with statistically significant differences between the patients with good and poor glycemic control. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that modified results indicate that the fitting degree of the model is good, χ2/df = 2.775, RMSEA = 0.069, CFI = 0.903, GFI = 0.873, TLI = 0.889, IFI = 0.904. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.61 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We established a Chinese version of SCPI through translation and cross-cultural adaptation. The C-SCPI is reliable and valid for assessment of the level of self-management in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide once weekly in people with type 2 diabetes: Real-world analysis of the Canadian LMC diabetes registry (SPARE study).

AIMS: To investigate real-world short-term clinical outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who initiated semaglutide in a specialist endocrinology practice in Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational study using data from the Canadian LMC Diabetes Registry. Adults with T2D who were naïve to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapy, initiated semaglutide therapy as usual standard of care between February 2018 and February 2019, and maintained semaglutide therapy during follow-up, were eligible for analysis. The primary outcome was mean change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at 3- to 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: In the final analytical cohort (n = 937), there was a statistically significant mean ± SD reduction in HbA1c of -1.03 ± 1.24% (11.3 ± 13.6 mmol/mol, P < 0.001) and weight of -3.9 ± 4.0 kg (P < 0.001), with no significant change in self-reported incidence of hypoglycaemia. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c and weight regardless of number of co-therapies or semaglutide dose. However, adults using the 1.0-mg dose had a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c compared to adults using the 0.25- to 0.5-mg dose (between-group difference - 0.24 ± 0.06%, 2.6 ± 0.7 mmol/mol; P < 0.001). Adults using basal-bolus therapy required a significantly lower median total daily dose of insulin after adding semaglutide (0.82 vs. 0.93 U/kg; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective observational study demonstrated that GLP-1RA-naïve adults with T2D initiating semaglutide in a real-world clinical practice had a statistically and clinically significant reduction in HbA1c and body weight after 3 to 6 months, regardless of semaglutide dose or order of semaglutide therapy, with no significant change in reported incidence of hypoglycaemia.

Goal achievement of HbA1c and LDL-cholesterol in a randomized trial comparing colesevelam with ezetimibe: GOAL-RCT.

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of colesevelam and ezetimibe as second-line low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c)-lowering options in type 2 diabetes (T2D). MATERIALS AND METHODS: GOAL-RCT is a 24-week, open-label, randomized, pragmatic clinical trial. Subjects with T2D with uncontrolled HbA1c (7.1%-10%) and LDL-c (>2.0 mmol/L) were randomized 1:1 to colesevelam 3.75 g or ezetimibe 10 mg daily. The primary composite outcome was the proportion of participants achieving an LDL-c target of ≤2.0 mmol/L and HbA1c target of ≤7.0%. Intention to treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: Two hundred subjects were enrolled: mean age 59 ± 10 years; mean HbA1c 8.0%; mean LDL-c 2.5 mmol/L; 97% on statin therapy. The primary composite outcome was achieved by similar proportions of participants with colesevelam (14.6%) and ezetimibe (10.5%) (Pnon-inferiority < .001, Psuperiority = .41). LDL-c reduction from baseline was less with colesevelam compared with ezetimibe (14.0% vs. 23.2%, P < .01), as was the proportion of subjects achieving an LDL-c target of ≤2.0 mmol/L (47.6% and 67.0%, respectively; P = .007). Mean HbA1c was reduced with colesevelam (-0.26 ± 0.10%), while no change was observed with ezetimibe (difference P = .06). Adverse events and discontinuation rates were higher for colesevelam (20.2% and 31.1%) compared with ezetimibe (7.2% and 6.2%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among subjects with T2D, the initiation of colesevelam or ezetimibe led to similar achievement of primary composite outcome (LDL-c and HbA1c within target), with ezetimibe recording a greater LDL-c reduction and better tolerability than colesevelam.

First assessment of the performance of an implantable continuous glucose monitoring system through 180 days in a primarily adolescent population with type 1 diabetes.

AIM: To investigate the performance of the Eversense XL implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system through 180 days in a primarily adolescent population with type 1 diabetes (T1D). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, single-centre, single-arm, 180-day study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of the implantable CGM system in Canadian adolescent and adult subjects with T1D. Accuracy measures included mean absolute relative difference (MARD), 15/15% agreement between CGM glucose and blood glucose measured by Yellow Springs Instruments and surveillance error grid analysis. Adolescent subjects received one sensor in the upper arm and adult subjects received one sensor in each upper arm. In-clinic CGM system accuracy studies were performed every 30 days. The safety assessment included the incidence of adverse events related to either device or the insertion/removal procedure through 180 days. RESULTS: Thirty-six subjects (30 adolescent/6 adult, 13 female/23 male, mean age 17 ± 9.2 years, mean body mass index 22 ± 4 kg/m2 ) received the CGM system. Overall MARD was 9.4% (95% CI: 8.6%-10.5%). CGM system agreement at 15/15% (N = 7163) through 60, 120 and 180 days was 82.9% (95% CI: 78.4%-86.1%), 83.6% (95% CI: 80.4%-85.7%) and 83.4% (95% CI: 79.7%-85.5%), respectively. Surveillance error grid analysis showed 98.4% of paired values in clinically acceptable error zones A and B. No insertion/removal or device-related serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The Eversense XL CGM system is safe and accurate through 180 days in a primarily adolescent population of subjects with T1D.

Insulin glargine/lixisenatide fixed-ratio combination improves glycaemic variability and control without increasing hypoglycaemia.

Maintaining optimal glycaemic control reduces the risk of micro- and macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. Typically, glycaemic control is based on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) as a measure of mean glucose concentration; however, this marker does not accurately reflect glycaemic variability (GV), which is characterized by the amplitude, frequency and duration of hypo- and hyperglycaemic fluctuations. In the present study, we analysed data from the LixiLan-O trial, which compared iGlarLixi, a titratable fixed-ratio combination of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide (Lixi) and long-acting basal insulin glargine 100 units/mL (iGlar), with its individual components, and the LixiLan-L trial, which compared iGlarLixi with iGlar. The GV features that were measured were mean and SD of self-measured plasma glucose (SMPG), high blood glucose index (HBGI) and low blood glucose index, area under the SMPG curve for each patient (AUCn), mean absolute glucose (MAG) and mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions (MAGE). By week 30, iGlarLixi improved all GV markers from baseline, with no increased hypoglycaemia risk. Significant improvements were observed in SMPG, SD of SMPG, HBGI, AUCn, MAG and MAGE compared with iGlar, and in SMPG, HBGI and AUCn, compared with Lixi.

Comparison of the HAT study, the largest global hypoglycaemia study to date, with similar large real-world studies.

AIMS: Optimal diabetes care requires clear understanding of the incidence of hypoglycaemia in real-world clinical practice. Current data on hypoglycaemia are generally limited to those reported from randomised controlled clinical trials. The Hypoglycaemia Assessment Tool (HAT) study, a non-interventional real-world study of hypoglycaemia, assessed hypoglycaemia in 27 585 individuals across 24 countries. The present study compared the incidence of hypoglycaemia from the HAT study with other similarly designed, large, real-world studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search of PubMed (1995-2017) for population-based studies of insulin-treated patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (T1D, T2D), excluding clinical trials and reviews, identified comparable population-based studies reporting the incidence of hypoglycaemia. RESULTS: The 24 comparative studies, including more than 24 000 participants with T1D and more than 160 000 participants with T2D, varied in design, size, inclusion criteria, definitions of hypoglycaemia and method of recording hypoglycaemia. Reported rates (events per patient-year [PPY]) of hypoglycaemia were higher in patients with T1D than in those with T2D (overall T1D, 21.8-73.3 and T2D, 1.3-37.7; mild/non-severe T1D, 29.0-126.7 and T2D, 1.3-41.5; severe T1D, 0.7-5.8 and T2D, 0.0-2.5; nocturnal T1D, 2.6-11.3 and T2D, 0.38-9.7) and were similar to the ranges found in the HAT study. CONCLUSIONS: The HAT data on hypoglycaemia incidence were comparable with those from other real-world studies and indicate a high incidence of hypoglycaemia among insulin-treated patients. Differences in rates among studies are mostly explained by differences in patient populations and study methodology. The goal of reducing hypoglycaemia should be a target for continued educational and evidence-based pharmacological interventions.

Glycemic Improvement with a Fixed-dose combination of DPP-4 inhibitor + metformin in patients with Type 2 diabetes (GIFT study).

This study investigates changes in A1C following a switch from dual therapy of metformin and DPP-4 inhibitor to a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of metformin + DPP-4 inhibitor following the introduction of the FDC in the provincial formulary. The LMC Diabetes Registry was queried retrospectively for patients with type 2 diabetes, aged between 18 and 80 years with at least one A1C recorded prior and ≥3 months post-switch. Five hundred and sixty-eight subjects with mean age 64 ± 12 years and mean A1C 7.7% ± 1.2% met study criteria. Overall, A1C was 0.3% lower post-switch to FDC (P < .01). In stratified analysis, subjects with baseline A1C between 7% and 10% had 0.4% lower A1C (P < .01), with 31% of these subjects reaching target A1C ≤7%, post-switch. A1C reduction was greater among patients with a higher baseline pill burden: 0.4% among those using ≥10 pills/day vs. 0.1% for those with <10 pills/day (P = .02). In this real-world study, switching to FDC of metformin + DPP-4 inhibitor was associated with a significant improvement in A1C. Switching to FDC, especially in patients with high pill burden, can improve A1C goal achievement in clinical practice.

Long-term efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin monotherapy in patients with inadequately controlled T2DM despite diet and exercise: VERTIS MONO extension study.

AIM: This phase III, multicentre, randomized study (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01958671) evaluated the efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin monotherapy in adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c], 7.0% to 10.5% [53-91 mmol/mol]) despite diet and exercise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 52-week study comprised a 26-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled period (Phase A) during which 461 participants received placebo, ertugliflozin 5 mg/d or ertugliflozin 15 mg/d. This was followed by a 26-week active-controlled period (Phase B) during which participants in the placebo group who had not received glycaemic rescue therapy had blinded metformin added. Results to Week 52 are reported. Because of the use of metformin in Phase B, no statistical comparisons of efficacy were made between the ertugliflozin and placebo/metformin groups at Week 52. RESULTS: The mean (standard error) change from baseline to Week 52 in HbA1c was -0.9% (0.1) and -1.0% (0.1) in the ertugliflozin 5 and 15 mg groups, respectively. The proportions of participants with HbA1c <7.0% at Week 52 were 25.6% and 28.5%, respectively. Ertugliflozin reduced fasting plasma glucose, body weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP). The incidence of genital mycotic infections (GMIs) in females was significantly higher in both ertugliflozin groups (5 mg, 26.9%; 15 mg, 29.0%) vs the placebo/metformin group (9.9%), and in males was significantly higher in the 15 mg group (7.8%) vs the placebo/metformin group (1.2%). Ertugliflozin was not associated with increased incidence of urinary tract infections, symptomatic hypoglycaemia or hypovolaemia adverse events compared with placebo/metformin. CONCLUSIONS: Ertugliflozin treatment over 52 weeks improved glycaemic control and reduced body weight and SBP, but increased GMIs.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Versus Usual Care in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Receiving Multiple Daily Insulin Injections: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which studies have shown is beneficial for adults with type 1 diabetes, has not been well-evaluated in those with type 2 diabetes receiving insulin. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of CGM in adults with type 2 diabetes receiving multiple daily injections of insulin. Design: Randomized clinical trial. (The protocol also included a type 1 diabetes cohort in a parallel trial and subsequent second trial.) (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02282397). Setting: 25 endocrinology practices in North America. Patients: 158 adults who had had type 2 diabetes for a median of 17 years (interquartile range, 11 to 23 years). Participants were aged 35 to 79 years (mean, 60 years [SD, 10]), were receiving multiple daily injections of insulin, and had hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of 7.5% to 9.9% (mean, 8.5%). Intervention: Random assignment to CGM (n = 79) or usual care (control group, n = 79). Measurements: The primary outcome was HbA1c reduction at 24 weeks. Results: Mean HbA1c levels decreased to 7.7% in the CGM group and 8.0% in the control group at 24 weeks (adjusted difference in mean change, -0.3% [95% CI, -0.5% to 0.0%]; P = 0.022). The groups did not differ meaningfully in CGM-measured hypoglycemia or quality-of-life outcomes. The CGM group averaged 6.7 days (SD, 0.9) of CGM use per week. Limitation: 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: A high percentage of adults who received multiple daily insulin injections for type 2 diabetes used CGM on a daily or near-daily basis for 24 weeks and had improved glycemic control. Because few insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes currently use CGM, these results support an additional management method that may benefit these patients. Primary Funding Source: Dexcom.

Factors associated with improved glycemic control following continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled with bolus-basal insulin regimens: An analysis from the OpT2mise randomized trial.

This analysis investigated factors associated with the decrease in HbA1c in patients receiving continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in the OpT2mise randomized trial. In this study, patients with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c >8% following multiple daily injections (MDI) optimization were randomized to receive CSII (n = 168) or MDI (n = 163) for 6 months. Patient-related and treatment-related factors associated with decreased HbA1c in the CSII arm were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. CSII produced a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c than MDI, and the treatment difference increased with baseline HbA1c. In the CSII arm, the only factors significantly associated with decreased HbA1c were higher baseline HbA1c (P < .001), geographical region (P < .001), higher educational level (P = .012), higher total cholesterol level (P = .002), lower variability of baseline glucose values on continuous glucose monitoring (P < .001) and the decrease in average fasting self-monitored blood glucose at 6 months (P < .001). These findings suggest that CSII offers an option to improve glycemic control in a broad range of patients with type 2 diabetes in whom control cannot be achieved with MDI. OpT2mise ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01182493 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/).

The LMC Skills, Confidence & Preparedness Index (SCPI): development and evaluation of a novel tool for assessing self-management in patients with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Optimal diabetes care requires a specific set of self-management behaviours. The purpose of this study was to present the development and initial psychometric evaluation of a new tool to measure three key aspects of a patient's diabetes self-management: knowledge of the skill, confidence in being able to perform the skill and preparedness to implement the skill. METHODS: A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was used. A panel of educators, researchers and clinicians established a scale with items that would adequately capture skills, confidence and preparedness in seven core health behaviours central to diabetes care. The psychometric properties of the items were pilot tested on 120 participants with diabetes from a tertiary referral centre, and repeated 6 months later on 70 participants. Item selection was informed by factor analysis, item-total statistics and the need for brevity. RESULTS: Twenty five items from a pool of 36 were retained, with an excellent overall intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.94 (95% CI 0.92-0.99; p < 0.001). Internal consistency for the subscales (skills-9 items, confidence - 8 items, preparedness - 8 items) was very good (intraclass correlation between 0.83 and 0.88), and retest reliability after 6 months was also good (r = 0.48; p < 0.01). The scale was positively correlated to established scales that assess skill (Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test) (r = 0.21;p = 0.01), and assess skill and confidence (Diabetes Empowerment Scale) (r = 0.28;p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The Skills, Confidence & Preparedness Index is a brief and easy to administer new scale that is more comprehensive than existing tools. It should be used to assess self-management in patients with diabetes, optimize the resources applied to each patient, and determine educational needs and direct clinical management. The scale should be further evaluated in a broader population of patients with diabetes.

Association between plasma triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and microvascular kidney disease and retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a global case-control study in 13 countries.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular renal and retinal diseases are common major complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The relation between plasma lipids and microvascular disease is not well established. METHODS AND RESULTS: The case subjects were 2535 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an average duration of 14 years, 1891 of whom had kidney disease and 1218 with retinopathy. The case subjects were matched for diabetes mellitus duration, age, sex, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to 3683 control subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus who did not have kidney disease or retinopathy. The study was conducted in 24 sites in 13 countries. The primary analysis included kidney disease and retinopathy cases. Matched analysis was performed by use of site-specific conditional logistic regression in multivariable models that adjusted for hemoglobin A1c, hypertension, and statin treatment. Mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was 2.3 mmol/L. The microvascular disease odds ratio increased by a factor of 1.16 (95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.22) for every 0.5 mmol/L (≈1 quintile) increase in triglycerides or decreased by a factor of 0.92 (0.88-0.96) for every 0.2 mmol/L (≈1 quintile) increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. For kidney disease, the odds ratio increased by 1.23 (1.16-1.31) with triglycerides and decreased by 0.86 (0.82-0.91) with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Retinopathy was associated with triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in matched analysis but not significantly after additional adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic kidney disease is associated worldwide with higher levels of plasma triglycerides and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among patients with good control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Retinopathy was less robustly associated with these lipids. These results strengthen the rationale for studying dyslipidemia treatment to prevent diabetic microvascular disease.

Insulin pump treatment compared with multiple daily injections for treatment of type 2 diabetes (OpT2mise): a randomised open-label controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with advanced type 2 diabetes do not meet their glycated haemoglobin targets and randomised controlled studies comparing the efficacy of pump treatment and multiple daily injections for lowering glucose in insulin-treated patients have yielded inconclusive results. We aimed to resolve this uncertainty with a randomised controlled trial (OpT2mise). METHODS: We did this multicentre, controlled trial at 36 hospitals, tertiary care centres, and referal centres in Canada, Europe, Israel, South Africa, and the USA. Patients with type 2 diabetes who had poor glycaemic control despite multiple daily injections with insulin analogues were enrolled into a 2-month dose-optimisation run-in period. After the run-in period, patients with glycated haemoglobin of 8·0-12·0% (64-108 mmol/mol) were randomly assigned (1:1) by a computer-generated randomisation sequence (block size 2 with probability 0·75 and size 4 with probability 0·25) to pump treatment or to continue with multiple daily injections. Neither patients nor investigators were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was change in mean glycated haemoglobin between baseline and end of the randomised phase for the intention-to-treat population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01182493. FINDINGS: 495 of 590 screened patients entered the run-in phase and 331 were randomised (168 to pump treatment, 163 to multiple daily injections). Mean glycated haemoglobin at baseline was 9% (75 mmol/mol) in both groups. At 6 months, mean glycated haemoglobin had decreased by 1·1% (SD 1·2; 12 mmol/mol, SD 13) in the pump treatment group and 0·4% (SD 1·1; 4 mmol/mol, SD 12) in the multiple daily injection group, resulting in a between-group treatment difference of -0·7% (95% CI -0·9 to -0·4; -8 mmol/mol, 95% CI -10 to -4, p<0·0001). At the end of the study, the mean total daily insulin dose was 97 units (SD 56) with pump treatment versus 122 units (SD 68) for multiple daily injections (p<0·0001), with no significant difference in bodyweight change between the two groups (1·5 kg [SD 3·5] vs 1·1 kg [3·6], p=0·322). Two diabetes-related serious adverse events (hyperglycaemia or ketosis without acidosis) resulting in hospital admission occurred in the pump treatment group compared with one in the multiple daily injection group. No ketoacidosis occurred in either group and one episode of severe hypoglycaemia occurred in the multiple daily injection group. INTERPRETATION: In patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes despite using multiple daily injections of insulin, pump treatment can be considered as a safe and valuable treatment option. FUNDING: Medtronic.

Factors Associated With Attainment of Glycemic Targets Among Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Canada: A Cross-sectional Study Using Primary and Specialty Care Electronic Medical Record Data.

OBJECTIVE: Using a new database combining primary and specialty care electronic medical record (EMR) data in Canada, we determined attainment of glycemic targets and associated predictors among adults with diabetes. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study combining primary and specialty care EMR data in Canada. Adults with diabetes whose primary care provider contributed to the National Diabetes Repository or who were assessed at a diabetes specialty clinic (LMC Diabetes and Endocrinology) between July 3, 2015, and June 30, 2019, were included. Diabetes type was categorized as type 2 diabetes (T2D) not prescribed insulin, T2D prescribed insulin, and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Covariates were age, sex, income quintile, province, rural/urban location, estimated glomerular filtration rate, medications, and insulin pump use. Associations between predictors and the outcome (glycated hemoglobin [A1C] of ≤7.0%) were assessed by multivariable logistic regressions. RESULTS: Among 122,106 adults, consisting of 91,366 with T2D not prescribed insulin, 25,131 with T2D prescribed insulin, and 5,609 with T1D, attainment of an A1C of ≤7.0% was 60%, 25%, and 23%, respectively. Proportions with an A1C of ≤7.5% and ≤8.0% were 75% and 84% for those with T2D not prescribed insulin, 41% and 57% for those with T2D prescribed insulin, and 37% and 53% for those with T1D. Highest vs lowest income quintile was associated with greater odds of meeting the A1C target (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for each diabetes category: 1.15 [1.10 to 1.21], 1.21 [1.10 to 1.33], and 1.29 [1.04 to 1.60], respectively). Individuals in Alberta and Manitoba had less antihyperglycemic medication use and attainment of A1C target than other provinces. CONCLUSIONS: Attainment of glycemic targets among adults with diabetes was poor and differed by income and geographic location, which must be addressed in national diabetes strategies.