Association of the muscle/fat mass ratio with insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus.

This study assessed the association of muscle mass with insulin resistance, evaluated from the insulin sensitivity index (ISI), in Japanese patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Consecutive patients with GDM (n = 96) admitted to St. Marianna University Hospital between October 2015 and March 2018 for initial education and glycemic control were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Insulin resistance was evaluated by measuring the ISI and body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The subjects were aged 34.4 ± 4.8 years (mean ± SD) and their body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy was 22.3 ± 4.0 kg/m2. Fifty-three patients (55.2%) had a history of diabetes in first-degree relatives. The ISI was 7.2 ± 3.3, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was 17.0 ± 2.1 kg, and fat mass (FM) was 18.8 ± 8.2 kg. The ASM/FM ratio was 1.02 ± 0.34. There was a positive correlation between FM and ASM (r = 0.734, p < 0.001). To adjust for confounders when evaluating the association of ASM with ISI, multivariate analysis was conducted using age, family history of diabetes, and BMI as variables. In this analysis, the ASM/FM ratio showed a significant positive correlation with ISI (ß = 0.303, p = 0.020). These findings suggest that inadequate ASM/FM ratio is important for the development of insulin resistance in Japanese patients with GDM. Excessive emphasis on dieting rather than health might increase the risk of GDM by reducing the muscle mass below the level that maintains normal glucose metabolism.

Efficacy and safety of thrice-weekly insulin degludec in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes assessed by continuous glucose monitoring.

As life expectancy becomes longer in Japan, there has been an increase of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who need insulin therapy but cannot perform self-injection due to dementia or other conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of thrice-weekly insulin degludec therapy in elderly patients with poorly controlled diabetes. The subjects were 22 hospitalized elderly Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who had difficulty with self-injection. After becoming stable on once-daily insulin degludec treatment, they were assigned to continue once-daily injection (OD group) or were switched to thrice-weekly injection (TW group) for one week. In the TW group, insulin degludec (IDeg) was injected at twice the OD dose before lunch on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Glycemic control was assessed by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) over 7 days. The mean 7-day glucose level (131±25 mg/dL with OD vs. 152±30 mg/dL with TW, p=0.11) and the mean 7-day standard deviation (32±10 mg/dL with OD vs. 36±14 mg/dL with TW, p=0.45) did not differ significantly between the two groups. The percent duration of glucose <70 mg/dL (2.4±3.1% with OD vs. 1.3±2.5% with TW, p=0.39) and glucose >200 mg/dL (7.2±12.1% with OD vs. 15.6±18.0% with TW, p=0.22) over 7 days also showed no significant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, thrice-weekly IDeg provided by a visiting nurse could be a practical option for elderly diabetic patients who have difficulty performing self-injection of insulin.

Effect of insulin glargine on endogenous insulin secretion and beta-cell function in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients using oral antidiabetic drugs.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of insulin glargine (Gla) (as part of basal-supported oral therapy) on endogenous insulin secretion and beta-cell function in type 2 diabetic patients. In 33 insulin-naive patients showing poor glycemic control on treatment with sulfonylurea (SU)-based OADs without DPP4 inhibitors, once-daily injection of Gla was added without changing OADs, and the dose of Gla was titrated to attain a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) <110 mg/dL over 24 weeks. Morning meal tests were done at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks. FPG and 2-hour plasma glucose (2HPG) and serum C-peptide (FCPR and 2HCPR) were measured 3 times, while serum intact proinsulin (FPI and 2HPI) was measured at baseline and 24 weeks. Levels of FPG, FCPR, 2HPG, and HbA1c were significantly reduced from baseline at 24 weeks (176±52 to 117±27 mg/dL, p<0.01; 2.0±0.9 to 1.6±1.0 ng/mL, p<0.01; 257±53 to 202±27 mg/dL, p<0.01; and 8.4±0.9 to 7.3±0.6%, p<0.01, Mean±SD), but 2HCPR was unchanged. The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether FPG at 24 weeks was <110 mg/dL or not: attained group (n=15) and not attained group (n=18). The dose of Gla did not differ between the two groups, but the 2HPI/2HCPR ratio at 24 weeks showed a significant decrease from baseline in the attained group. Supplementation with Gla improved glycemic control and maintained intrinsic basal insulin secretion, without changing 2-hour postprandial secretion. Achieving good glycemic control with an FPG<110 mg/dL by adding Gla decreased the 2HPI/2HCPR ratio at 24 weeks.

Comparison of daily glucose excursion by continuous glucose monitoring between type 2 diabetic patients receiving preprandial insulin aspart or postprandial insulin glulisine.

Insulin glulisine (Glu) is a rapidly-acting insulin analog with a faster onset of action than the other insulin analogs of its class, which are insulin aspart (Asp) and insulin lispro (Lisp). While insulin Glu is usually injected just before meals, postprandial injection may help to avoid unexpected postprandial hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia by adjusting the insulin dosage according to food intake. However, the effect of postprandial insulin Glu on the glucose profile has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to compare daily glucose excursion by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) between multiple daily doses of preprandial insulin Asp or postprandial insulin Glu. In a randomized cross-over trial, we performed CGM to evaluate the 48-hour glucose profile during treatment with the same dosage of insulin Asp just before each meal in 12 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients also received the same dosage of long-acting insulin glargine at bedtime. The average glucose level, standard deviation of the glucose level, mean amplitude of glucose excursion, and daily glucose profile did not differ between preprandial Asp and postprandial Glu. The incidence of hypoglycemic episodes (glucose level<70 mg/dL with or without symptoms) and the area under the curve of glucose<70 mg/dL also did not differ between the two insulin regimens. Multiple daily injections of preprandial Asp and postprandial Glu achieved the same daily glucose excursion profile. Postprandial injection of Glu may provide greater flexibility for patients who require insulin therapy.

Development of a simple prediction model for adrenal crisis diagnosis.

To develop a prediction model for adrenal crisis (AC) diagnosis among individuals with adrenal insufficiency that relies on the values of routinely measured clinical parameters, for application in standard clinical practice. We retrospectively analysed data from five referral centres in Japan. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of AC, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine their optimal cut-off points. The analysis included data from 54 patients with 90 AC events. Logistic regression revealed that serum sodium and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were independent predictors of AC. Serum sodium levels < 137 mEq/L had a sensitivity of 71.1% and specificity of 95.6%. CRP levels > 1.3 mg/dL had a sensitivity of 84.4% and specificity of 94.9%. In combination, serum sodium levels < 137 mEq/L or CRP levels > 1.3 mg/dL for AC diagnosis had sensitivity and specificity values of 97.8% and 94.4%, respectively. The combined use of serum sodium and CRP levels had high sensitivity and specificity, and can be used for AC screening in standard clinical practice. The model can assist in identifying AC among high-risk individuals. A larger prospective study is needed to validate these results.

Efficacy and safety of switching from basal insulin to once-daily insulin degludec/insulin aspart in Japanese patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes: A 4-week, randomized, open-label, treat-to-target study.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: A prospective, 4-week, single-center, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, treat-to-target study was carried out to develop an algorithm for safe and effective switching from basal insulin to once-daily insulin degludec/insulin aspart (IDegAsp) in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to continue their current basal insulin therapy (n = 10) or to switch to IDegAsp on a 1:1 unit basis (n = 10). The insulin dose could be titrated once weekly, targeting a self-measured blood glucose of 80-100 mg/dL before breakfast. A mixed meal test was carried out at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, the mean daily dose of insulin was similarly increased by 60% in both groups, and there was a significant decrease of mean plasma glucose and glucose area under the glucose concentration vs time curve for 2 h in the meal test. The mean estimated treatment difference (IDegAsp group - basal insulin group) of the mean plasma glucose level was -28 mg/dL (95% confidence interval -47 to -8, P = 0.008) after 4 weeks and that of the area under the glucose concentration vs time curve for 2 h was -2,800 mg/min/dL (95% confidence interval -5,300 to -350, P = 0.028), confirming the superiority of IDegAsp to basal insulin. In the IDegAsp group, the 2-h postprandial plasma glucose level was significantly decreased to the fasting plasma glucose range. There were no confirmed hypoglycemic episodes in either group during the 4-week study period. CONCLUSIONS: After switching from basal insulin, the IDegAsp dose can be uptitrated by 60% based on fasting plasma glucose data. However, monitoring of postprandial glucose should be considered before further uptitration of IDegAsp.

Better response to the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in young adults with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A variation of the response to Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors with age has not been investigated in patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess renal threshold of glucose (RTg) before and after administration of an SGLT2 inhibitor in young adult patients (≤40 years) and older adult patients (>40 years) with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty Japanese patients with T2DM were enrolled. Baseline data were obtained on the first day and dapagliflozin (5 mg) was administered at 6:00 on the second day. Glucose excursions were assessed by continuous glucose monitoring and urine samples were collected every hour during the daytime (7:00 to 15:00) on both days. RTg was estimated from the regression line of the scatter plot of the hourly mean glucose concentrations. RESULTS: After a single dose of dapagliflozin, RTg decreased from 121.5 to 6.1 mg/dl in the young adult group and from 151.0 mg/dl to -15.8 mg/dl in the older group. After dapagliflozin, the slope of the regression line was significantly steeper in the young adult group. CONCLUSION: Dapagliflozin was more effective in young patients because they showed a larger response of urinary glucose excretion.