COVID 19: Diabetes and Obesity API-ICP Recommendations.

Diabetes and Obesity are major risk factors which confer vulnerability to Covid 19 . Diabetes has immune defects which makes the individual susceptible to infections and covid 19 is no exception . Also covid 19 can cause pancreatic damage as well as stress hyperglycaemia in hospitals which may need Insulin . Among diabetes male gender,elderly,hypertension ,heart disease and chronic renal disease are more vulbwdvale to covid 19 and need strict supervision . Diabetes management in hospitalised situation merits early diabetes specific nutrition with Insulin. Adherence to lifestyle with self monitoring of blood glucose and adequate supply of Insulin and Oral antidiabetic agents is encouraged.

Evaluation of Clinical Acceptability of Perindopril / Indapamide Single-pill Combination in Moderate to Severe Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Current European hypertension guidelines recommend to initiate the treatment of patients with moderate to severe hypertension with a Single Pill Combination (SPC) containing two drugs, as SPC use leads to more effective and faster blood pressure control. The guidelines also recommend tighter blood pressure control in hypertensive patients with cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy on blood pressure reduction and acceptability of the single pill combination of Perindopril/Indapamide in patients with moderate to severe hypertension. METHODS: In this multicentre, prospective, observational study, patients with moderate to severe hypertension were prescribed Perindopril 4mg/ Indapamide 1.25 mg for 90 days. The primary outcomes were blood pressure decrease and achievement of BP control. Patients were up-titrated to Perindopril 8 mg/Indapamide 2.5 mg SPC, if target BP control (≤140/90 mm Hg) could not be achieved by day 30. RESULTS: In this study, 173 hypertensive patients, with a mean age of 51 years were enrolled at 3 centres from different geographic areas within India. Mean SBP/DBP decreased significantly from baseline (155.70 (±10.39) / 95.72 (±6.99) mmHg) over 90 days (30.31 (±14.15) / 17.14 (±9.33) mmHg; p < 0.0000). Few side effects were reported during the 90-day period. CONCLUSION: : Perindopril/Indapamide given as a SPC was found to be an effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive combination resulting in rapid blood pressure control in patients with moderate to severe hypertension.

IMPACT India: Insights for Insulin Therapy in Routine Clinical Practice.

OBJECTIVE: Widely used in the management of diabetes, insulin therapy is influenced by several patient preferences and physician choices. This article reports the findings of the IMPACT survey, designed to assess insights on various factors which influence the choice of insulin therapy in India. METHODS: We administered a questionnaire which focused on the practice and patient profiles and the preferred regimens in specific clinical situations using a case scenario. Respondents were asked about preferred insulin regimens for various phases of life, comorbid conditions, dietary choices and psychological factors. RESULTS: Overall, 314 doctors participated in the survey. Majority were general physicians (51%) and diabetologists (37%). In clinical practice, the most preferred regimens included premix insulin BD in adults (59%) and elderly (53%), and basal bolus therapy in pregnant women (>47%) and in acute illness (62%). Both regimens were equally preferred for symptomatic patients (41% basal bolus and 38% premix insulin) and those with renal or hepatic failure (36% each). Premix insulin was preferred for patients with high carbohydrate intake (73%) while basal bolus was preferred for patients with variable meal timings (39%) and in pronounced postprandial glucose excursions (45%). Insulin co-formulation and high-mix insulins were not a part of the survey questionnaire. SUMMARY: Indian physicians exercise logic in the choice of insulin regimens. Preference is based on patient characteristics including glucophenotype, dietary patterns, psychosocial needs, clinical situations, and comorbid conditions.

Management of Diabetes during Fasting and Feasting in India.

Fasting and feasting are integral part of many religions and cultures. As the amount of food and fluid intake are markedly altered during these phases, patients with diabetes are prone to higher risk of complications. Even though several guidelines for fasting and feasting are available; Indian specific recommendations are the need of the hour, because of the distinct dietary habits and the diet content (high carbohydrate) of Indians. To fill this void, the current guidelines have been developed by experts from India who extensively reviewed the literature, shared their practical knowledge and ultimately arrived at a consensus.

Rediscovering Chirality - Role of S-Metoprolol in Cardiovascular Disease Management.

BACKGROUND: The process of drug discovery and development today encompass a myriad of paths for bringing a new therapeutic molecule that has minimal adverse effects and of optimal use to the patient. Chirality was proposed in the direction of providing a purer and safer form of drug [Ex- cetrizine and levocetrizine]. Decades have passed since the introduction of this concept and numerous chiral molecules are in existence in therapeutics, yet somehow this concept has been ignored. This review aims to rediscover the ignored facts about chirality, its benefits and clear some common myths considering the example of S-Metoprolol in the management of Hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: Relevant articles from Pubmed, Embase, Medline and Google Scholar were searched using the terms "Chiral", "Chirality", "Enantiomers", "Isomers", "Isomerism", "Stereo-chemistry", and "S-Metoprolol". Out of 103 articles found 17 articles mentioning in general about the concept of chirality and articles on study of S-metoprolol in various cardiovascular diseases were then reviewed. RESULTS: Many articles mention about the importance of chirality yet the concept has not been highlighted much. Clear benefits with chiral molecules have been documented for various drug molecules few amongst them being anaesthetics, antihypertensives, antidepressants. Benefits of S-metoprolol over racemate are also clear in terms of responder rates, dose of administration and adverse effects profile in various cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Chirality is a good way forward in providing a new drug molecule which is safe with lesser pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics variability, lesser side effects and more potent action. S-metoprolol is chirally pure form of racemate metoprolol and has lesser side effects, is safer in patients of COPD and Diabetes who also have hypertension and comparable responder rates at half the doses when compared to racemate.

Association of Physicians of India: Position Statement on Role of Chirally Pure Molecules in Clinical Practice.

Chirally pure molecules or enantiomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other with a chiral center (such as carbon, sulphur, nitrogen or phosphorous atom). An equimolar mixture of enantiomers forms a racemate. Chirally pure molecules (single enantiomers) are important in the field of drug discovery as the drug targets such as enzymes and receptors are enantioselective in nature. Clinical studies have demonstrated that chirally pure drugs exhibit different pharmacokinetic and metabolic profiles, reduced adverse events, improved safety profiles and similar therapeutic activity at lowered drug dosage as compared with the racemate in many therapeutic areas. However, since there is a low level of awareness on the advantages of chirally pure molecules among clinicians, pharmacists and patients in India, the Association of Physicians of India (API) developed this position statement to increase awareness on the concept of chirality and the associated advantages of using chirally pure drugs in certain therapeutic areas to maximize patient outcomes. This includes the clinical evidence associated with single enantiomers such as S-metoprolol, S-amlodipine, esomeprazole, escitalopram, levobupivacaine, cisatracurium, S-etodolac, dexketoprofen, levofloxacin in terms of efficacy and safety as compared with their racemates. In addition, the API also provides some tactical recommendations for clinicians, pharmacists, patients, regulatory body and pharmaceutical companies to increase awareness on chirally pure drugs and puts forth the need for expedited availability of chirally pure drugs in the Indian market.

Intensifying Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes: Choices & Challenges.

Insulin therapy remains the cornerstone of effective diabetes management. Timely intensification of insulin therapy reduces the progression of diabetes and the development of diabetes-related complications. Given that overall hyperglycaemia is a relative contribution of both fasting and postprandial hyperglycaemia, use of basal insulin alone may not achieve optimal glucose control due to its inability to cover postprandial glucose excursions. Intensifying therapy with addition of bolus insulin or switching to premixed insulin is a viable option in patients failing on basal alone therapy. Although the benefits of early insulin treatment are well established, a considerable delay in intensifying insulin therapy in patients with sub-optimal glycaemic control is still observed. Most of the patients and physicians are reluctant to intensify therapy due to the fear of hypoglycaemia, regimen complexity, and increased burden of multiple daily injections. In this context, there is a need for a flexible, alternative intensification option taking into account individual patient considerations to achieve or maintain individual glycaemic targets. An ideal insulin regimen should mimic physiological insulin release while providing optimal glycaemic control with low risk of hypoglycaemia, weight gain and fewer daily injections. The current paper reviews the challenges of insulin intensification in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus poorly controlled on current treatment regimens.

Consensus Statement on Management of Post-Prandial Hyperglycemia in Clinical Practice in India.

Postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) is a detrimental factor in the evolution of diabetes related complications. Numerous studies have established the role of PPHG in development of atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular conditions. It is seen that management of PPHG can be more troublesome than fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Currently, there are various strategies both monitoring as well as therapeutic to control PPHG but there is no uniformity in practicing these strategies. In the absence of any standard guidelines, widespread variations in the management of PPHG are observed among physicians and diabetologists. The objective of this document is to set forth uniform guidelines to manage PPHG. This will not only result in optimal management and prevention of long term complications of diabetes but also better co-ordination and collaboration among the care providers. Moreover, an Indian perspective that can take into consideration the issues relevant to Indian patient pool will be effective. An expert committee comprising of prominent physicians and researchers associated with diabetes care provided their inputs to provide a basic platform for the formulations of guidelines. Their inputs were supplemented by extensive literature search to collect the relevant evidences. An initial draft was prepared which was reviewed by the core committee. Inputs from other experts were also sought and an initial guideline version was formulated that was presented in a conference, discussed and debated among experts. The guidelines on PPHG were then finalized and published.

Ideal basal insulin: opportunities from designer proteins.

Ideally, the insulin therapy must aim at the creation of a near normal glycaemic profile without the barriers of unacceptable weight gain or hypoglycaemia. Provision of a flexible insulin regimen would further enhance adherence to the prescribed therapy and positively impact glycaemic control. Insulin degludec addresses many of the aspirations of ideal basal insulin. Long duration of action, flat pharmacodynamic profile, low day-to-day variability translate into benefits of predictable glucose excursions, lower risk of hypoglycaemia at same glycaemic level and effective glycaemic with one daily injection in individuals. In conclusion, insulin degludec represents an important advancement in the treatment of type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Efficacy of rosuvastatin in achieving target HDL, LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with newly diagnosed dyslipidaemia: an open label, nonrandomised, non-interventional and observational study in India.

UNLABELLED: Asian Indians with dyslipidaemia should be treated as aggressively as if they had a CHD risk equivalent-similar to the treatment of patients with diabetes or heart disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of Rosuvastatin in achieving target HDL, LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with newly diagnosed dyslipidaemia, but without known coronary artery disease. METHODS: The study was an open label, nonrandomised, non-interventional, observational study in India involving T2DM patients who require statin therapy to control dyslipidaemia. Data were collected at baseline, interim (8 weeks) and subsequently at 16 weeks of Rosuvastatin (10 and 20 mg) therapy. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed by evaluating whether subjects reached target LDL and total cholesterol levels according to NCEP ATP III guidelines. RESULTS: Four thousand three hundred and sixty-nine patients completed the study. Out of 4369, 1115 (25.52%) have achieved a target LDL level of < 100 mg/dL and 2930 (67.06%) falls under HDL level of 40-60 mg/dL.The mean change in HDL levels was 5.56 mg/dL in females and 4.59 mg/dL in males. Overall 63.95% of patients had achieved the total cholesterol target and 50.06% achieved triglyceride target. The adverse events reported were generally mild. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the above results, it can be concluded that Rosuvastatin safely and beneficially alters the entire spectrum of lipoproteins in Indian patients.

Diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus in the community.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India (DIPSI) recommends 2-h Plasma glucose (PG) > or = 140 mg/dL with 75g oral glucose load to diagnose GDM, akin to WHO criteria. Recently, International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) recommends any one value of Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > or = 92 mg/ dL, 1-h PG > or = 180 mg/dL or 2-h PG > or = 153 mg/dL to diagnose GDM. The objective of this study was to find out whether DIPSI guidelines could still be continued to diagnose GDM in our country, as this requires one blood test compared to three tests of IADPSG, which is expensive. METHOD: Consecutive pregnant women (N = 1463) underwent 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The proportion of GDM was computed based on IADPSG and DIPSI criteria and the discordant pair of diagnosing GDM was examined by McNemar test. Analysis was two tailed and P-value <0.05 was considered for statistical significance. RESULT: The prevalence of GDM was 14.6% (N = 214) by IADPSG criteria and 13.4% (n = 196) by DIPSI criteria. The discordant pair between the two criteria examined by McNemar's test indicated that there was no statistical significance (P = 0.21) and thereby implying a close agreement between these two procedures. CONCLUSION: DIPSI procedure is cost-effective, without compromising the clinical equipoise and can be continued to diagnose GDM in our country, as well as other less resource countries.

Atypical histological features of ulcerative colitis.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is based on combination of clinical, endoscopic and pathological findings. However cases have been reported showing atypical endoscopic and histological features in ulcerative colitis. Hence the objective of this study was to determine the atypical features of new onset ulcerative colitis in adult population. METHODS: A total 110 newly diagnosed cases of ulcerative colitis were enrolled in the study over a period of five years. The diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was made by correlating clinical, endoscopic and histological features. Biopsies from representative areas were processed routinely. Endoscopic and histological evaluation was carried out for atypical features. RESULTS: Majority of the patients (75.4%) were between 21-50 years of age with male to female ratio of 2.2:1. A significant number of patients showed atypical endoscopic findings in the form of rectal sparing in 12 (10.9%) and skip lesions in 24 (21.8%) patients. Atypical features noted on histology included normal surface epithelium in 8 (7.3%), predominant polymorphs in 42 (38%), predominant eosinophils in 7 (6.3%), normal crypt architecture in 1 (0.9%) and well preserved goblet cells in 30 (28%) cases. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients with new onset ulcerative colitis showed atypical pattern of disease endoscopically as well as histologically. Pathologists should be aware of these atypical findings in cases of ulcerative colitis so as to avoid misdiagnosis.