[What is has the artificial sweeteners in indication the food of our diabetics?]. / Quelle place ont les édulcorants dansl'alimentation de nos diabétiques?

BACKGROUND: Artificial Sweeteners are food additives increasingly developed by the food industry. AIM: Study of the consumption of sweeteners in diabetic patients. METHODS: This prospective cross study performed using a questionnaire to 100 patients recruited at random outpatients of the National Institute of Nutrition. Data on the BMI,the blood sugar were found in clinical records. RESULTS: 94% of diabetics have at least heard of sweeteners and 50% use it regularly. Sweetener table are the most consumed sweeteners, in order of frequency Saccharin, Sucralose and Aspartame, used to sweeten coffee and tea. The trade products "light" are consumed by 29% of patients. Yet consumers have no real information on these products. There was no statistically significant correlation between the consumption of sweeteners and BMI, balance and diabetes evolution. A statistically significant correlation was found between consumption and socio-economic and cultural development of patients. CONCLUSION: The education of diabetic patients should include information of patients on these sweeteners, their interest, their against-indications and adverse reactions.

Generalized allergy due to zinc in insulin treated with zinc-free insulin.

Allergy to insulin became a rare complication due to the introduction of recombinant human insulin preparations. Nevertheless, allergic reactions to components of such preparations can occur. We report a case of a 61-year-old man with an atopic background and affected by diabetes mellitus type 2 since 27 years, who experienced generalized allergy to insulin at the moment of switching oral anti-diabetics to insulin. Prick tests revealed an allergy specifically to zinc, and the patient was treated with zinc-free glulisine insulin. After 8 months of such treatment, patient's glucose is stable and he never experienced allergic reactions to insulin injections. Even insulin allergy due specifically to zinc is rare, such complication must be assessed especially in a patient suffering from multiple allergies.

[Diabetes mellitus of elderly patients: therapeutic recommendations]. / Le diabete du sujet age: actualites therapeutiques et recommandations.

In the elderly diabetic patient, therapeutic decision is very delicate because of the psycho social pathological ground at this age. The emergence of new concepts of ageing and frailty made it possible to re-examine the plasma glucose goals and to build strategies of prevention and treatment adapted to the clinical and biological profiles of elderly subjects.

[Blood pressure and type 2 diabetes mellitus: impact of the insulin therapy]. / Pression arterielle et diabete de type 2: impact de la mise sous insuline.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of arterial hypertension is by 2-3 times with diabetics than with non-diabetics. Etiopathogenesis of arterial hypertension in type 2 diabetes is multifactorial insulin-resistance, obesity, hyperlipoproteinemia, age, smoking and probably method of treatment (insulin therapy). The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate, over 5 years period, the level of blood pressure and the frequency's progression of arterial hypertension in 35 type 2 diabetes patients treated with insulin METHODS: comparison of 35 type 2 diabetes patients treated with insulin to 35 controls treated with oral hypoglycemic agents. RESULTS: No significant differences were found over 5 years period in mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure and frequency of arterial hypertension. However, frequency of arterial hypertension was correlated with mean dose of insulin. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the long-term results found in the literature reading effects of insulin therapy on blood pressure in diabetic patients.