The Resistance Exercise in Already Active Diabetic Individuals (READI) Randomized Clinical Trial.

CONTEXT: Resistance exercise training (strength training) and aerobic exercise training are both recommended for people with type 1 diabetes, but it is unknown whether adding resistance exercise provides incremental benefits in people with this condition who already perform aerobic exercise regularly. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to evaluate the incremental effect of resistance training on glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fitness, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors in aerobically active people with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: The Resistance Exercise in Already-active Diabetic Individuals (READI) trial (NCT00410436) was a 4-center, randomized, parallel-group trial. After a 5-week run-in period with diabetes management optimization, 131 aerobically active individuals with type 1 diabetes were randomly assigned to resistance exercise (n = 71, intervention-INT) or control (n = 60, CON) for 22 additional weeks. Both groups maintained their aerobic activities and were provided dietary counseling throughout. Exercise training was 3 times per week at community-based facilities. The primary outcome was HbA1c, and secondary outcomes included fitness (peak oxygen consumption, muscle strength), body composition (anthropometrics, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography), and cardiometabolic risk markers (lipids, apolipoproteins). Assessors were blinded to group allocation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in HbA1c change between INT and CON. Declines in HbA1c (INT: 7.75 ± 0.10% [61.2 ± 1.1 mmol/mol] to 7.55 ± 0.10% [59 ± 1.1 mmol/mol]; CON: 7.70 ± 0.11% [60.7 ± 1.2 mmol/mol] to 7.57 ± 0.11% [59.6 ± 1.3 mmol/mol]; intergroup difference in change -0.07 [95% CI, -0.31 to 0.18]). Waist circumference decreased more in INT than CON after 6 months (P = .02). Muscular strength increased more in INT than in CON (P < .001). There were no intergroup differences in hypoglycemia or any other variables. CONCLUSION: Adding resistance training did not affect glycemia, but it increased strength and reduced waist circumference, in aerobically active individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Healthy food prescription incentive programme for adults with type 2 diabetes who are experiencing food insecurity: protocol for a randomised controlled trial, modelling and implementation studies.

INTRODUCTION: The high cost of many healthy foods poses a challenge to maintaining optimal blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are experiencing food insecurity, leading to diabetes complications and excess acute care usage and costs. Healthy food prescription programmes may reduce food insecurity and support patients to improve their diet quality, prevent diabetes complications and avoid acute care use. We will use a type 2 hybrid-effectiveness design to examine the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) of a healthy food prescription incentive programme for adults experiencing food insecurity and persistent hyperglycaemia. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) will investigate programme effectiveness via impact on glycosylated haemoglobin (primary outcome), food insecurity, diet quality and other clinical and patient-reported outcomes. A modelling study will estimate longer-term programme effectiveness in reducing diabetes-related complications, resource use and costs. An implementation study will examine all RE-AIM domains to understand determinants of effective implementation and reasons behind programme successes and failures. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 594 adults who are experiencing food insecurity and persistent hyperglycaemia will be randomised to a healthy food prescription incentive (n=297) or a healthy food prescription comparison group (n=297). Both groups will receive a healthy food prescription. The incentive group will additionally receive a weekly incentive (CDN$10.50/household member) to purchase healthy foods in supermarkets for 6 months. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and follow-up (6 months) in the RCT and analysed using mixed-effects regression. Longer-term outcomes will be modelled using the UK Prospective Diabetes Study outcomes simulation model-2. Implementation processes and outcomes will be continuously measured via quantitative and qualitative data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. Findings will be disseminated through reports, lay summaries, policy briefs, academic publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04725630. PROTOCOL VERSION: Version 1.1; February 2022.

Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Educational Strategy Promoting Basal-Bolus Insulin Therapy Improves Glycemic Control and Reduces Length of Stay for Inpatients With Diabetes.

IN BRIEF "Quality Improvement Success Stories" are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians, Inc. (ACP), and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes an initiative to increase the use of basal-bolus insulin therapy for hyperglycemia in an inpatient setting and to evaluate its effects on patient outcomes compared to sliding-scale insulin therapy.

Knowledge Translation to Optimize Adult Inpatient Glycemic Management With Basal Bolus Insulin Therapy and Improve Patient Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a Basal Bolus Insulin Therapy (BBIT) Knowledge Translation toolkit to address barriers to adoption of established best practice with BBIT in the care of adult inpatients. METHODS: This study was conducted in 2 phases and focused on the hospitalist provider group across 4 acute care facilities in Calgary. Phase 1 involved a qualitative evaluation of provider and site specific barriers and facilitators, which were mapped to validated interventions using behaviour change theory. This informed the co-development and optimization of the BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit, with each tool targeting a specific barrier to improved diabetes care practice, including BBIT ordering. In Phase 2, the BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit was implemented and evaluated, focusing on BBIT ordering frequency, as well as secondary outcomes of hyperglycemia (patient-days with BG >14.0 mmol/L), hypoglycemia (patient-days with BG <4.0 mmol/L), and acute length of stay. RESULTS: Implementation of the BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit resulted in a significant 13% absolute increase in BBIT ordering. Hyperglycemic patient-days were significantly reduced, with no increase in hypoglycemia. There was a significant, absolute 14% reduction in length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an evidence-informed, multifaceted BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit effectively reduced a deeply entrenched in-patient diabetes care gap. The resulting sustained practice change improved patient clinical and system resource utilization outcomes. This systemic approach to implementation will guide further scale and spread of glycemic optimization initiatives.

Qualitative Evaluation of the Barriers and Facilitators Influencing the Use of an Electronic Basal Bolus Insulin Therapy Protocol to Improve the Care of Adult Inpatients With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: A qualitative evaluation of the perceived impact of a new evidence-informed electronic basal bolus insulin therapy order set on clinical workflow and practice, and exploration of potential barriers and facilitators to electronic basal bolus insulin order set uptake and use in acute care facilities for various acute care team members. METHODS: We conducted 9 semistructured focus groups with multidisciplinary nursing staff (n=22), resident trainees (n=24) and attending physicians (n=23) involved in the delivery of inpatient diabetes care at 3 adult acute care facilities. The domains of inquiry included impact on workload, perceived impact on patient care and discipline-specific barriers and facilitators to use, including care-providers' needs, comfort and competencies, contributions from the clinical environment and efficacy of communication. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a content analysis approach. RESULTS: Several major themes emerged from the focus group discussions, including impact of education, information technology/user interface, workflow, organizational issues and practices, and perceived outcomes. Barriers and facilitators were identified relating to each theme. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes highlight the complex interplay between educational, organizational and technical themes and the significance of employing a systemic approach to support the implementation of electronic inpatient glycemic-management protocols within complex social organizations.

Barriers to care in patients with diabetes and poor glycemic control-A cross-sectional survey.

AIMS: To determine and quantify the prevalence of patient, provider and system level barriers to achieving diabetes care goals; and to examine whether barriers were different for people with poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 10%; 86 mmol/mol) compared to fair glycemic control (7 to <8%; 53-64 mmol/mol). METHODS: We administered a survey by telephone to community-dwelling patients with diabetes, to examine patient-reported barriers and facilitators to care. We compared responses in individuals with HbA1c ≥ 10% (86 mmol/mol) against those with HbA1c between 7-8% (53-64 mmol/mol). We examined associations between HbA1c group and barriers to care, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and diabetes duration. RESULTS: The survey included 805 people with HbA1c ≥ 10% (86 mmol/mol), and 405 people with HbA1c 7-8% (53-64 mmol/mol). Participants with HbA1c ≥ 10% (86 mmol/mol) reported good access to care, however 20% of participants with HbA1c ≥ 10% (86 mmol/mol) felt that their care was not well-coordinated and 9.6% reported having an unmet health care need. In adjusted analysis, patients with HbA1c ≥10% (86 mmol/mol) were more likely to report lack of confidence and inadequate social support, compared to patients with HbA1c 7-8% (53-64 mmol/mol). They were also significantly more likely not to have drug insurance nor to have received recommended treatments because of cost. CONCLUSIONS: These results reinforce the importance of an individualized, yet multi-faceted approach. Specific attention to financial barriers seems warranted. These findings can inform the development of programs and initiatives to overcome barriers to care, and improve diabetes care and outcomes.

Telemonitoring and Protocolized Case Management for Hypertensive Community-Dwelling Seniors With Diabetes: Protocol of the TECHNOMED Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes and hypertension are devastating, deadly, and costly conditions that are very common in seniors. Controlling hypertension in seniors with diabetes dramatically reduces hypertension-related complications. However, blood pressure (BP) must be lowered carefully because seniors are also susceptible to low BP and attendant harms. Achieving "optimal BP control" (ie, avoiding both undertreatment and overtreatment) is the ultimate therapeutic goal in such patients. Regular BP monitoring is required to achieve this goal. BP monitoring at home is cheap, convenient, widely used, and guideline endorsed. However, major barriers prevent proper use. These may be overcome through use of BP telemonitoring-the secure teletransmission of BP readings to a health portal, where BP data are summarized for provider and patient use, with or without protocolized case management. OBJECTIVE: To examine the incremental effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, usability, and acceptability of home BP telemonitoring, used with or without protocolized case management, compared with "enhanced usual care" in community-dwelling seniors with diabetes and hypertension. METHODS: A 300-patient, 3-arm, pragmatic randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome ascertainment will be performed in seniors with diabetes and hypertension living independently in seniors' residences in greater Edmonton. Consenting patients will be randomized to usual care, home BP telemonitoring alone, or home BP telemonitoring plus protocolized pharmacist case management. Usual care subjects will receive a home BP monitor but neither they nor their providers will have access to teletransmitted data. In both telemonitored arms, providers will receive telemonitored BP data summaries. In the case management arm, pharmacist case managers will be responsible for reviewing teletransmitted data and initiating guideline-concordant and protocolized changes in BP management. RESULTS: Outcomes will be ascertained at 6 and 12 months. Within-study-arm change scores will be calculated and compared between study arms. These include: (1) clinical outcomes: proportion of subjects with a mean 24-hour ambulatory systolic BP in the optimal range (110-129 mmHg in patients 65-79 years and 110-139 mmHg in those ≥80 years: primary outcome); additional ambulatory and home BP outcomes; A1c and lipid profile; medications, cognition, health care use, cardiovascular events, and mortality. (2) Safety outcomes: number of serious episodes of hypotension, syncope, falls, and electrolyte disturbances (requiring third party assistance or medical attention). (3) Humanistic outcomes: quality of life, satisfaction, and medication adherence. (4) Economic outcomes: incremental costs, incremental cost-utility, and cost per mmHg change in BP of telemonitoring ± case management compared with usual care (health payor and societal perspectives). (5) Intervention usability and acceptability to patients and providers. CONCLUSION: The potential benefits of telemonitoring remain largely unstudied and unproven in seniors. This trial will comprehensively assess the impact of home BP telemonitoring across a range of outcomes. Results will inform the value of implementing home-based telemonitoring within supportive living residences in Canada. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02721667; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02721667 (Archived by Webcite at http://www.webcitation.org/6i8tB20Mc).

Prevalence and Timing of Screening and Diagnostic Testing for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Study in Alberta, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: The extent to which pregnant women are screened for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at the population level is not known. We examined the rate, type, and timing of GDM screening and diagnostic testing in the province of Alberta, Canada. Geographic and temporal differences in screening rates, and maternal risk factors associated with lower likelihood of screening, were also determined. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Our retrospective linked-database cohort study included 86,842 primiparous women with deliveries between 1 October 2008 and 31 December 2012. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine maternal factors associated with lower likelihood of GDM screening. RESULTS: Overall, 94% (n = 81,304) of women underwent some form of glycemic assessment in the 270 days prior to delivery. The majority (91%) received a 50-g glucose screen (GDS). Women not screened were younger and more likely to smoke and had lower maternal weight and median household income. When a diagnostic 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was indicated, it occurred a median of 10 (interquartile range 7, 15) days after the screen. CONCLUSIONS: GDS occurred widely in a system where it was universally recommended and paid for publicly. When indicated, a 75-g OGTT was completed within 15 days in 75% of cases. Our finding that this two-step approach was widely implemented in a timely fashion supports continued endorsement of a two-step approach to screening and diagnosis of GDM. Further research is merited to assess whether the one-step GDM diagnostic approach results in different rates and timing of the 75-g OGTT and affects pregnancy outcomes.

Diabetic Foot Disease, Self-Care and Clinical Monitoring in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: The Alberta's Caring for Diabetes (ABCD) Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and predictors of foot disease, self-care and clinical monitoring in adults with type 2 diabetes in Alberta, Canada. METHOD: Baseline data from a prospective cohort of adults with type 2 diabetes were used. Assessment of foot disease included self-reported peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vasculopathy, foot or leg ulcer/infection or gangrene/amputation. Foot self-care was assessed using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and clinical monitoring using patients' reports of having feet checked for lesions or sensory loss. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents (N=2040) was 64 (SD 10.7) years; 45% were female, and 91% were Caucasian. Peripheral neuropathy was reported by 18% of the respondents, peripheral vasculopathy by 28%, ulcer/infection by 6% and gangrene/amputation by 1.4%. Only 14% of respondents performed foot self-care behaviours ≥6 days per week, and only 41% and 34% had their feet clinically checked for lesions or sensory loss, respectively. Predictors of foot disease included longer duration of diabetes, smoking, depressive symptoms, low self-efficacy and a history of cardiovascular diseases. Predictors of good self-care included older age, female sex, longer duration of diabetes and no report of hyperlipidemia. Predictors of clinical monitoring included female sex, current smoking, residing in urban areas, longer duration of diabetes, and histories of heart disease or hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral neuropathy and vasculopathy were the most common reported foot problems in this population. Foot self-care is generally infrequent, and clinical monitoring is performed for less than half of these patients, with significant variations by patient demographics and clinical presentation.

Clinical review: Effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on improving glucose homeostasis and preventing diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Observational studies report consistent associations between low vitamin D concentration and increased glycemia and risk of type 2 diabetes, but results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are mixed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to systematically review RCTs that report on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glucose homeostasis or diabetes prevention. DATA SOURCES: Sources of data for the study were MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Health Technology Assessment, and Science Citation Index from inception to June 2013. STUDY SELECTION: Study selection was trials that compared vitamin D3 supplementation with placebo or a non-vitamin D supplement in adults with normal glucose tolerance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers collected data and assessed trial quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Random-effects models were used to estimate mean differences (MDs) and odds ratios. The main outcomes of interest were homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, homeostasis model assessment of ß-cell function, hemoglobin A1c levels, fasting blood glucose, incident diabetes, and adverse events. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thirty-five trials (43 407 patients) with variable risk of bias were included. Vitamin D had no significant effects on insulin resistance [homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance: MD -0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.30 to 0.22, I-squared statistic (I(2)) = 45%], insulin secretion (homeostasis model of ß-cell function: MD 1.64; 95% CI -25.94 to 29.22, I(2) = 40%), or hemoglobin A1c (MD -0.05%; 95% CI -0.12 to 0.03, I(2) = 55%) compared with controls. Four RCTs reported on the progression to new diabetes and found no effect of vitamin D (odds ratio 1.02; 95% CI 0.94 to 1.10, I(2) = 0%). Adverse events were rare, and there was no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from available trials shows no effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on glucose homeostasis or diabetes prevention. Definitive conclusions may be limited in the context of the moderate degree of heterogeneity, variable risk of bias, and short-term follow-up duration of the available evidence to date.

Diabetic patients with psychiatric illness.

PURPOSE: Diabetic patients with co-morbid mental illness are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Not only are diabetes and mental illness both common in the general population, but rates of diabetes are significantly higher in individuals with psychiatric disorders. This paper reviews literature related to the interplay between these pathologies and the consequent clinical challenge faced by physicians. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted, examining specific aspects of psychiatric illness which may affect diabetic outcomes. RESULTS: Decreased adherence is a feature of many psychiatric conditions, and can have a major effect on diabetic management and development of long term complications. Glycemic regulation may also be complicated by physiologic changes affecting carbohydrate metabolism. Patterns of counter-regulatory hormone secretion are altered in many psychiatric conditions, which may necessitate an altered diabetic treatment regimen. Further difficulties arise as many psychiatric medications have adverse metabolic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with mental illness present a unique clinical challenge as a result of issues related to behaviour, physiology and medications. Clinicians should be able to recognize "problem patients" who may in fact have undiagnosed, treatable, psychiatric pathology. In patients carrying existing diagnoses, complicating factors to diabetic control should be recognized, and steps taken to minimize adverse effects.

Association of median household income with burden of coronary artery disease among individuals with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Low income is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Diabetes is more prevalent among low income groups, and low income patients with diabetes have been shown to have a greater burden of cardiovascular risk factors and worse cardiovascular outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether income status was associated with burden of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients with diabetes presenting for cardiac catheterization between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2002, in Calgary, Canada, were identified through the use of the Alberta Provincial Project for Assessing Outcomes in Coronary Heart Disease (APPROACH) database. This clinical database was merged with Canadian 2001 Census data on median household income per dissemination area using patient postal code data, and income quintiles were derived. Clinical profiles, severity of coronary atherosclerosis, and myocardial jeopardy were compared across income quintiles. Mean scores for severity and jeopardy were compared across income quintiles using analysis of variance. Multivariate linear regression was used to control for baseline differences across income groups. A total of 4596 patients were eligible for inclusion in this study. Clinical profiles differed significantly across income quintiles, with the highest income quintile being younger (P<0.0005), more likely to be male (P=0.029), and having a lower prevalence of smoking (P=0. 039). Low income groups were more likely to report a history of myocardial infarction (P<0.0005) or congestive heart failure (P<0.0005). The highest income groups has significantly less coronary atherosclerosis as measured by the weighted Duke index (6.67 versus 7.38, P<0.002), but there were no differences in lesion severity as measured by the Duke severity scale (2.31 versus 2.41, P=0.334). High income patients has significantly less myocardial jeopardy compared with the lowest income group as measured by the Duke and APPROACH scores (36.44 versus 46.23, P=0.0187, and 39.96 versus 45.36, P=0.0182, respectively). These differences remained significant even after controlling for baseline clinical differences in cardiovascular risk factor burden. CONCLUSIONS: Low income is associated with a greater degree of atherosclerosis and greater myocardial jeopardy in patients with diabetes. More needs to be done to reduce cardiovascular risk factor burden in this vulnerable population.

Lay media reporting of rosiglitazone risk: extent, messaging and quality of reporting.

BACKGROUND: A meta-analysis suggested the use of rosiglitazone was associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. Rosiglitazone remained available for use as more definitive safety trials were ongoing. This issue was reported in the lay media. OBJECTIVE: To review lay media articles to determine the extent of media coverage, the nature of the messaging, and to assess the quality of reporting. METHODS: The Factiva media database was used to identify articles published between May 18 and August 31, 2007. Two reviewers (a lay person and a physician) screened full text articles for eligibility, appraised the articles for their tone (worrisome, neutral, not worrisome), and for the quality of medical data reporting. RESULTS: The search identified 156 articles, 95 of which were eligible for our review. Agreement between the lay and medical reviewers in the appraisal of the article tone was 67.4%. Among those with agreement, the articles were often appraised as "worrisome" (75.3%). Among those with disagreement, the lay reviewer was significantly more likely to appraise articles as worrisome compared to the medical reviewer (77.4% vs. 3.2%, X2 = 9.11, P = 0.003). Cardiovascular risk was discussed in 91.6% of the articles, but risk was often reported in qualitative or relative terms. CONCLUSION: There were many lay media articles addressing the safety of rosiglitazone, and the general messaging of these articles was considered "worrisome" by reviewers. Quality of risk reporting in the articles reviewed was poor. The impact of such media coverage on public anxiety and confidence in treatment should be explored.

Glycemic control and use of the insulin sliding scale in hospitalized patients with diabetes.

This study assessed the extent of use of the subcutaneous insulin sliding scale (ISS) with hospitalized medical patients and examined the association between ISS use and glucose control. Despite some concerns about efficacy and suitability, the ISS is often used in the hospital studied. Researchers reviewed records of patients with a secondary diagnosis of diabetes who were admitted to the medical teaching unit of a tertiary care hospital. On day 1, 45.2% of patients were on an ISS alone. Patients on an ISS were more likely to experience hyperglycemia compared with patients on scheduled regimens, but they also had fewer hypoglycemic episodes.

Clinical and medication profiles stratified by household income in patients referred for diabetes care.

BACKGROUND: Low income individuals with diabetes are at particularly high risk for poor health outcomes. While specialized diabetes care may help reduce this risk, it is not currently known whether there are significant clinical differences across income groups at the time of referral. The objective of this study is to determine if the clinical profiles and medication use of patients referred for diabetes care differ across income quintiles. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a Canadian, urban, Diabetes Education Centre (DEC) database. Clinical information on the 4687 patients referred to the DEC from May 2000 - January 2002 was examined. These data were merged with 2001 Canadian census data on income. Potential differences in continuous clinical parameters across income quintiles were examined using regression models. Differences in medication use were examined using Chi square analyses. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis indicated that income was negatively associated with BMI (p < 0.0005) and age (p = 0.023) at time of referral. The highest income quintiles were found to have lower serum triglycerides (p = 0.011) and higher HDL-c (p = 0.008) at time of referral. No significant differences were found in HBA1C, LDL-c or duration of diabetes. The Chi square analysis of medication use revealed that despite no significant differences in HBA1C, the lowest income quintiles used more metformin (p = 0.001) and sulfonylureas (p < 0.0005) than the wealthy. Use of other therapies were similar across income groups, including lipid lowering medications. High income patients were more likely to be treated with diet alone (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that low income patients present to diabetes clinic older, heavier and with a more atherogenic lipid profile than do high income patients. Overall medication use was higher among the lower income group suggesting that differences in clinical profiles are not the result of under-treatment, thus invoking lifestyle factors as potential contributors to these findings.

Hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis: A case-based review.

Hypertriglyceridemia is an established cause of pancreatitis. In a case-based approach, we present a review of hypertriglyceridemia and how it can cause pancreatitis. We outline how to investigate and manage such patients. A 35 year old man presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and biochemical evidence of acute pancreatitis. There was no history of alcohol consumption and biliary imaging was normal. The only relevant past medical history was that of mild hyperlipidemia, treated with diet alone. Physical exam revealed epigastric tenderness, right lateral rectus palsy, lipemia retinalis, bitemporal hemianopsia and a delay in the relaxation phase of his ankle reflexes. Subsequent laboratory investigation revealed marked hypertriglyceridemia and panhypopituarism. An enhanced CT scan of the head revealed a large suprasellar mass impinging on the optic chiasm and hypothalamus. The patient was treated supportively; thyroid replacement and lipid lowering agents were started. He underwent a successful resection of a craniopharyngioma. Post-operatively, the patient did well on hormone replacement therapy. He has had no further attacks of pancreatitis. This case highlights many of the factors involved in the regulation of triglyceride metabolism. We review the common causes of hypertriglyceridemia and the proposed mechanisms resulting in pancreatitis. The incidence and management of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis are also discussed.

Association of socio-economic status with diabetes prevalence and utilization of diabetes care services.

BACKGROUND: Low income appears to be associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes and diabetes related complications, however, little is known about how income influences access to diabetes care. The objective of the present study was to determine whether income is associated with referral to a diabetes centre within a universal health care system. METHODS: Data on referral for diabetes care, diabetes prevalence and median household income were obtained from a regional Diabetes Education Centre (DEC) database, the Canadian National Diabetes Surveillance System (NDSS) and the 2001 Canadian Census respectively. Diabetes rate per capita, referral rate per capita and proportion with diabetes referred was determined for census dissemination areas. We used Chi square analyses to determine if diabetes prevalence or population rates of referral differed across income quintiles, and Poisson regression to model diabetes rate and referral rate in relation to income while controlling for education and age. RESULTS: There was a significant gradient in both diabetes prevalence (chi2 = 743.72, p < 0.0005) and population rates of referral (chi2 = 168.435, p < 0.0005) across income quintiles, with the lowest income quintiles having the highest rates of diabetes and referral to the DEC. Referral rate among those with diabetes, however, was uniform across income quintiles. Controlling for age and education, Poisson regression models confirmed a significant socio-economic gradient in diabetes prevalence and population rates of referral. CONCLUSION: Low income is associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes and a higher population rate of referral to this regional DEC. After accounting for diabetes prevalence, however, the equal proportions referred to the DEC across income groups suggest that there is no access bias based on income.