Retrospective, Longitudinal, One-Group Study on the Implementation of Continuous Glucose Monitoring To Improve Quality of Care for Patients With Type I or II Diabetes Mellitus in an Internal Medicine Residency Continuity Community Clinic.

In this three-year retrospective study, data from 51 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), receiving a minimum of 3-4 insulin injections per day and self-monitoring their blood glucose (SMBG) four times a day, were derived from our internal medicine residency primary care clinic. The patients were equipped with a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device that shared 24-hour glucose data with the clinic. They were assigned to members of our CGM team, which included internal medicine or transitional year medical residents who functioned under the supervision of a board-certified endocrinologist. The residents, in consultation with our endocrinologist, assessed the patients' glucose management data and adjusted their treatment regimens biweekly by calling the patients, and monthly by seeing the patients in the clinic. Significant results from the study include a reduction in HbA1c from 9.9% to 7.6%, an average blood glucose decrement from 242 mg/dL to 169 mg/dL, a reduction in the incidence of mild hypoglycemia from below 70 mg/dL to 54 mg/dL, from 4.68% to 0.76% per day, and a more pronounced hypoglycemia with glucose less than 54 mg/dL from 3.1% per day to 0.2% per day. We observed a significant increase in the time in the range of the blood glucose from 33% to 67% per day. Furthermore, 9.5% of the patients in this study eventually discontinued their daily insulin injections and continued treatment with oral diabetic medications with or without the use of injectable GLP-1 receptors once a week. Our study affirms that CGM devices significantly improve glycemic control compared to SMBG, supporting its efficacy in optimizing glycemic control in real-world clinical practice. The results imply that this can be accomplished in internal medicine residency clinics and not exclusively in specialized endocrine clinics. As far as we know, this is the first study of its kind in a residency clinic in the USA. This study confirms the benefits of widening the application of CGM in DM, along with the challenges that must be overcome to realize the evidence-based benefits of this technology. CGM needs to become a part of routine monitoring for type 1 and type 2 DM.

Autoimmune Pancreatitis Mimicking Obstructive Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), otherwise known as non-alcoholic destructive pancreatitis or sclerosing pancreatitis, is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis that is clinically significant due to its potential to mimic pancreatic cancer. In our case, we present a 64-year-old male with a past medical history of type 2 diabetes and epigastric abdominal pain for one year who presented with worsening epigastric abdominal pain, 12-pound weight loss, and vomiting and was found to have a neuroendocrine tumor on a preliminary pathology report, while official pathology later came back stating AIP. Distinguishing between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and pancreatic cancer is vital, given the stark contrast in their treatment and prognosis. In our case, preliminary pathology suggested a neuroendocrine tumor, prompting consultation with oncology. Utilizing invasive testing like EUS-FNA, we obtained an official diagnosis and prevented the patient from undergoing unnecessary treatments and interventions. Our case shows the importance of further testing when a patient presents with a fast-growing obstructive pancreatic mass. While searching the literature, there are no previously documented cases of an AIP mass as large as our patients and as fast-growing.

Congestive Hepatopathy: A Review of the Literature.

Congestive hepatopathy (CH), stemming from compromised hepatic venous flow or heightened intrahepatic pressure, represents a significant consequence of cardiovascular conditions like congestive heart failure (CHF). This review of literature encapsulates the core aspects of this condition, characterized by hepatic congestion, cellular injury, and impaired liver function. Diagnostic challenges arise due to symptoms mirroring primary liver diseases. Management revolves around addressing the underlying cause and mitigating fluid retention. This review of literature provides a snapshot of CH's complexity, emphasizing its clinical implications and the need for comprehensive understanding in clinical practice.

An Unusual Presentation of Crohn's Disease in an Elderly Patient: A Report of a Rare Case.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects the terminal ileum and proximal colon. The exact cause is unknown but likely involves genetic factors, environmental triggers, and immune dysregulation. This case report delineates the choice of diagnostics for a 70-year-old patient presenting with symptoms indicative of small bowel obstruction. Initial assessments and imaging suggested a common clinical scenario, yet further investigation uncovered an unexpected diagnosis of Crohn's disease, a condition infrequently encountered in this age demographic.

The Discrepancy Between Hemoglobin A1c and Glucose Management Indicators in 26 Patients Treated With Continuous Glucose Monitoring in an Internal Medicine Residency Clinic.

We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study between 2020 and 2023 in 26 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) who were using 3-4 injections per day of insulin and were monitored by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The goal of this retrospective observational cohort study is to compare these two metrics in an internal medicine community primary care residency clinic. We used CGM devices, Dexcom G6 and G7, and Freestyle Libre 3. The goal was to compare the patient's hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) taken during their clinic visit by phlebotomy as a marker for diabetic control with an estimated HbA1c glucose management indicator (GMI) derived from the 30-day CGM readings. HbA1c is derived from the blood, while the GMI value is derived from the interstitial fluid. Both parameters were taken within 30 days of each other. GMI was taken in the last 30 days. We excluded patients with known anemia, chronic kidney disease, polycythemia, cirrhosis of the liver, or metabolic dysfunction associated with steatohepatitis (MASH) because disease states can affect the measured HbA1c. Also, pregnant and African American patients were excluded. We concluded the measured HbA1c was 0.34% (4 mmol/mol) higher than the CGM-derived GMI. The relationship between factors that affect glycemic control was discussed in the article, as well as the future utilization of them in improving diabetic control and management. As the use of CGM continues to grow, addressing differences between laboratory-measured HbA1c and CGM-derived GMI is critical.

Benign Peptic Ulcer as a Cause of Gastrocolic Fistula.

Gastrocolic fistula is a rare complication and can occur in various conditions, most commonly gastric or colonic adenocarcinoma, followed by benign gastric ulcers secondary to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. We report a case of an 82-year-old man with a benign peptic ulcer that led to a gastrocolic fistula, which was not associated with a history of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use or malignancy. The exact cause of this patient's gastrocolic fistula is unclear, but the patient's medical history of microscopic lymphocytic colitis may have increased his risk of fistula formation.

A Rare Case of Heterozygous C282Y Mutation Causing Hereditary Hemochromatosis With Acute Pancreatitis.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is the most common autosomal recessive genetic disorder globally for Caucasians. HH is known as an iron metabolism disorder where there is an increase in iron absorption in the body. HH is not localized but a systemic disease; the manifestations of HH include cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiomyopathy, and pancreatitis. This case is about a 53-year-old female with a past medical history of heterozygous hereditary hemochromatosis who presents to the emergency department with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting and was found to have acute pancreatitis. This case report helps signify the importance of identifying and treating symptomatic heterozygous carriers of the HH gene mutation.

Long-term aspirin use in patients hospitalized with ischemic colitis.

Background: Ischemic colitis is a form of mesenteric ischemia that often presents in patients with vascular disease. Long-term aspirin use has been shown to improve the outcomes in patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. However, the relationship between aspirin use and ischemic colitis is unclear. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of ischemic colitis were identified using the 2020 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Patients were stratified by long-term aspirin use at the time of hospitalization. Data were collected regarding mortality, bowel perforation, peritonitis, shock, blood transfusion, length of stay in days (LOS), hospital charges, age, sex, race, primary insurance, median income, hospital region, hospital size, and comorbidities. The relationship between aspirin use and outcomes was analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. Results: A total of 67,685 patients were included. Aspirin users had a mean age of 72.8 years compared to 66.8 years for non-aspirin users. Long-term aspirin use was associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality (P<0.001), bowel perforation (P<0.001), peritonitis (P=0.01), shock (P<0.001), and blood transfusion (P<0.001). The mean LOS was 6.1 days in the aspirin group compared to 9.4 days in the non-aspirin group. Ischemic colitis patients taking aspirin had a mean hospitalization charge of $87,123 compared to $161,610 for those not using aspirin. Conclusions: Our study examined the impact of aspirin use in ischemic colitis patients. Among patients hospitalized with ischemic colitis, we found that long-term aspirin use was associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality and adverse events.

A Rare Case of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor-Induced Acute Pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas that requires hospital admission and treatment. There are many causes of pancreatitis, the most common being gallstone and alcohol-induced; other reasons include metabolic, infectious, and medication-induced. A new medication that has come to the market is empagliflozin, which is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor that is common in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure. Although generally considered safe and effective, rare adverse effects have been reported. In this case, we present a 67-year-old female patient who presented with severe acute pancreatitis after two weeks of starting empagliflozin to treat her type 2 diabetes. This case report highlights the importance of considering rare adverse events associated with empagliflozin and the need for close monitoring of patients receiving this medication.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Outcomes of Ischemic Colitis: A Nationwide Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Ischemic colitis is the most common presentation of mesenteric ischemia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Coagulopathy has been associated with the development of ischemic colitis. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection can lead to a variety of pathology and physiological derangements, including coagulopathy. Some case reports have described severe ischemic colitis in patients with COVID-19 infection. Our study aimed to elucidate the impact of COVID-19 infection on ischemic colitis outcomes. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of ischemic colitis were identified using the 2020 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patients were stratified based on the presence of COVID-19 infection. Data were collected regarding mortality, shock, blood transfusion, length of stay, hospital charges, age, gender, race, primary insurance, median income, hospital region, hospital bed size, and comorbidities. The relationship between COVID-19 and outcomes was analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. Results: A total of 67,685 patients were included in the final analysis. COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.006, P < 0.001), shock (aOR: 1.62, P = 0.002), and blood transfusion (aOR: 1.49, P = 0.007). COVID-19 was also associated with an increased length of stay (16.2 days vs. 8.7 days) and higher total hospital charges ($268,884.1 vs. $145,805.9). Conclusions: Among hospitalized patients with ischemic colitis, COVID-19 infection was associated with worse outcomes and higher resource utilization. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying this association.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor-Induced Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Type 2 Diabetic Patient.

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) is a life-threatening metabolic complication typically associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, its occurrence in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains exceptionally rare. We present a case report detailing the unusual manifestation of euDKA in a patient with T2DM following the initiation of treatment with a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor. The patient, a 67-year-old female with a history of T2DM and well-controlled blood glucose levels, was commenced on an SGLT-2 inhibitor as part of her antidiabetic regimen just two weeks prior. Subsequently, the patient developed euDKA despite maintaining near-normal glycemic levels. This paradoxical presentation challenges the conventional understanding of DKA in T2DM and underscores the need for heightened clinical awareness. EuDKA associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors is an infrequently reported phenomenon, further complicating the clinical landscape. This case contributes to the growing evidence suggesting an association between SGLT-2 inhibitors and the development of euDKA in patients with T2DM. The rarity of this occurrence necessitates a thorough exploration of potential risk factors and underlying mechanisms.

Microscopic Colitis with Escitalopram Use and New Onset Vitiligo.

Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic diarrhea, particularly in patients with autoimmune disorders. Colonic mucosa appears normal and only shows inflammation on histological examination. There are two histological variations of microscopic colitis. It has been associated with several drug classes, and certain drugs are associated with one variation or another. In this case report, we discuss the case of a patient who is on a drug not previously associated with her variation of microscopic colitis and who has an autoimmune condition whose relationship to microscopic colitis is not well studied. We aim to outline the potential triggers for the disease and to call for further studies regarding how certain drugs and/or autoimmune disorders trigger it in order to further our understanding and improve management.