Metformin-Associated Vitamin B12 Deficiency: An Underrecognized Complication.

Metformin-associated vitamin B12 deficiency is a well-established side effect, especially in patients taking higher doses of metformin or who have existing risk factors. Severe deficiency causes a wide range of systemic disorders. Gait instability, which leads to frequent falling, is usually an underrecognized side effect. Older patients are more likely to develop chronic subdural hematoma even with minor trauma. We present a case of 84-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus with acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma from frequent falls. Metformin therapy at dose of 1700 mg/day was given for more than 25 years. He had been in his usual state of health until 10 months ago when he began to have frequent fallings and fatigue. Physical examination in this admission revealed new-onset impaired vibratory sensation and proprioception in both feet and positive Romberg test. Subsequent evaluations demonstrated undetectable plasma vitamin B12 level and elevated plasma homocysteine. Improvement in neurological symptoms occurred within 1 week of vitamin B12 replacement and surgical hematoma evacuation. This case highlights the importance of awareness and periodic monitoring of vitamin B12 status among older patients taking metformin.

Circulating epigenomic biomarkers correspond with kidney disease susceptibility in high-risk populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To investigate epigenomic indices of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) susceptibility among high-risk populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) clinical guidelines were used to classify people living with or without DKD. Differential gene methylation of DKD was then assessed in a discovery Aboriginal Diabetes Study cohort (PROPHECY, 89 people) and an external independent study from Thailand (THEPTARIN, 128 people). Corresponding mRNA levels were also measured and linked to levels of albuminuria and eGFR. RESULTS: Increased DKD risk was associated with reduced methylation and elevated gene expression in the PROPHECY discovery cohort of Aboriginal Australians and these findings were externally validated in the THEPTARIN diabetes registry of Thai people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Novel epigenomic scores can improve diagnostic performance over clinical modelling using albuminuria and GFR alone and can distinguish DKD susceptibility.

Real-World Use of Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Thai Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Private Hospital Setting.

Objective: To evaluate the real-world use of once-weekly semaglutide among Thai patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in a private hospital setting. Methodology: A retrospective review of Thai patients with T2DM who have initiated semaglutide for at least 1 month between June 2020 and March 2022 at Theptarin Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Results: A total of 58 patients (50% female, mean age 55.6 ± 15.9 years, with duration of diabetes 12.6 ± 10.3 years, BMI 31.5 ± 4.4 kg/m2, baseline HbA1c 7.9 ± 1.9%, with prior GLP-1 RA use 24.1%, and concomitant SGLT2i intake (41.4%) were included. During a median follow-up of 6 months, the mean serum HbA1c level reduction was 1.3 ± 1.7% with weight loss of 4.7 ± 4.1 kg. The proportion of patients who achieved optimal and sustainable glycemic control (HbA1c < 7.0%) increased from 43.1% to 55.8% at the last follow-up. The proportion of patients reaching both HbA1c targets of <7.0% and 5% weight loss was 27.8%. No cases of pancreatitis, cancer, or progressive retinopathy were observed. Conclusions: In this single center undertaking, it was shown that in among persons with T2DM and obesity in Thailand, semaglutide was associated with short-term glycemic control and weight loss comparable with what has been observed in randomized clinical trials and other RWE.

Reduced methylation correlates with diabetic nephropathy risk in type 1 diabetes.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a polygenic disorder with few risk variants showing robust replication in large-scale genome-wide association studies. To understand the role of DNA methylation, it is important to have the prevailing genomic view to distinguish key sequence elements that influence gene expression. This is particularly challenging for DN because genome-wide methylation patterns are poorly defined. While methylation is known to alter gene expression, the importance of this causal relationship is obscured by array-based technologies since coverage outside promoter regions is low. To overcome these challenges, we performed methylation sequencing using leukocytes derived from participants of the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) type 1 diabetes (T1D) study (n = 39) that was subsequently replicated in a larger validation cohort (n = 296). Gene body-related regions made up more than 60% of the methylation differences and emphasized the importance of methylation sequencing. We observed differentially methylated genes associated with DN in 3 independent T1D registries originating from Denmark (n = 445), Hong Kong (n = 107), and Thailand (n = 130). Reduced DNA methylation at CTCF and Pol2B sites was tightly connected with DN pathways that include insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, and fibrosis. To define the pathophysiological significance of these population findings, methylation indices were assessed in human renal cells such as podocytes and proximal convoluted tubule cells. The expression of core genes was associated with reduced methylation, elevated CTCF and Pol2B binding, and the activation of insulin-signaling phosphoproteins in hyperglycemic cells. These experimental observations also closely parallel methylation-mediated regulation in human macrophages and vascular endothelial cells.

Kratom-Associated Mixed Cholestatic-Hepatocellular Liver Injury in a Patient With Long COVID: A case Report.

Introduction: Mitragyna speciosa (commonly known as kratom) has both opioid and stimulant-like effects. Recently, Thailand decriminalized the possession and sale of kratom which led people in many areas to seek income from the sale of kratom at a time of widespread unemployment due to COVID-19. Here, we report a patient with post-COVID syndrome who developed a mixed cholestatic-hepatocellular liver injury secondary to kratom. Case presentation: A 23-year-old Thai man was seen for an evaluation of fatigue and nausea which was soon followed by pruritus, dark urine and jaundice. The patient had no known underlying disease but had been treated with mild COVID-19 pneumonia in the past 2 months. He reported taking kratom recreationally for 2 weeks as a treatment for his post-COVID insomnia. Kratom was purchased from a friend and used in a homemade iced cocktail called "4 × 100" consisting of Coca-Cola, tea made from boiled kratom leaves, and diphenhydramine-containing cough syrup which has been popular in Southernmost provinces of Thailand. His lab workup showed his total bilirubin to be 10.6 mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase was 642 U/L, and alanine aminotransferase was 1635 U/L. Extensive workups including viral etiologies was negative. Abdominal ultrasound revealed normal liver and no cirrhosis. The case was managed conservatively for 5 days in the hospital by giving intravenous fluid and stopping all medications. Urine toxicology screening confirmed the presence of mitragynine and diphenhydramine. He was in a stable condition with normalized liver function tests at 3 months after discharge. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to health consequences and this case highlights the importance of kratom as potential cause of acute liver injury. Future studies should accumulate further case series and identify kratom-user subgroups or the polydrug patterns of kratom use that are at heightened risk of severe liver injury.

Hypertriglyceridemia as a main feature associated with 17q12 deletion syndrome-related hepatocyte nuclear factor 1ß-maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

Summary: Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1ß (HNF1B) gene is located on chromosome 17q12. It is a transcription factor implicated in the early embryonic development of multiple organs. HNF1B-associated disease is a multi-system disorder with variable clinical phenotypes. There are increasing reports suggesting that the 17q12 deletion syndrome should be suspected in patients with maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 5 (MODY5) due to the deletion of HNF1B gene. In contrast to classical 17q12 syndrome in childhood with neurological disorders and autism, patients with HNF1B-MODY deletion rarely had neuropsychological disorders or learning disabilities. The diagnosis of 17q12 deletion syndrome highlighted the phenotypic heterogeneity of HNF1B-MODY patients. In this study, we report the clinical course of a Thai woman with young-onset diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia as a predominant feature due to HNF1B deletion as part of the 17q12 deletion syndrome. Our findings and others suggest that hypertriglyceridemia should be considered a syndromic feature of HNF1B-MODY. Our case also highlights the need to use sequencing with dosage analyses to detect point mutations and copy number variations to avoid missing a whole deletion of HNF1B. Learning points: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 5 (MODY5) may be caused by heterozygous point mutations or whole gene deletion of HNF1B. Recent studies revealed that complete deletion of the HNF1B gene may be part of the 17q12 deletion syndrome with multi-system involvement. The length of the deletion can contribute to the phenotypic variability in patients with HNF1B-MODY due to whole gene deletion. Using next-generation sequencing alone to diagnose MODY could miss a whole gene deletion or copy number variations. Specialized detection methods such as microarray analysis or low-pass whole genome sequencing are required to accurately diagnose HNF1B-MODY as a component of the 17q12 deletion syndrome. Molecular diagnosis is necessary to distinguish other acquired cystic kidney diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes which could phenocopy HNF1B-MODY. Hypertriglyceridemia is a possible metabolic feature in patients with HNF1B-MODY due to 17q12 deletion syndrome.

Profile of Levothyroxine Replacement Therapy in Graves' Disease Patients with Hypothyroidism Post-Radioactive Iodine Ablation: Focus on Different Weight-Based Regimens.

Objective: To evaluate the status of euthyroidism achieved among Thai patients with post-ablative hypothyroidism and to examine the difference between various weight-based daily levothyroxine (LT4) replacement regimens in these patients. Methodology: We conducted a retrospective review of Thai patients with Graves' disease (GD) who developed hypothyroidism following radioactive iodine treatment from 2016 to 2020 at Theptarin hospital. Daily LT4 dose was calculated based on actual body weight (ABW), ideal body weight (IBW), and estimated lean body mass (LBM). Results: We reviewed a total of 271 patient records. Of these, 81.2% were females with a mean age of 40.8±11.7 years, LT4 intake duration of 27.1±14.6 months, and LT4 dose/kg ABW of 1.4±0.5 µg/kg/day. At the final follow-up, 62.4% of patients achieved thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels within the reference interval, 15.5% had TSH levels over, and 22.1% had TSH levels under the reference range. Obese patients required a lower daily LT4 dose relative to ABW and higher daily LT4 dose relative to IBW to attain euthyroidism (ABW 1.1±0.4 µg/kg/day and IBW 2.0±0.8 µg/kg/day). Estimated daily LT4 dose based on LBM showed a constant dosage of 2.0 µg/kg/day in all BMI categories. Conclusions: Suboptimum LT4 replacement therapy was found in almost half of hypothyroid patients with GD treated with radioactive iodine. Estimated LBM was a better indicator for dosing calculation in these patients compared with ABW and IBW.

Diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance associated with Kabuki syndrome-A case report and literature review.

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a genetic disorder characterized by distinctive facies, intellectual disability, and multi-organ anomalies. This case report highlights the importance of clinical recognizable phenotype in patients with diabetes. The development of diabetes should be considered an endocrine complication in KS patients.

Effect of a Web-Based Management Guide on Risk Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Kidney Disease: A JADE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and its comorbidities can be prevented by treating multiple targets. Technology-assisted team-based care with regular feedback and patient empowerment can improve the attainment of multiple targets and clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes, but the effects of this intervention on patients with DKD are unclear. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) web portal, nurse reminders, and team-based care on multiple risk factors in patients with DKD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This 12-month multinational, open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted between June 27, 2014, and February 19, 2019, at 13 hospital-based diabetes centers in 8 countries or regions in Asia. All patients who participated had DKD. The intention-to-treat data analysis was performed from April 7 to June 30, 2020. Interventions: Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio at each site to usual care, empowered care, or team-based empowered care. All patients underwent a JADE web portal-guided structured assessment at baseline and month 12. Patients in the usual care and empowered care groups received a medical follow-up. Patients in the empowered care group also received a personalized JADE report and nurse telephone calls every 3 months. Patients in the team-based empowered care group received additional face-to-face reviews every 3 months from a physician-nurse team. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who attained multiple treatment targets (defined as ≥3 of 5 targets: HbA1c level <7.0% [53 mmol/mol], blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level <1.8 mmol/L, triglyceride level <1.7 mmol/L, and/or persistent use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors). Results: A total of 2393 patients (mean [SD] age, 67.7 [9.8] years; 1267 men [52.9%]) were randomized to the usual care group (n = 795), empowered care group (n = 802), and team-based empowered care group (n = 796). At baseline, 34.7% patients (n = 830) were on 3 treatment targets. On intention-to-treat analysis, the team-based empowered care group had the highest proportion of patients who had further increase in attainment of multiple treatment targets (within-group differences: usual care group, 3.9% [95% CI, 0.0%-7.8%]; empowered care group, 1.3% [95% CI, -2.8% to 5.4%]; team-based empowered care group, 9.1% [95% CI, 4.7%-13.5%]). The team-based empowered care group was more likely to attain multiple treatment targets than the usual care group (risk ratio [RR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.00-1.37) and the empowered care group (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.06-1.48) after adjustment for site. Compared with the group that did not attain multiple treatment targets, the group that attained multiple treatment targets reported a lower incidence of cardiovascular, kidney, and cancer events (8.4% [n = 51] vs 14.5% [n = 134]; P = .004). Analysis of the per-protocol population yielded similar results. Conclusions and Relevance: This trial found that technology-assisted team-based care for 12 months improved the attainment of multiple treatment targets as well as empowerment in patients with DKD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02176278.

Celiac Disease as a Cause of Anemia and Brittle Diabetes in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Untreated celiac disease (CD) leads to an increased risk for hypoglycemia and diabetic complications. However, the diagnosis of CD can be challenging and some extra-gastrointestinal tract manifestations could be a presenting symptom. We report a case of a 29-year-old Indian male with brittle T1DM whose underlying CD was discovered from a work-up for anemia. After an introduction of a gluten-free diet, he gained 5 kgs in two months, was responsive to oral iron supplement, and had stable glycemic control with much less hypoglycemia. Even though this disease is rare in Asian populations, the diagnosis of celiac disease should always be kept in mind when people with T1DM present with unexplained microcytic anemia and/or unexplained hypoglycemia.

Unilateral gynecomastia as an initial presentation of hyperthyroid Graves' disease.

SUMMARY: Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition leading to the activation of and an increase in thyroid hormone secretion. Manifestations of hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease can vary among people. In this case, we report a 24-year-old Thai man with a rare presentation of unilateral gynecomastia along with symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. Physical examination revealed a 3 cm non-tender palpable glandular tissue beneath and around the left areola without nipple discharge and moderately diffuse thyroid enlargement with thyroid bruit. Thyroid function test showed a typical thyrotoxicosis state with elevated serum-free T4 and decreased serum TSH. His diagnosis of Graves' disease was confirmed biochemically with a highly elevated anti-TSH receptor antibody. Early treatment with anti-thyroid medication was given first, followed by Radioiodine treatment (RAI) for definitive treatment due to high level of anti-TSH receptor antibody, enlarged thyroid and severe thyrotoxicosis presentation at a young age, which might not resolve by anti-thyroid medication alone. The patient responded well to treatment and achieved complete resolution of unilateral gynecomastia with clinically and biochemically euthyroid within 3 months after treatment. No recurrent gynecomastia was found during the 2-year follow-up. LEARNING POINTS: Characteristic of gynecomastia in hyperthyroidism is usually presented with bilateral progressive gynecomastia; however, unilateral gynecomastia is occasionally found as a presentation of hyperthyroidism. Complete resolution of gynecomastia without recurrence can be achieved within a few months of treatment after thyrotoxicosis is resolved in patients with hyperthyroidism with the recent development of gynecomastia. RAI for definitive treatment is recommended in young adult patients expressing very high anti-TSH antibody level with severe thyrotoxicosis.

Phenotypic and Genetic Heterogeneity in a Thai Glucokinase MODY Family Reveals the Complexity of Young-Onset Diabetes.

Glucokinase-Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (GCK-MODY) is characterized by asymptomatic, non-progressive and fasting hyperglycemia, albeit not without phenotypic variability. We used next generation sequencing (NGS) to screen for 34 MODY genes in a non-obese person with familial young-onset diabetes followed by screening in 24 family members within three generations with varying presentations of young-onset diabetes and sensorineural hearing loss. The index patient was found to carry a paternally-inherited heterozygous missense variant (c.716 A>G) of GCK in exon 7 with amino acid change (Q239R). This variant was associated with phenotypic heterogeneity ranging from normal glucose tolerance to diabetes with complications amongst the siblings which might be modified by obesity and chronic hepatitis B infection. Two paternally-inherited variants of SLC29A3 encoding a nucleoside transporter protein and Apo-A1 genes also co-segregated with glucose and lipid traits. Co-occurrence of diabetes and deafness in maternal aunts led to discovery of WFS1 (Wolfram syndrome type 1) as a cause of non-syndromic deafness in multiple members of the maternal pedigree. Our findings highlight the complex causes of familial young-onset diabetes and the need of a multidisciplinary approach to interpret the clinical relevance of discoveries made by NGS in this era of genomic medicine.

Prolonged Honeymoon Period in a Thai Patient with Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a usual case of adult-onset T1DM with prolonged honeymoon period for more than 5 years. METHODS: Repeated mixed meal stimulation tests for a period of 6-12 months together with monitoring pancreatic autoantibodies and laboratory data were followed following the onset of diagnosis. RESULTS: We report a 24-year-old Thai patient with T1DM with sustained remission without antidiabetic medication for more than 5 years while maintaining low-carbohydrate intake and regular exercise. Repeated mixed meal stimulation tests for a period of 6-12 months revealed preserved beta-cell functions. Interestingly, repeated pancreatic autoantibodies at 5 years after diagnosis still showed positive anti-GAD, anti-IA2, and anti-ZnT8. CONCLUSION: Restored beta-cell function with complete insulin withdrawal in new-onset T1DM has been reported in very few cases with some common factors as in our patient (low-carbohydrate intake with regular exercise). Delaying autoimmune activity by reducing metabolic load in newly diagnosed T1DM might play a role in maintaining the honeymoon period and could lead to an innovative therapeutic option in new-onset T1DM.

Recurrence Factors and Characteristic Trends of Papillary Thyroid Cancer over Three Decades.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of thyroid cancer is rising worldwide. Although thyroid cancer has a favorable prognosis, up to 20% of patients experienced recurrent disease during the follow-up period. The present study aimed to examine the trend of incidence and factors associated with recurrence and outcomes of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in Thai patients over the last 30 years. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of all patients with PTC who were treated between 1987 and 2019 at Theptarin Hospital. Clinical characteristics, epidemic trend, factors associated with the persistence/recurrence of the disease, overall disease-specific survival rate, and overall disease-free survival rate were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients with PTC who were registered between 1987 and 2019 were reviewed. The mean age was 42.5 ± 14.3 years, with a mean follow-up of 9.5 years. Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) was consistently increased and accounted for 21.4% (50/235) of total cases. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk stratification was high in 24% of all PTMCs in the last decade, and 16.0% of these patients experienced local recurrence during the follow-up period. Coexistence with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) was found in one-fifth of the patients with PTC and was correlated with a low recurrence rate (HR: 0.16, P=0.013). Only age ≥55 years associated with the persistence/recurrence of the disease. The overall disease-free survival and disease-specific survival rates were 77.4% and 98.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of PTC is generally considered favorable. However, approximately one-fourth of patients with PTMC demonstrated more aggressive clinical behavior, particularly in the last decade of the study. Coexistence of HT contributed to a better prognosis.

Impacts of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging system on outcomes of differentiated thyroid cancer in Thai patients.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition (AJCC8) was introduced to replace the previous version (AJCC7) due to superiority of AJCC8 over AJCC7 for better prediction of survival from thyroid cancer. AIM: To compare AJCC staging systems with the American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk classification for the prediction of 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) in Thai patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with histopathologic diagnosis of DTC who were treated at Theptarin Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand from 1987 to 2019. RESULTS: The study cohort included 262 differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients (papillary thyroid cancer 89.7% with a median time of follow-up 7.8 years). The number (%) of patients within each stage group by AJCC7 and AJCC8 respectively are as follows: Stage I: 173 (66.0%) vs. 232 (88.5%), Stage II: 33 (12.6%) vs. 24 (9.2%), Stage III: 36 (13.7%) vs. 2 (0.8%), Stage IV: 20 (7.7%) vs. 4 (1.5%). The ATA high risk group was found in 24.3% of AJCC7 Stage I compared with 23.7% of AJCC8 Stage I. The 5-year DFS rates in patients classified as stages I, II, III, and IV by AJCC8 were 87.9%, 45.8%, 0% and 25%, respectively. The 5-year DSS rates in patients classified as stages I, II, III and IV by AJCC8 were 98.7%, 100%, 100% and 0%, respectively. AJCC8 was more predictive of DFS rate than AJCC7. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is in accord with previous studies that AJCC8 downstage a significant percentage of patients with DTC and correlated with better prognostic validity. However, even a person at low risk for mortality can be at high risk for recurrence.

Practice patterns and outcomes in the management of Thai patients with Graves' disease.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of hyperthyroid Graves' disease (GD) varies considerably among geographic areas. In this study, we aimed to evaluate practice patterns and treatment outcomes in Thai patients with hyperthyroid GD. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study over 35 years (1985-2019) in patients with hyperthyroid GD was conducted. The trends of treatment options were compared periodically during the study period and the overall remission rate from each option was determined. RESULTS: A total of 2736 hyperthyroid GD patients were treated and followed-up for at least 3 months over the study period (female 82.0%, mean age at diagnosis 36.3 ± 12.0 years, median duration of follow-up 74.5 months). Anti-thyroid drug (ATD) was the most commonly used treatment (78.0%), followed by RAI (21.0%), and surgery (1.0%). There was a significant downward trend for surgery, from 12.3% in the 1980s to only 0.2% in last phase of the study period. The preference for RAI therapy has also decreased in the last 5 years. Among ATD-treated patients, the remission rate was achieved only in 30.7 and 16.0% of all ATD-treated patients were eventually treated with RAI. Spontaneous hypothyroidism developed in 2.7% of the ATD-treated patients during a follow-up period. Almost all RAI-treated patients (97.1%) developed hypothyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study highlighted the changing landscape of primary treatments for hyperthyroid GD toward ATD and the sharp downward trend in the surgical option. Even though ATD was associated with a low remission rate, it was preferred by many patients and physicians. The use of RAI as the primary treatment decreased in the last decade. However, RAI was a very effective treatment for Graves' hyperthyroidism but will inevitably induce hypothyroidism and a requirement for life-long replacement therapy.

Effectiveness of Insulin Degludec in Thai Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Real-World Evidence From a Specialized Diabetes Center.

BACKGROUND: Insulin degludec, an ultra-long-acting insulin analogue, has been available in Thailand since October 2016. Although clinical trial results revealed less hypoglycemia, data from real-world settings is limited especially in Asian patients. This study aimed to evaluate prospectively the real-world effectiveness, safety, quality of life (QOL) and patient satisfaction with insulin degludec among Thai patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: From October 2016 to September 2017, all patients who had started insulin degludec for at least 3 months were observed and evaluated at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. QOL was assessed using WHOQOL-BREF-THAI and level of satisfaction was measured by 7-point Likert scale. Glycemic fluctuation from paired iPro2 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) obtained 4-6 weeks apart were also evaluated from a subset of patients with T1DM who switched from insulin glargine to insulin degludec. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients (T2DM 76.4%, females 54.5%, mean age 57.1±16.1 years, duration of diabetes 16.7±8.8 years, BMI 27.3±5.5 kg/m2, baseline A1C 9.3±2.3%, median duration of treatment 8 months) were included in the study. In T1DM patients (n=13), the overall mean A1C reduction at 12 months was 0.5% with minimal weight gain of 0.9 kgs at 12 months. In T2DM patients (n=42), the overall mean A1C reduction at 12 months was 0.8% with minimal weight loss of 0.4 kgs at 12 months. The proportion of T1DM patients who could achieve optimal glycemic control increased slightly from 14.3 to 18.2% but the proportion of T2DM patients who could achieve optimal glycemic control increased from 30.8 to 53.8%. Patient satisfaction showed a sustained improvement throughout the duration of study. In four T1DM patients who had paired CGM data, insulin degludec provided greater reductions in glycemic variability endpoints with increased time-in-range when compared with previous insulin glargine. DISCUSSION: Our data suggested that the effectiveness of insulin degludec was consistent with the results seen in clinical trials with lower risk of patients-reported hypoglycemia, and a significant improvement in glycemic control. Patients also reported higher treatment satisfaction. More long-term and cost-effectiveness data are needed to establish the role of this ultra-long-acting insulin in real-world settings.

Serum T3 Level and Duration of Minimum Maintenance Dose Therapy Predict Relapse n Methimazole-Treated Graves Disease.

BACKGROUND: Methimazole (MMI) has been advocated as a preferred option for most Graves disease (GD) patients. However, long-term remission after a course of MMI treatment is achieved in only 20% to 40% of patients, depending on the duration of follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical factors for predicting relapse of GD in Thai patients after MMI treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of newly diagnosed patients with GD who achieved remission of hyperthyroid GD after at least 12 months of MMI treatment. Long-term outcomes were assessed and predictive factors of early and late relapse were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 443 patients with newly diagnosed GD who were treated with MMI for at least 12 months from 1985 to 2019, and were able to discontinue medication, were studied. The mean age at diagnosis was 37.0 ±â€…11.4 years and 81.7% were female. Of the 320 patients (72.2%) who achieved initial remission after MMI treatment for 23 months, 106 patients (33.1%) experienced late relapse during the mean follow-up duration of 9.7 years after MMI withdrawal. The remission rates decreased from 36.4% at the first year after stopping MMI to only 20.7% at 10 years. High initial serum triiodothyronine (T3) level and duration of minimum maintenance dose therapy (MMDT) of <6 months were associated with late disease relapse after remission. CONCLUSION: The long-term remission rate of Graves hyperthyroidism was achieved in one-fifth of MMI-treated Thai patients. Predictive markers for late relapse included high initial serum T3 level and a duration of MMDT of <6 months.