The assessment of quality of care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a population-based cohort in the District of Landeck in Austria.

INTRODUCTION: Structured diabetes care based on evidence-based guidelines is one of the main strategies to improve glycemic control and to reduce long-term complications in diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This study is based on the "Diabetes-Landeck Cohort", a population-based cohort of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). We assessed the quality of diabetes care and compared it between three groups of care units, that is, general practitioners (GP), diabetes specialists in private practice (DSPP), and hospitals (HOSP). RESULTS: The total study population comprised 1616 patients with T2DM, including 378 patients of GP, 281 of DSPP, and 957 from HOSP. We identified statistically significant differences: DSPP showed the highest percentage of structured training, sufficient training, eye examinations and foot examinations. The group HOSP showed the highest proportion for increased HbA1c≥ 7.5 and almost all long-term complications surveyed, that is, nephropathy (23.2%), neuropathy (14.4%), diabetic foot (5.1%), and cerebrovascular diseases (10.9%). CONCLUSION: This population-based cohort study on patients with T2DM in Austria showed significant differences in important quality-of-care process and outcome parameters across different groups of care units. Future research should also include prediction modeling for early warning and monitoring systems as well as adjustment for patient characteristics and duration and severity of disease.

[Injection therapy of diabetes]. / Injektionstherapie (GLP1-Rezeptor Agonisten und Insulin) bei Typ 2 Diabetes mellitus (Update 2023).

The present article is a recommendation of the Austrian Diabetes Association for the practical use of injection therapy (GLP1-receptor agonists and insulin) in type 2 diabetes.

[Antihyperglycemic treatment guidelines for diabetes mellitus type 2 (Update 2023)]. / Antihyperglykämische Therapie bei Diabetes mellitus Typ 2 (Update 2023).

Hyperglycemia significantly contributes to complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. While lifestyle interventions remain cornerstones of disease prevention and treatment, most patients with type 2 diabetes will eventually require pharmacotherapy for glycemic control. The definition of individual targets regarding optimal therapeutic efficacy and safety as well as cardiovascular effects is of great importance. In this guideline we present the most current evidence-based best clinical practice data for healthcare professionals.

[Diagnosis and insulin therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus (Update 2023)]. / Diagnostik und Therapie des Typ 1 Diabetes mellitus (Update 2023).

This guideline summarizes diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, including accompanying autoimmune disorders, insulin therapy regimens and glycemic target values.

[Clinical practice recommendations for diabetes in pregnancy (Update 2023)]. / Gravidität bei vorbestehendem Diabetes (Update 2023).

In 1989 the St. Vincent Declaration aimed to achieve comparable pregnancy outcomes in women with diabetes and those with normal glucose tolerance. However, currently women with pre-gestational diabetes still feature a higher risk of perinatal morbidity and even increased mortality. This fact is mostly ascribed to a persistently low rate of pregnancy planning and pre-pregnancy care with optimization of metabolic control prior to conception. All women should be experienced in the management of their therapy and on stable glycemic control prior to conception. In addition, thyroid dysfunction, hypertension as well as the presence of diabetic complications should be excluded or treated adequately before pregnancy in order to decrease the risk for a progression of complications during pregnancy as well as maternal and fetal morbidity. Near normoglycaemia and HbA1c in the normal range are targets for treatment, preferably without the induction of frequent resp. severe hypoglycaemic reactions. Especially in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus the risk of hypoglycemia is high in early pregnancy, but it decreases with the progression of pregnancy due to hormonal changes causing an increase of insulin resistance. In addition, obesity increases worldwide and contributes to higher numbers of women at childbearing age with type 2 diabetes mellitus and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Intensified insulin therapy with multiple daily insulin injections and pump treatment are equally effective in reaching good metabolic control during pregnancy. Insulin is the primary treatment option. Continuous glucose monitoring often adds to achieve targets. Oral glucose lowering drugs (Metformin) may be considered in obese women with type 2 diabetes mellitus to increase insulin sensitivity but need to be prescribed cautiously due to crossing the placenta and lack of long-time follow up data of the offspring (shared decision making). Due to increased risk for preeclampsia in women with diabetes screening needs to be performed. Regular obstetric care as well as an interdisciplinary treatment approach are necessary to improve metabolic control and ensure the healthy development of the offspring.

[Gestational diabetes mellitus (Update 2023)]. / Gestationsdiabetes (GDM) (Update 2023).

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset during pregnancy and is associated with increased feto-maternal morbidity as well as long-term complications in mothers and the offspring. Women detected to have diabetes early in pregnancy receive the diagnosis of overt, non-gestational, diabetes (glucose: fasting ≥ 126 mg/dl, spontaneous ≥ 200 mg/dl or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% before 20 weeks of gestation). GDM is diagnosed by an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) or increased fasting glucose (≥ 92 mg/dl). Screening for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes at the first prenatal visit is recommended in women at increased risk (history of GDM/pre-diabetes; malformation, stillbirth, successive abortions or birth weight > 4500 g previously; obesity, metabolic syndrome, age > 35 years, vascular disease; clinical symptoms of diabetes (e.g. glucosuria) or ethnic origin with increased risk for GDM/T2DM (Arab, South- and Southeast Asian, Latin American)) using standard diagnostic criteria. Performance of the oGTT (120 min; 75 g glucose) may already be indicated in the first trimester in high-risk women but is mandatory between gestational week 24-28 in all pregnant women with previous non-pathological glucose metabolism. Following WHO recommendations, which are based on the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study, GDM is defined, if fasting venous plasma glucose is ≥ 92 mg/dl or 1 h ≥ 180 mg/dl or 2 h ≥ 153 mg/dl after glucose loading (international consensus criteria). In case of one pathological value a strict metabolic control is mandatory. After bariatric surgery we do not recommend to perform an oGTT due to risk of postprandial hypoglycemia. All women with GDM should receive nutritional counseling, be instructed in blood glucose self-monitoring and motivated to increase physical activity to moderate intensity levels-if not contraindicated (Evidence level A). If blood glucose levels cannot be maintained in the therapeutic range (fasting < 95 mg/dl and 1 h after meals < 140 mg/dl, Evidence level B) insulin therapy should be initiated as first choice (Evidence level A). Maternal and fetal monitoring is required in order to minimize maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and perinatal mortality. Regular obstetric examinations including ultrasound examinations are recommended (Evidence level A). Neonatal care of GDM offspring at high risk for hypoglycaemia includes blood glucose measurements after birth and if necessary appropriate intervention. Monitoring the development of the children and recommendation of healthy lifestyle are important issues to be tackled for the whole family. After delivery all women with GDM have to be reevaluated as to their glucose tolerance by a 75 g oGTT (WHO criteria) 4-12 weeks postpartum. Assessment of glucose parameters (fasting glucose, random glucose, HbA1c or optimally oGTT) are recommended every 2-3 years in case of normal glucose tolerance. All women have to be instructed about their increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at follow-up. Possible preventive meassures, in particular lifestyle changes as weight management and maintenance/increase of physical activity should be discussed (evidence level A).

[Sex and gender-specific aspects in prediabetes and diabetes mellitus-clinical recommendations (Update 2023)]. / Geschlechtsspezifische Aspekte bei Prädiabetes und Diabetes mellitus ­ klinische Empfehlungen (Update 2023).

Metabolic diseases dramatically affect the life of men and women from infancy up to old age in different and manifold ways and are a major challenge for the healthcare system. The treating physicians are confronted with the different needs of women and men in the clinical routine. Gender-specific differences affect pathophysiology, screening, diagnostic and treatment strategies of diseases as well as the development of complications and mortality rates. Impairments in glucose and lipid metabolism, regulation of energy balance and body fat distribution and therefore the associated cardiovascular diseases, are greatly influenced by steroidal and sex hormones. Furthermore, education, income and psychosocial factors play an important role in the development of obesity and diabetes differently in men and women. Males appear to be at greater risk of diabetes at a younger age and at a lower body mass index (BMI) compared to women but women feature a dramatic increase in the risk of diabetes-associated cardiovascular diseases after the menopause. The estimated future years of life lost owing to diabetes is somewhat higher in women than men, with a higher increase in vascular complications in women but a higher increase of cancer deaths in men. In women prediabetes or diabetes are more distinctly associated with a higher number of vascular risk factors, such as inflammatory parameters, unfavourable changes in coagulation and higher blood pressure. Women with prediabetes and diabetes have a much higher relative risk for vascular diseases. Women are more often morbidly obese and less physically active but may have an even greater benefit in health and life expectation from increased physical activity than men. In weight loss studies men often showed a higher weight loss than women; however, diabetes prevention is similarly effective in men and women with prediabetes with a risk reduction of nearly 40%. Nevertheless, a long-term reduction in all cause and cardiovascular mortality was so far only observed in women. Men predominantly feature increased fasting blood glucose levels, women often show impaired glucose tolerance. A history of gestational diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as increased androgen levels and decreased estrogen levels in women and the presence of erectile dysfunction or decreased testosterone levels in men are important sex-specific risk factors for the development of diabetes. Many studies showed that women with diabetes reach their target values for HbA1c, blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol less often than their male counterparts, although the reasons are unclear. Furthermore, sex differences in the effects, pharmacokinetics and side effects of pharmacological treatment should be taken more into consideration.

[Geriatric aspects for the management of diabetes mellitus (Update 2023)]. / Geriatrische Aspekte bei Diabetes mellitus (Update 2023).

There is a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the elderly population of industrial countries. The present article provides recommendations for the screening, prevention and treatment of elderly diabetic patients according to current scientific evidence.

Detecting disabilities in everyday life: evidence from a geriatric assessment.

BACKGROUND: The activities of daily living (ADL) score is a widely used index to establish the degree of independence from any help in everyday life situations. Measuring ADL accurately is time-consuming and costly. This paper presents a framework to approximate ADL via variables usually collected in comprehensive geriatric assessments. We show that the selected variables serve as good indicators in explaining the physical disabilities of older patients. METHODS: Our sample included information from a geriatric assessment of 326 patients aged between 64 and 99 years in a hospital in Tyrol, Austria. In addition to ADL, 23 variables reflecting the physical and mental status of these patients were recorded during the assessment. We performed least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to determine which of these variables had the highest impact on explaining ADL. Then, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and logistic regression techniques to validate our model performance. Finally, we calculated cut-off points for each of the selected variables to show the values at which ADL fall below a certain threshold. RESULTS: Mobility, urinary incontinence, nutritional status and cognitive function were most closely related to ADL and, therefore, to geriatric patients' functional limitations. Jointly, the selected variables were able to detect neediness with high accuracy (area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.89 and 0.91, respectively). If a patient had a limitation in one of these variables, the probability of everyday life disability increased with a statistically significant factor between 2.4 (nutritional status, 95%-CI 1.5-3.9) and 15.1 (urinary incontinence, 95%-CI 3.6-63.4). CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the most important impairments of everyday life to facilitate more efficient use of clinical resources, which in turn allows for more targeted treatment of geriatric patients. At the patient level, our approach enables early detection of functional limitations and timely indications of a possible need for assistance in everyday life.

Inappropriate pelvic floor muscle activation during forced exhalation and coughing in elderly female inpatients with urinary incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Reduced pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction strength is a common condition in elderly female patients with urinary incontinence (UI). However, little data exist to demonstrate the importance of appropriate PFM activation during exhaling and coughing. OBJECTIVES: To analyse breathing and coughing patterns in elderly female inpatients with UI, and to assess PFM activation patterns during exhalation and coughing. DESIGN: Retrospective chart data analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 177 elderly female inpatients with UI were analysed to determine voluntary PFM contraction strength, as well as PFM activation and displacement of the pelvic floor (PF) and abdominal wall during forced exhalation and coughing. Clinical data were obtained by means of inspection and digital palpation in the course of a routine clinical UI assessment. Data collected were correlated with age, body mass index and number of childbirths, and categorised by predominant UI symptoms, history of previous hysterectomy and history of PFM training. RESULTS: Independent of voluntary PFM contraction strength, nearly all patients (n=168) demonstrated bulging of the abdominal wall and PF during forced exhalation and coughing instead of contracting the PFMs and consequently lifting the PF, which would be in accordance with physiological breathing synergies. None of the nine women who reflexively contracted the PFM physiologically in accordance with an expiratory breathing pattern complained of symptoms of stress UI alone. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of elderly females with UI do not activate their PFMs appropriately during forced exhalation and coughing, possibly contributing to or exacerbating UI.

Diabetic foot complications-lessons learned from real-world data derived from a specialized Austrian hospital.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot complications, one of the most severe late complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus, are associated with a tremendous personal and financial burden. In order to drive the prevention of diabetic foot complications forward and facilitate early detection and personalized screening of high-risk patients, longitudinal studies are needed to identify risk factors associated with diabetic foot complications in large patient datasets. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study on 3002 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged ≥ 18 years without prior foot complications. The data were collected between 2006 and 2017 in an Austrian hospital department specialized for diabetic patients. In addition to a univariate Cox regression analysis, multivariate Cox regression models were established to identify independent risk factors associated with diabetic foot complications and adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: We observed a total of 61 diabetic foot complications in 3002 patients. In the multivariate Cox regression model, significant risk factors (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval) for foot complications were age at diagnosis > 70 years (3.39, 1.33-8.67), male gender (2.55, 1.42-4.55), neuropathy (3.03, 1.74-5.27), peripheral arterial disease (3.04, 1.61-5.74), hypertension > 10 years after diagnosis (2.32, 1.09-4.93) and HbA1c > 9% (2.44, 1.02-5.83). CONCLUSION: The identified risk factors for diabetic foot complications suggest that personalized early detection of patients at high risk might be possible by taking the patient's clinical characteristics, medical history and comorbidities into account. Modifiable risk factors, such as hypertension and high levels of blood glucose might be tackled to reduce the risk for diabetic foot complications.

Risk factors for diabetic foot complications among patients with type 2 diabetes in Austria-A registry-based retrospective cohort study.

AIMS: Diabetic foot complications, a serious consequence of diabetes mellitus, are associated with a tremendous burden on both individual patients and health care systems. Since prevention strategies may reduce the incidence of this complication, identification of risk factors in large longitudinal studies is essential to optimize early detection and personalized screening of patients at increased risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a registry-based retrospective cohort study using data from 10,688 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged ≥18 years. Cox regression models were used to identify risk factors for foot complications while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: We observed 140 diabetic foot complications in our patient cohort. The multivariate Cox regression model revealed neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease and male gender as being positively associated with foot complications. The same effect was detected for nephropathy in the time >10 years after T2DM diagnosis. For higher age at diagnosis and use of insulin, however, a negative association was retrieved. CONCLUSION: Male gender and several diabetes-related comorbidities were identified as risk factors for subsequent initial foot complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. These findings suggest that personalized early detection of patients at increased risk might be feasible by using information on demographics, medical history and comorbidities.

Risk factors for diabetic foot complications in type 2 diabetes-A systematic review.

Aims: With increasing numbers of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) worldwide, the number of associated diabetic foot complications might also increase. This systematic review was performed to summarize published data about risk factors for the diabetic foot (DF) syndrome in order to improve the identification of high-risk patients. Materials and methods: Six electronic databases were searched for publications up to August 2019 using predefined stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Of 9,476 identified articles, 31 articles from 28 different study populations fulfilled the criteria for our evaluation. The overall quality of the studies was good, and the risk of bias was low. There was large heterogeneity among the studies concerning study protocols and patient populations analysed. A total of 79 risk factors were analysed within this review. The majority of studies described a consistently positive association with different outcomes of interest related to DF for gender, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, poor glycaemic control, insulin use, duration of diabetes, smoking and height. For age, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and body mass index, the results remain inconsistent. Conclusion: A most up-to-date literature review resulted in glycaemic control and smoking as the only amenable risk factors with a consistently positive association for DF. Due to the high personal and financial burden associated with DF and the large heterogeneity among included studies, additional longitudinal studies in large patient populations are necessary to identify more modifiable risk factors that can be used in the prediction and prevention of DF complications.

Covid-19 screening: are forehead temperature measurements during cold outdoor temperatures really helpful?

BACKGROUND: Body temperature control is a frequently used screening test for infectious diseases, such as Covid-19 (Sars-CoV-2). We used this procedure to test the body temperature of staff members in a hospital in Tyrol (Austria), where the Covid-19 disease occurred in March 2020. The hospital is located in a mountain area at 995 m above sea level with low outdoor temperatures during early spring season. Under these conditions, we analyzed whether forehead temperature control offers a sufficient screening tool for infectious diseases. METHODS: Forehead temperature of 101 healthy male and female employees was measured with an infrared thermometer directly after entering the hospital (0 min), followed by further controls after 1 min, 3 min, 5 min and 60 min. We also tracked the outside temperature and the temperature at the entrance hall of the hospital. RESULTS: Complete data of body temperature were available for 46 female and 46 male study participants. The average forehead temperature measured directly after entrance to the hospital was the lowest (0 min) 33.17 ± 1.45 °C, and increased constantly to 34.90 ± 1.49 °C after 1 min, 35.77 ± 1.10 °C after 3 min, 36.08 ± 0.79 °C after 5 min, and 36.6 ± 0.24 °C after 60 min. The outside temperature ranged between -5.5 °C and 0 °C, the indoor temperature had a constant value of 20.5 °C. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that forehead infrared temperature control is not an appropriate tool to screen for infectious disease directly at the entrance of a building, at least during early spring season with cold outdoor temperatures.

Impact of a nutrition education programme on free sugar intake & nutrition-related knowledge in fifth-grade schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to evaluate a 5-week nutrition education programme (ACTION) in fifth-grade schoolchildren in Austria on free sugar intake, nutrition-related knowledge (NRK) and with the RE-AIM framework on the overall public health impact. METHODS: A prospective case-controlled cohort (pre-post design) from seven secondary schools in Vienna tested programme efficacy. NRK was assessed with a 20-item questionnaire and dietary behaviour and free sugar intake with a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. A total of 12 intervention classes (IG) received the programme, conducted by teachers and integrated in the curriculum, and 6 control classes followed their usual curriculum. RESULTS: In 344 children, aged 10.4 (0.8) years, free sugar intake decreased significantly over time in IG by 13% (P=0.001) with a group difference of -10.1 (95% CI -18.8, -1.5; P=0.021) g/day. The food groups 'sweets & pastries', 'soft drinks', 'fast food' and 'salty snacks' mainly contributed to this reduction. Moreover, NRK increased significantly over time in IG with a group difference of 9.0% of correct answers (95% CI 5.8, 12.2; P<0.001; Cohen's d 0.57). The programme was disseminated to 10% of fifth-grade classrooms in Austrian secondary schools and to 12% in Vienna. CONCLUSIONS: The ACTION programme shows potential for public health impact with improving dietary behaviour as free sugar intake, NRK, and its dissemination. It required a minimum of money per schoolchild as the programme was conducted by teachers and was integrated in the curriculum.

Long-term trends in the prescription of antidiabetic drugs: real-world evidence from the Diabetes Registry Tyrol 2012-2018.

INTRODUCTION: Prescription patterns of antidiabetic drugs in the period from 2012 to 2018 were investigated based on the Diabetes Registry Tyrol. To validate the findings, we compared the numbers with trends of different national registries conducted in a comparable period of time. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Medication data, prescription patterns, age groups, antidiabetic therapies and quality parameters (hemoglobin A1c, body mass index, complications) of 10 875 patients with type 2 diabetes from 2012 to 2018 were retrospectively assessed and descriptively analyzed. The changes were assessed using a time series analysis with linear regression and prescription trends were plotted over time. RESULTS: Sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) showed a significant increase in prescription from 2012 to 2018 (p<0.001), as well as metformin (p=0.002), gliptins (p=0.013) and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1a) (p=0.017). Significant reduction in sulfonylurea prescriptions (p<0.001) was observed. Metformin was the most frequently prescribed antidiabetic drug (51.3%), followed by insulin/analogs (34.6%), gliptins (28.2%), SGLT-2i (11.7%), sulfonylurea (9.1%), glitazones (3.7%), GLP-1a (2.8%) and glucosidase inhibitors (0.4%). CONCLUSIONS: In this long-term, real-world study on prescription changes in the Diabetes Registry Tyrol, we observed significant increase in SGLT-2i, metformin, gliptins and GLP-1a prescriptions. In contrast prescriptions for sulfonylureas declined significantly. Changes were consistent over the years 2012-2018. Changes in prescription patterns occurred even before the publication of international and national guidelines. Thus, physicians change their prescription practice not only based on published guidelines, but even earlier on publication of cardiovascular outcome trials.

Multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation improves the long-term functional status of geriatric hip-fracture patients.

BACKGROUND: As the world population ages, the number of hip-related fractures in the elderly is steadily increasing. These fractures generate a major worldwide healthcare problem and frequently lead to deterioration of life quality, mobility and independence in activity of daily life of geriatric patients. At present, many studies have investigated and proved benefits of multidisciplinary orthogeriatric care for elderly hip-fracture patients. Only few studies however, have analyzed treatment concepts for those patients directly following discharge from hospital in specialized rehabilitation centers. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation on the short- and long-term functional status of geriatric patients who suffered from hip fracture. METHODS: A total of 161 hip-fracture patients aged 80 years and above, or additionally 70 years and above suffering from age-typical multimorbidity were included in this study. Patients who had an initial Barthel Index lower than 30 points were excluded from this study, as most of these patients were not able to attend a therapy at the rehabilitation center due to a poor functional status. The patients were separated into two subgroups dependent on the availability of treatment spots at the rehabilitation center. No other item was used to discriminate between the groups. Group A (n = 95) stayed an average of 21 days at an inpatient rehabilitation center that specialized in geriatric patients. Group B (n = 66) underwent the standard postoperative treatment and were sent home with further treatment by their general practitioner, nursing staff and physiotherapists. To evaluate the patients' functional status over the course of time we used the Barthel Index, which was evaluated for every patient on the day of discharge, as well as during checkups after 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: The average Barthel Index at the day of discharge was 57.79 ± 14.92 points for Group A and 56.82 ± 18.76 points for Group B (p = 0.431). After 3 months, the average Barthel Index was 82.43 points for Group A and 73.11 points for group B (p = 0.005). In the 6-month checkup Group A's average Barthel Index was 83.95 points and Group B's was 74.02 points (p = 0.002). After 12 months, patients from Group A had an average Barthel Index of 81.21 while patients from Group B had an average Barthel Index of 69.85 (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal a significantly better outcome concerning both, short-term and long-term functional status after 3, 6 and 12 months for geriatric hip-fracture patients, who underwent an inpatient treatment in a rehabilitation center following the initial therapy.

Will the COVID-19 pandemic slow down in the Northern hemisphere by the onset of summer? An epidemiological hypothesis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected most countries of the world. As corona viruses are highly prevalent in the cold season, the question remains whether or not the pandemic will improve with increasing temperatures in the Northern hemisphere. We use data from a primary care registry of almost 15,000 patients over 20 years to retrieve information on viral respiratory infection outbreaks. Our analysis suggests that the severity of the pandemic will be softened by the seasonal change to summer.

[Diabetic neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome (Update 2019)]. / Diabetische Neuropathie und diabetischer Fuß (Update 2019).

These are the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of diabetic neuropathy and diabetic foot. Diabetic neuropathy comprises a number of mono- and polyneuropathies, plexopathies, radiculopathies and autonomic neuropathy.The position statement summarizes characteristic clinical symptoms and techniques for diagnostic assessment of diabetic neuropathy, including the complex situation of the diabetic foot syndrome. Recommendations for the therapeutic management of diabetic neuropathy, especially for the control of pain in sensorimotor neuropathy, are provided. The needs to prevent and treat diabetic foot syndrome are summarized.

[Diagnosis and insulin therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus (Update 2019)]. / Diagnostik und Therapie des Typ 1 Diabetes mellitus (Update 2019).

This guideline summarizes diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, including accompanying autoimmune disorders, insulin therapy regimens and glycemic target values.