Prevalence and Predictors of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

AIM: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of DPN in newly diagnosed T2DM patients. BACKGROUND: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is the most common and debilitating complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Newly diagnosed T2DM patients visiting the outpatient department were recruited. Detailed demographic parameters, histories, physical examinations, and biochemical investigations were carried out. Patients were screened for DPN using the Diabetic Neuropathy Symptom (DNS) score, the revised Disability Neuropathy Score (NDS), Vibration Perception Threshold (VPT) using a biosthesiometer, and the 10g SW Monofilament Test (MFT). RESULTS: A total of 350 newly diagnosed T2DM patients (mean age 46.4±13.6 years) were included. The prevalence of DPN was found to be 34% using the combined DNS and NDS scores. VPT was moderately impaired in 18.3% and severely impaired in 12% patients, while MFT revealed a loss of protective sensation in 35.4% patients. After logistic regression analysis, DPN was significantly associated with increasing age (OR 1.08, 95%CI 1.06-1.11), increasing HbA1C levels (OR 1.23, 95%CI 1.05-1.42), increasing TSH levels (OR 1.23, 95%CI 1.05-1.44), presence of hypertension (OR 2.78, 95%CI 1.51-5.11), and reduced BMI (OR 0.9, 95%CI 0.84- 0.99). The sensitivity and specificity of detecting DPN by combining VPT and MFT were 91.6% and 84.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DPN was high even in newly diagnosed T2DM and associated significantly with increasing age, HbA1C levels, TSH levels, hypertension, and reduced BMI. Earlier screening for DPN, along with aggressive control of glycemia, blood pressure, and hypothyroidism, may be beneficial.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Imeglimin: A New Ray of Hope for the Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes is a rapidly growing health challenge and epidemic in many developing countries, including India. India, being the diabetes capital of the world, has the dubious dual distinction of being the leading nations for both undernutrition and overnutrition. Diabetes prevalence has increased in both rural and urban areas, affected the younger population and increased the risk of complications and economic burden. These alarming statistics ring an alarm bell to achieve glycemic targets in the affected population in order to decrease diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. In the recent years, diabetes pathophysiology has been extended from an ominous triad through octet and dirty dozen etc. There is a new scope to target multiple pathways at the molecular level to achieve a better glycemic target and further prevent micro- and macrovascular complications. Mitochondrial dysfunction has a pivotal role in both ß-cell failure and insulin resistance. Hence, targeting this molecular pathway may help with both insulin secretion and peripheral tissue sensitization to insulin. Imeglimin is the latest addition to our anti-diabetic armamentarium. As imeglimin targets, this root cause of defective energy metabolism and insulin resistance makes it a new add-on therapy in different diabetic regimes to achieve the proper glycemic targets. Its good tolerability and efficacy profiles in recent studies shows a new ray of hope in the journey to curtail diabetes-related morbidity.

Sarcopenia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Study of the Modifiable Risk Factors Involved.

(1) Background: Sarcopenia has gained much interest in recent years due to an increase in morbidity. Sarcopenia is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and vice versa. There is a paucity of information regarding the prevalence and predictors of sarcopenia among T2DM individuals. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of sarcopenia among T2DM individuals. (2) Methods: This study included 159 diabetics (cases) and 79 non-diabetics (controls) aged >50 years. The subjects were assessed for demographic and anthropometric parameters. Sarcopenia (according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria) was assessed using Jammer's hydraulic dynamometer for handgrip strength, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for muscle mass, and 6m gait speed. The biochemical investigations included glycated hemoglobin; fasting and prandial glucose; fasting insulin; lipid, renal, liver, and thyroid profiles; serum calcium; phosphorous; vitamin D; and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Appropriate statistical methods were used to determine the significance of each parameter, and a multivariate regression analysis was applied to determine the predictors. (3) Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly higher among the cases than the controls (22.5% vs. 8.86%, p-0.012). Body mass index (BMI) (OR-0.019, CI-0.001-0.248), physical activity (OR-0.45, CI-0.004-0.475), serum calcium levels (OR-0.155, CI-0.035-0.687), hypertension (OR-8.739, CI-1.913-39.922), and neuropathy (OR-5.57, CI-1.258-24.661) were significantly associated with sarcopenia following multivariate regression analysis. (4) Conclusions: T2DM individuals are prone to sarcopenia, especially those with a low BMI, low physical activity, hypertension, neuropathy, and low serum calcium levels. Hence, by modifying these risk factors among the elderly T2DM, sarcopenia can be prevented.

Pituitary Stalk Duplication: A Radiological Surprise in a Child With Short Stature.

Objective: Pituitary stalk abnormalities are one of the causes of hypopituitarism. Isolated pituitary stalk duplication with a single pituitary gland is extremely rare with only a few cases reported to date. The present case has a different clinical picture as compared to the cases that were previously reported in the literature. Case Report: A 2 years 6-month-old male child, a product of nonconsanguineous marriage, presented with short stature, micropenis with unilateral undescended testis, and delayed motor milestones. His bone age was delayed by 6 months. On further evaluation, he was found to be euthyroid, with stimulated growth hormone (GH) and stimulated gonadotropin levels were suboptimal, whereas the cortisol and the prolactin were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary revealed pituitary stalk duplication with a single pituitary gland of normal dimensions and fused tuber cinereum and mammillary body. Discussion: To our knowledge, only 7 cases with isolated pituitary stalk duplication were reported. The presenting complaint could be primarily of hypopituitarism like short stature or a neurologic complaint or ocular abnormality. The pituitary hormone deficiencies are variable with GH deficiency being the most common as seen in our case. Other associated features could be the morning glory disc anomaly, moyamoya disease, pituitary adenoma or hypoplasia, split hypothalamus, and sellar dermoid. Conclusion: Pituitary stalk duplication is a developmental disorder that is diagnosed only by imaging. Patients should be evaluated for hypopituitarism, particularly the GH and gonadotrophins deficiency, and also screened for associated neurologic and ocular abnormalities.