Metabolomic insights into maternal and neonatal complications in pregnancies affected by type 1 diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Type 1 diabetes in pregnancy is associated with suboptimal pregnancy outcomes, attributed to maternal hyperglycaemia and offspring hyperinsulinism (quantifiable by cord blood C-peptide). We assessed metabolomic patterns associated with risk factors (maternal hyperglycaemia, diet, BMI, weight gain) and perinatal complications (pre-eclampsia, large for gestational age [LGA], neonatal hypoglycaemia, hyperinsulinism) in the Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Women with Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy Trial (CONCEPTT). METHODS: A total of 174 CONCEPTT participants gave ≥1 non-fasting serum sample for the biorepository at 12 gestational weeks (147 women), 24 weeks (167 women) and 34 weeks (160 women) with cord blood from 93 infants. Results from untargeted metabolite analysis (ultrahigh performance LC-MS) are presented as adjusted logistic/linear regression of maternal and cord blood metabolites, risk factors and perinatal complications using a modified Bonferroni limit of significance for dependent variables. RESULTS: Maternal continuous glucose monitoring time-above-range (but not BMI or excessive gestational weight gain) was associated with increased triacylglycerols in maternal blood and increased carnitines in cord blood. LGA, adiposity, neonatal hypoglycaemia and offspring hyperinsulinism showed distinct metabolite profiles. LGA was associated with increased carnitines, steroid hormones and lipid metabolites, predominantly in the third trimester. However, neonatal hypoglycaemia and offspring hyperinsulinism were both associated with metabolite changes from the first trimester, featuring triacylglycerols or dietary phenols. Pre-eclampsia was associated with increased abundance of phosphatidylethanolamines, a membrane phospholipid, at 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Altered lipid metabolism is a key pathophysiological feature of type 1 diabetes pregnancy. New strategies for optimising maternal diet and insulin dosing from the first trimester are needed to improve pregnancy outcomes in type 1 diabetes.

The effectiveness of social media intervention in people with diabetes: An integrative review.

AIM: This integrative review aimed to synthesise the available quantitative and qualitative studies on the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education (DSME) delivered through social media on glycaemic control (HbA1c), knowledge, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), anxiety, depression and self-efficacy in people with diabetes mellitus. BACKGROUND: DSME is the main component of diabetes management which contributes to behavioural changes and the improvement of metabolic control and self-monitoring skills. Due to limited face-to-face access to healthcare services, social media has increasingly been used to deliver DSME for people with diabetes. However, there is a paucity of reviews addressing the effectiveness of using social media in delivering DSME. DESIGN: An integrative review was conducted based on Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) methodology. METHODS: The following databases were searched for relevant studies published between 2000 and 2020: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, EMBASE, EMCare and Google Scholar. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews was used. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Facebook and WhatsApp were the most common social media platforms used to deliver DSME intervention. Nurses were the most frequent DSME providers. The duration and content of DSME in the reviewed studies varied. Consistent positive outcomes were found on glycaemic control, diabetic knowledge and self-efficacy. No studies considered the effect of DSME on HRQoL, anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Social media DSME can be effective in reducing HbA1c levels, increasing diabetic knowledge and self-efficacy. Further studies are needed to examine the effectiveness of using social media to deliver DSME intervention on HRQoL, anxiety and depression. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This review provides nurses and healthcare professionals with evidence to support the use of social media to deliver DSME for people with diabetes. DSME delivered via social media supported by nurses would overcome limitations of face-to-face delivery such as geographical distance, travelling time, or other limited resources by patients with diabetes.

International comparison of glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes: an update and extension.

AIMS: To update and extend a previous cross-sectional international comparison of glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Data were obtained for 520,392 children and adults with type 1 diabetes from 17 population and five clinic-based data sources in countries or regions between 2016 and 2020. Median HbA1c (IQR) and proportions of individuals with HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%), 58-74 mmol/mol (7.5-8.9%) and ≥75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) were compared between populations for individuals aged <15, 15-24 and ≥25 years. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) relative to ≥58 mmol/mol (≥7.5%), stratified and adjusted for sex, age and data source. Where possible, changes in the proportion of individuals in each HbA1c category compared to previous estimates were calculated. RESULTS: Median HbA1c varied from 55 to 79 mmol/mol (7.2 to 9.4%) across data sources and age groups so a pooled estimate was deemed inappropriate. OR (95% CI) for HbA1c < 58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) were 0.91 (0.90-0.92) for women compared to men, 1.68 (1.65-1.71) for people aged <15 years and 0.81 (0.79-0.82) aged15-24 years compared to those aged ≥25 years. Differences between populations persisted after adjusting for sex, age and data source. In general, compared to our previous analysis, the proportion of people with an HbA1c  < 58 mmol/l (<7.5%) increased and proportions of people with HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥9.0%) decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Glycaemic control of type 1 diabetes continues to vary substantially between age groups and data sources. While some improvement over time has been observed, glycaemic control remains sub-optimal for most people with Type 1 diabetes.

COMPARATIVE PHARMACOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SELF-CONTROL OF DIABETES MELLITUS USING GLUCOMETERS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To pharmacoeconomic analysis of direct medical costs for self-control of diabetes in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Our observational, cross-sectional study aims at finding out the real costs of covering expenses in order to make decisions on the reimbursement of self-control means. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 1) International and national clinical guidelines for diabetes; 2) information about the prices of glucometers, test strips from online pharmacy services. Systematization, generalization and pharmacoeconomic analysis of direct medical costs were used in the study. RESULTS: Results: Based on the generalization of recommendations on the frequency of blood glucose control, 3 scenarios were identified, according to which the costs were calculated: Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes (insulin therapy); Type 2 diabetes (oral hypoglycemic therapy). The authors conducted pharmacoeconomic analysis of direct medical costs for self-control of DM for PWD in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The study shows that the lowest cost of self-control is provided in Ukraine, in addition, Ukraine has a wider choice of glucometers and test strips. It was revealed that the pharmaceutical markets for glycometers in the three countries depends on the import of equipment. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It is advisable to introduce in Ukraine the reimbursement of self-control devices, namely, glucometers and test strips for all categories of PWD, which will contribute to self-control and, as a result, will be able to prevent the development of complications. Certification of continuous glucose monitoring systems will increase access to new technologies that are already widely used in many countries.

One-step synthesis of nitrogen, boron co-doped fluorescent carbon nanoparticles for glucose detection.

Heteroatom-doped carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have attracted considerable attention due to an effective improvement in their intrinsic properties. Here, a facile and simple synthesis of nitrogen, boron co-doped carbon nanoparticles (NB-CNPs) from a sole precursor, 3-aminophenylboronic acid, was performed via a one-step solid-phase approach. Because of the presence of boronic acid, NB-CNPs can be used directly as a fluorescent probe for glucose. Based on a boronic acid-triggered specific reaction, we developed a simple NB-CNP probe without surface modification for the detection of glucose. When glucose was introduced, the fluorescence of NB-CNPs was suppressed through a surface-quenching states mechanism. Obvious fluorescence quenching allowed the highly sensitive determination of glucose with a limit of detection of 1.8 µM. Moreover, the proposed method has been successfully used to detect glucose in urine from people with diabetes, suggesting potential application in sensing glucose.

Network analysis of depressive and anxiety symptoms in older Chinese adults with diabetes mellitus.

Background: The move away from investigating mental disorders as whole using sum scores to the analysis of symptom-level interactions using network analysis has provided new insights into comorbidities. The current study explored the dynamic interactions between depressive and anxiety symptoms in older Chinese adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) and identified central and bridge symptoms in the depression-anxiety network to provide potential targets for prevention and intervention for depression and anxiety. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with data from the 2017-2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). A regularized partial correlation network for depressive and anxiety symptoms was estimated based on self-reported scales completed by 1685 older adults with DM aged 65 years or older. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) and the Seven-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), respectively. Expected influence (EI) and bridge expected influence (BEI) indices were calculated for each symptom. Results: According to cutoff scores indicating the presence of depression and anxiety, the prevalences of depression and anxiety in our sample were 52.9% and 12.8%, respectively. The comorbidity rate of depression and anxiety was 11.5%. The six edges with the strongest regularized partial correlations were between symptoms from the same disorder. "Feeling blue/depressed", "Nervousness or anxiety", "Uncontrollable worry", "Trouble relaxing", and "Worry too much" had the highest EI values. "Nervousness or anxiety" and "Everything was an effort" exhibited the highest BEI values. Conclusion: Central and bridge symptoms were highlighted in this study. Targeting these symptoms may be effective in preventing the comorbidity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and facilitate interventions in older Chinese adults with DM who are at risk for or currently have depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Metaphoric perceptions of individuals with diabetes in Turkey: A content analysis.

Background: The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus adversely impacts the quality of life due to treatment, changes in daily life, functional disability, and emerging complications. Using metaphors to convey perceptions of diseases and life experiences is crucial for understanding healthcare behaviors. Objective: This study aimed to explore the metaphorical perceptions of "diabetes" and "being a person with diabetes" within a sample group of individuals with diabetes in Turkey. Methods: A qualitative design was employed to investigate the metaphoric perceptions of 72 people with diabetes. Data were collected face-to-face between 15 May and June 2023 using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: From the statements of the individuals with diabetes in the sample, seven metaphoric themes related to diabetes - "pain and distress, helplessness and hopelessness, instability, attention and sensitivity, captivity, positive outlook and acceptance, deprivation" - and six metaphoric themes concerning being a person with diabetes - "suffocation and distress, helplessness, powerlessness and disappointment, captivity, attention and sensitivity, guilt, and being worn out" - were identified. Commonly recurring sub-themes with negative connotations included "darkness, well, convict, prison, captivity, microbe, infectious disease, a hot flush, guilt, clouding life, and being ruined." Some positively framed statements included "friend, traffic sign, and driving a car." Conclusion: The majority of patients in the study used negative metaphors, with fewer expressing positive sentiments regarding the necessity of accepting and paying attention to the disease. Defining individuals' metaphorical perceptions of their disease may enable the provision of better quality and holistic care. Nurses, in particular, play a crucial role in facilitating behavioral changes for patients with diabetes to achieve self-management.

Early diabetic eye damage: Comparing detection methods using diagnostic power.

It is now clear that retinal neuropathy precedes classical microvascular retinopathy in diabetes. Therefore, tests that underpin useful new endpoints must provide high diagnostic power well before the onset of moderate diabetic retinopathy. Hence, we compare detection methods of early diabetic eye damage. We reviewed data from a range of functional and structural studies of early diabetic eye disease and computed standardized effect size as a measure of diagnostic power, allowing the studies to be compared quantitatively. We then derived minimum performance criteria for tests to provide useful clinical endpoints. This included the criteria that tests should be rapid and easy so that children with type 1 diabetes can be followed into adulthood with the same tests. We also defined attributes that lend test data to further improve performance using Machine/Deep Learning. Data from a new form of objective perimetry suggested that the criteria are achievable.

The Need for Diabetes Advance Directives to Support the Care of People With Diabetes.

It is time to adopt an advance directive specific to diabetes management. Research shows that people with diabetes in the hospital are often removed from existing diabetes self-management, resulting in poorer outcomes. Diabetes advance directives, which outline preferred diabetes self-management in scenarios such as hospitalization or outpatient procedures, are key for enabling patients with diabetes to continue successful diabetes management including use of existing diabetes technology. A diabetes advance directive is a new concept for both patients and providers that can improve clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes. Given the risk of harm in the absence of such a document, diabetes advance directives can be a useful new tool for patients and providers and to aid in the discussion, care planning, and self-management with diabetes technology.

Lasting effects of a brief, scalable diabetes conversation map psychosocial intervention on health beliefs and health behaviors: A large randomized controlled trial in Taiwan.

The current study aimed to examine the effects of a conversation map (CM) psychosocial intervention on diet and exercise health beliefs and health behaviors among people with diabetes (PWD). Based on the Health Belief Model, this large-scale randomized controlled trial (N = 615) investigated whether an added 1-h theory-driven CM intervention (N = 308), compared with usual shared-care service only (N = 307), could significantly better improve PWD's diet and exercise health beliefs and health behaviors at 3-month posttest. Multivariate linear autoregression analysis demonstrated that, controlling for baseline, the CM group had significantly better diet (ß = .270) and exercise (ß = .280) health behaviors at 3-month posttest than the control group. The intervention effects on health behavior change were primarily mediated through desired changes in targeted health beliefs, as informed by the theory. For example, as regards diet, the CM group had significantly greater increases in perceived susceptibility (ß = .121), perceived benefits (ß = .174), and cues to action (ß = .268), as well as greater decreases in perceived barriers (ß = -.156), between pretest and 3-month posttest. In conclusion, future diabetes care may integrate brief theory-driven CM interventions, as in this study, into current shared-care practice to help PWD improve diabetes self-management health behaviors more effectively. Implications for practice, policy, theory, and research are discussed.

The COVID19 pandemic - Perspectives from people living with diabetes.

During the unprecedented times of the COVID 19 pandemic, the lives of people with diabetes have been severely impacted. This article discusses the extent of this impact presenting the obstacles and challenges from the perspective of the patient, including specifics of practical day-to-day diabetes self-management routines. Since the COVID19 outbreak, certain psychosocial factors have been amplifieddue tothe manner in whichmainstream media and policy makers have carelessly emphasized the vulnerability of people with diabetes. The authors discuss the increased importance of support networksdue to people living in isolation and quarantine. Anewlayer of complexity has been added to the already difficult task of managing one's diabetes and ithasincreasedanxiety and stress levels. Guidelines and tips for people living with diabetes are discussed based on theauthors' personalexperiences as well as those ofthe diabetes associations they work with.

Treating Dyslipidemias in the Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults with Diabetes Mellitus.

People with diabetes mellitus (DM), especially those who are older, are at higher risk for premature morbidity and mortality related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Clinical practice guidelines recommend statin therapy for people with DM ages 40 to 75 years. The evidence for those greater than 75 years of age is relatively limited at present. Other health problems should be considered when planning ASCVD primary prevention in adults ages greater than 75 years with DM. Clinicians should discuss the risks and benefits of each plan with these patients and their caregivers.

The Do-It-Yourself Artificial Pancreas: A Comprehensive Review.

Diabetes technology (DT) has accomplished tremendous progress in the past decades, aiming to convert these technologies as viable treatment options for the benefit of patients with diabetes (PWD). Despite the advances, PWD face multiple challenges with the efficient management of type 1 diabetes. Most of the promising and innovative technological developments are not accessible to a larger proportion of PWD. The slow pace of development and commercialization, overpricing, and lack of peer support are few such factors leading to inequitable access to the innovations in DT. Highly motivated and tech-savvy members of the diabetes community have therefore come up with the #WeAreNotWaiting movement and started developing their own do-it-yourself artificial pancreas systems (DIYAPS) integrating continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pumps, and smartphone technology to run openly shared algorithms to achieve appreciable glycemic control and quality of life (QoL). These systems use tailor-made interventions to achieve automated insulin delivery (AID) and are not commercialized or regulated. Online social network megatrends such as GitHub, CGM in the Cloud, and Twitter have been providing platforms to share these open source technologies and user experiences. Observational studies, anecdotal evidence, and real-world patient stories revealed significant improvements in time in range (TIR), time in hypoglycemia (TIHypo), HbA1c levels, and QoL after the initiation of DIYAPS. But this unregulated do-it-yourself (DIY) approach is perceived with great circumspection by healthcare professionals (HCP), regulatory bodies, and device manufacturers, making users the ultimate risk-bearers. The use of the regularized CGM and insulin pump with unauthorized algorithms makes them off-label and has been a matter of great concern. Besides these, lack of safety data, funding or insurance coverage, ethical, and legal issues are roadblocks to the unanimous acceptance of these systems among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A multi-agency approach is necessary to evaluate the risks, and to delineate the incumbency and liability of clinicians, regulatory bodies, and manufacturers associated with the use of DIYAPS. Understanding the potential of DIYAPS as the need of the present time, many regional and international agencies have come with strategies to appraise its safety as well as to support education and training on its use. Here we provide a comprehensive description of the DIYAPS-including their origin, existing literature, advantages, and disadvantages that can help the industry leaders, clinicians, and PWD to make the best use of these systems.

Social Media Use By People With Diabetes In Saudi Arabia: A Survey About Purposes, Benefits And Risks.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the use of social media by people with diabetes in Saudi Arabia and to know the purposes, benefits and risks of its use. METHODS: In this study a cross-sectional survey was carried out with a random sample of 158 people with all type of diabetes living in Saudi Arabia. The survey was distributed using WhatsApp and Twitter accounts of diabetic associations in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents were females (69%), and most of them had type 1 diabetes (70%). Almost half (47%) of the sampled population stated that they used social media for obtaining information related to diabetes; 34% employed these platforms to get information not linked to diabetes; and the rest, 19%, were not users of social media. Also, the participants used these tools for different purposes; and the most used social media for obtaining diabetes related information were WhatsApp (67%), Twitter (54%) and Snapchat (39%). The principal benefits involved in the utilization of social media were raising awareness about diabetes (78%), improving education among patients (78%), and facilitation of communication between patients and doctors (44%). The respondents pondered that breaching of patient privacy (5%) and dissemination of inaccurate information (30%) were dangers implicated in the use of social media. CONCLUSION: The outcomes indicated that WhatsApp was the social media most used by the participants to communicate and obtain information about diabetes. According to the participants, social media platforms were useful to improve education, awareness and communication among people with diabetes, family and doctors. However, due to the risks involved in the use of social media, health and educational organizations must work to ensure that the published information is accurate and does not affect the privacy of patients and healthcare providers.

Building Bridges Through Collaboration and Consensus: Expanding Awareness and Use of Peer Support and Peer Support Communities Among People With Diabetes, Caregivers, and Health Care Providers.

Diabetes, regardless of type, is a complex disease. Successful management to achieve both short- and long-term health goals and outcomes is highly dependent on learning, mastery, and regular implementation and execution of self-care behaviors. The importance of a positive mental outlook and minimization of psychosocial barriers to care is increasingly identified as important in managing the whole person with diabetes and, as appropriate, the caregivers. Ongoing support from HCP and increasingly ongoing support from peers are critical elements of quality diabetes care. With the availability of virtually accessible technologies for social media and networking, the volume of peer support among people with diabetes and their caregivers has increased exponentially and will likely continue to do so. With the value of ongoing peer support recognized as an important element in diabetes health, a growing number of peer support communities and increasing engagement in these communities among some diabetes educators, the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) embarked on an initiative to more formally work with diabetes peer support communities and their leaders. To initiate this effort AADE held and supported a consensus meeting in 2017. This article reviews the history and goals of this effort and details the meeting outcomes. It also discusses the collaborations completed since the initial meeting along with plans for the near future. This collaboration is unique and presents a model for similar endeavors in diabetes or other chronic diseases.

The psychological impact of living with diabetes: Descriptive findings from the DAWN2 study in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: The descriptive findings from the Danish sample of the second Diabetes, Attitudes, Wishes, and Needs (DAWN2) study are presented, with specific focus on the psychological impact of living with diabetes and quality of life for people with diabetes and family members of people with diabetes. METHOD: 502 people with diabetes over the age of 18 and 122 family members completed questionnaires online, by telephone or in person, including validated measures of diabetes-related distress, emotional well-being and quality of life as well as other measures of psychological well-being. RESULTS: People with diabetes reported that living with diabetes was a psychological burden, with individuals taking insulin medication or diagnosed with type 1 diabetes reporting the most distress. Half of all family members sampled reported that living with diabetes impacted them negatively. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of emotional distress found in people taking insulin medication are likely due to greater disease severity and associated self-care burdens. Care and support programmes may need to be revised in order to better address these issues. Moreover, psychological support programmes may need to be extended to include family members that experience distress as a result of living with diabetes.

Proceedings of the 5th International DAWN Summit 2014: Acting together to make person-centred diabetes care a reality.

Almost 250 stakeholders from across the world, representing all aspects of diabetes, attended the 5th International DAWN Summit. The summit focussed on the issues raised by the recently published DAWN2 study, placing particular emphasis on promoting the concept of person-centred diabetes care. Discussions between the delegates took place throughout a variety of sessions, with presentations, interactive exchanges and workshops providing a platform for clarification of common global priorities and opportunities for joint action. Following the summit, these ideas were developed further, leading to the creation of a Global Action Framework. The framework aims to support the ongoing local implementation of change in response to the DAWN2 results, while helping enable person-centred diabetes care to become a reality at all levels.

Effective strategies for encouraging behavior change in people with diabetes.

Behavioral management of diabetes leads to better health outcomes. This paper reviews the available literature on facilitators of behavior change in people with diabetes and highlights approaches and strategies diabetes care providers can utilize. The research and clinical evidence points to the critical nature of considering the content and structure of recommendations, and utilizing problem solving and teamwork approaches. Furthermore, close attention to individual and community factors will optimize behavior change. These factors include health literacy, community infrastructure, support within the family, and whether there are co-occurring eating and mood issues. Recommendations are provided to optimize communication and embed behavior change approaches in clinical and community encounters.

Exploring diabetes type 1-related stigma.

BACKGROUND: Empowerment of people with diabetes means integrating diabetes with identity. However, others' stigmatization can influence it. Although diabetes is so prevalent among Iranians, there is little knowledge about diabetes-related stigma in Iran. The present study explored diabetes-related stigma in people living with type 1 diabetes in Isfahan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A conventional content analysis was used with in-depth interview with 26 people with and without diabetes from November 2011 to July 2012. RESULTS: A person with type 1 diabetes was stigmatized as a miserable human (always sick and unable, death reminder, and intolerable burden), rejected marriage candidate (busy spouse, high-risk pregnant), and deprived of a normal life [prisoner of (to must), deprived of pleasure]. Although, young adults with diabetes undergo all aspects of the social diabetes-related stigma; in their opinion they were just deprived of a normal life. CONCLUSION: It seems that in Isfahan, diabetes-related stigma is of great importance. In this way, conducting an appropriate intervention is necessary to improve the empowerment process in people with type 1 diabetes in order to reduce the stigma in the context.