Fasting and post-prandial glycemia and their correlation with glycated hemoglobin in Type 2 diabetes

The association between self-monitoring of blood glucose and HbA1c in type 2 diabetes

AIMS

Fasting capillary blood glucose (FCG) and postprandial capillary blood glucose (PCG) both contribute to HbA1c in diabetes. Due to the collinearity between FCG and PCG, the HbA1c prediction model could not be developed with both FCG and PCG by linear regression. The study aimed to develop an HbA1c prediction model with both FCG and PCG to estimate HbA1c in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A total of 1,642 patients with type 2 diabetes who had at least three FCG and three PCG measurements in the past 3 months were enrolled in the study. The mean of FCG (MEAN_FCG) and PCG (MEAN_PCG) were calculated for each patient. The patients were randomized into exploratory and validation groups. The former was used for developing HbA1c prediction models and the latter for performance evaluation.

RESULTS

The new HbA1c prediction model using ridge regression expressed as HbA1c (%) = 0.320×MEAN_FCG (mmol/L) + 0.187×MEAN_PCG (mmol/L) + 2.979, R² = 0.668. Compared to linear regression models developed with FCG, PCG, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose (2-h PPG), respectively, the new HbA1c prediction model showed the smallest mean square error, root mean square error, mean absolute error. The concordance correlation coefficient of the new HbA1c prediction model and the linear regression models with MEAN_FCG, MEAN_PCG, FPG or 2-h PPG were 0.810,0.773,0.749,0.715,0.672.

CONCLUSION

We have developed a new HbA1c prediction model with both FCG and PCG, which showed better prediction ability and good agreement.

The agreement between measured HbA1c and optimized target HbA1c based on the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 8-items (DASC-8): A cross-sectional study of elderly patients with diabetes

AIM

To investigate the achievement of individualized target HbA1c based on the Japanese guideline after geriatric assessment with the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 8-items (DASC-8) and to evaluate patient characteristics acting as barriers to achieving the target HbA1c in elderly outpatients with diabetes.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 303 Japanese outpatients aged ≥65 years with diabetes. Their health status was measured using the DASC-8. The target HbA1c was optimized for each patient by the guideline based on the DASC-8 score and use of drugs potentially associated with severe hypoglycemia. Patient characteristics related to the agreement between measured HbA1c and target HbA1c were extracted by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age was 73.0 years and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.2 kg/m² . The agreement between measured HbA1c and target HbA1c was 43.9% (95% confidence interval: 38.4%-50.0%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the agreement in patients with drugs potentially associated with severe hypoglycemia was significantly lower than in those without these drugs (37.8% vs. 60.5%, P = 0.0004). In patients with these drugs, higher BMI (P = 0.0271) and higher fasting plasma glucose (P = 0.0034) were independent related factors for measured HbA1c being higher than target HbA1c. Vulnerable elderly patients (P = 0.0116) and not taking sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor (P = 0.0186) were independent related factors for inappropriately lower HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS

The agreement between measured HbA1c and target HbA1c was low in elderly patients with diabetes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; ••: ••-••.

Glycaemic responses in Asian and non-Asian people with type 2 diabetes initiating insulin glargine 100 units/mL: A patient-level pooled analysis of 16 randomised controlled trials

AIMS

To compare outcomes between Asian and non-Asian patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) initiating insulin glargine 100 units (U)/mL (Gla-100) in randomised controlled clinical trials.

METHODS

Post hoc analysis of patient-level data (Asian n = 235; non-Asian n = 3351) from 16 trials.

RESULTS

At baseline, Asian patients were younger with lower body mass index (BMI), fasting C-peptide, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) than non-Asian patients (all P < .001). Asian patients had a higher mean glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at Week 24 and less reduction in HbA1c from baseline (7.4% vs. 7.2%; -1.3% vs. -1.6%, respectively; P = .0001), and were less likely to achieve HbA1c <7.0% (40% vs. 47%; P = .002) than non-Asian patients. Reductions in FPG and rates of hypoglycaemia were similar between Asian and non-Asian patients. Asian patients had less weight gain than non-Asian patients (+1.3 vs. +1.9 kg, respectively, P = .013).

CONCLUSIONS

In our post hoc meta-analysis, Gla-100 effectively lowers HbA1c and FPG in Asian patients with T2D uncontrolled on OADs with similar incidence of hypoglycaemia and less absolute weight gain compared with non-Asian patients. At a similar FPG reduction, fewer Asian patients achieved HbA1c target <7.0%, suggesting that prandial glucose needs to be addressed.

Projected long-term outcomes in patients with type 1 diabetes treated with fast-acting insulin aspart vs conventional insulin aspart in the UK setting

AIM

To assess the impact of faster aspart vs insulin aspart on long-term clinical outcomes and costs for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in the UK setting.

METHODS

The QuintilesIMS CORE Diabetes Model was used to project clinical outcomes and costs over patient lifetimes in a cohort with data on baseline characteristics from the "onset 1" trial. Treatment effects were taken from the 26-week main phase of the onset 1 trial, with costs and utilities based on literature review. Future costs and clinical benefits were discounted at 3.5% annually.

RESULTS

Projections indicated that faster aspart was associated with improved discounted quality-adjusted life expectancy (by 0.13 quality-adjusted life-years) vs insulin aspart. Improved clinical outcomes resulted from fewer diabetes-related complications and a delayed time to their onset with faster aspart. Faster aspart was found to be associated with reduced costs vs insulin aspart (cost savings of £1715), resulting from diabetes-related complications avoided and reduced treatment costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Faster aspart was associated with improved clinical outcomes and cost savings vs insulin aspart for patients with T1DM in the UK setting.

Predictors of response to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials

AIMS

The aim of the present meta-analysis is the identification of the characteristics of patients, which predict the efficacy on HbA1c of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA).

METHODS

A Medline and Embase search for "exenatide" OR "liraglutide" OR "albiglutide" OR "dulaglutide" OR "lixisenatide" was performed, collecting randomized clinical trials (duration > 12 weeks) up to September 2016, comparing GLP-1 RA at the maximal approved dose with placebo or active drugs. Furthermore, unpublished studies were searched in the www.clinicaltrials.gov register. For meta-analyses, the outcome considered were 24- and 52-week HbA1c. Separate analyses were performed, whenever possible, for subgroups of trials based on several inclusion criteria. In addition, meta-regression analyses were performed for comparisons for which 10 or more trails were available.

RESULTS

A total of 92 trials fulfilling the inclusion criteria were identified. In placebo-controlled trials (n = 41), the 24-week mean reduction of HbA1c with GLP-1 RA was - 0.75 [- 0.87; - 0.63]%. Shorter-acting molecules appear to be more effective in patients with lower fasting glucose, whereas longer-acting agents in patients with higher fasting hyperglycaemia. Obesity and duration of diabetes do not seem to moderate the efficacy of GLP-1 RA, whereas in non-Caucasians and older patients liraglutide could be less effective. At 52 weeks, only 9 placebo-controlled trials were available for preventing any reliable analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a variety of approaches (meta-analyses of subgroup of trials, meta-regression, systematic review of subgroup analyses in individual trials, and meta-analyses of subgroups of patients), we identified some putative predictors of efficacy of GLP-1 RA, which deserve further investigation.

Comparison of insulin intensification strategies with insulin lispro low mixture twice daily versus basal insulin glargine and prandial insulin lispro once daily in East Asian and Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

This analysis evaluated efficacy and safety of insulin lispro low mixture (LM25) twice daily (breakfast and dinner) versus basal insulin glargine (bedtime) plus prandial insulin lispro (IGL) once daily before the largest meal in East Asian (EA) and Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who failed to reach glycemic targets on basal insulin glargine with metformin and/or pioglitazone.

METHODS

Included patients had an HbA1c ≥7.5% and ≤10.5% and fasting plasma glucose ≤6.7 mmol/L. Primary outcome was HbA1c change at 24 weeks.

RESULTS

Baseline mean HbA1c was numerically similar between groups in EA (n = 79) and Caucasian (n = 278) patients. Mean (± SD) HbA1c decreased significantly from baseline to 24 weeks for LM25 and IGL in both subpopulations (EA: -1.32 ± 0.96% and -0.89 ± 0.96%; Caucasian: -1.24 ± 0.98% and -1.04 ± 0.97; all P < 0.0001). The respective proportions reaching HbA1c ≤7.0% at Week 24 in the LM25 and IGL groups were 33.3% and 22.9% (EA) and 37.2% and 34.1% (Caucasian). Mean (± SD) rates of hypoglycemia per 30 days in the LM25 and IGL groups were 0.74 ± 1.16 and 1.22 ± 1.36 (EA) and 1.38 ± 2.04 and 1.65 ± 2.43 (Caucasian). Mean (± SD) weight gain changes in the LM25 and IGL groups were 0.62 ± 2.78 and 0.51 ± 2.63 kg (EA) and 1.77 ± 2.91 and 0.67 ± 3.09 kg (Caucasian).

CONCLUSIONS

Both strategies improved glycemic control in a small group of EA and Caucasian patients not adequately controlled on insulin glargine plus metformin and/or pioglitazone.

Oxidative stress, protein glycation and nutrition--interactions relevant to health and disease throughout the lifecycle

Protein glycation has been studied for over a century now and plays an important role in disease pathogenesis throughout the lifecycle. Strongly related to diabetic complications, glycation of Hb has become the gold standard method for diabetes diagnosis and monitoring. It is however attracting attention in normoglycaemia as well lately. Longitudinal studies increasingly suggest a positive relationship between glycation and the risk of chronic diseases in normoglycaemic individuals, but the mechanisms behind this association remain unclear. The interaction between glycation and oxidative stress may be particularly relevant in the normoglycaemic context, as suggested by recent epidemiological and in vitro evidence. In that context nutritional and lifestyle factors with an influence on redox status, such as smoking, fruit and vegetable and antioxidants consumption, may have the capacity to promote or inhibit glycation. However, experimental data from controlled trials are lacking the quality and rigour needed to reach firm conclusions. In the present review, we discuss the importance of glycation for health through the lifecycle and focus on the importance of oxidative stress as a driver for glycation. The importance of nutrition to modulate glycation is discussed, based on the evidence available and recommendations towards higher quality future research are made.

Fasting and post-prandial glucose and diabetic complication. A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The reduction of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels is recognized as a useful means of preventing diabetic complications. HbA1c results from both fasting and post-prandial glycemia, and therefore FPG and PPG could provide different, and independent, contributions to long-term outcomes. Aim of the present meta-analysis is the assessment of the effects of reduction of FPG and PPG on cardiovascular outcomes in randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

An extensive search of Medline was performed for all randomized trials with a duration of at least 52 weeks and performed on glucose-lowering agents. Differences in the incidence of cardiovascular events, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were assessed in trials comparing different treatments with a between-group difference in FPG or PPG at endpoint greater than 1 mmol/l.

RESULTS

The Mantel-Haenszel Odds Ratio (MH-OR) for cardiovascular events and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients on more intensive treatments, in trials with a between-group difference of PPG greater than 1 mmol/l, was not significantly different from controls (MH-OR [95%CI] 0.90 [0.51-1.58] for MACE); on the contrary, more intensive treatment of FPG produced a significantly lower all-cause (MH-OR 0.90 [0.81-0.99], p = 0.03) and cardiovascular (MH-OR 0.86 [0.76-0.97], p = 0.012) mortality, with no significant effect on the incidence of major cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, reduction of FPG is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality. Data on PPG are still scarce, but they point in the same direction.

Post-prandial glucose and diabetic complications: systematic review of observational studies

Post-prandial hyperglycemia is considered a relevant therapeutic target in type 2 diabetic patients, and it could represent per se an independent risk factor for diabetic complications. Aim of the present systematic review is to collect and summarize evidence from observational studies on the relationship between post-prandial glucose (PPG) and cardiovascular or microvascular disease in patients with diabetes. An extensive search of Medline (any date up to December 31, 2010) was performed for all longitudinal epidemiological studies with a cohort design. The following endpoints were taken into consideration: death from any cause; cardiovascular death and micro- and macrovascular complications. The number of epidemiological studies assessing the relationship between PPG and microvascular or cardiovascular disease in subjects with diabetes is surprisingly scarce. In fact, of the 391 retrieved studies, only 8 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most of those investigations enrolled small samples, which in many instances were not representative of the general population. Furthermore, the assessment of PPG varied widely across studies. These considerations prevent any formal meta-analysis. Despite this, the few available studies show that higher PPG is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular death, incidence of major cardiovascular events (including myocardial infarction and stroke), and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Fasting plasma glucose 6-12 weeks after starting insulin glargine predicts likelihood of treatment success: a pooled analysis

AIMS

To evaluate whether fasting plasma glucose values measured early during insulin therapy can identify patients with Type 2 diabetes who may not achieve adequate glycaemic control after 6 months and will require additional treatment.

METHODS

Patient-level data from seven prospective, randomized, controlled studies using treat-to-target methods were pooled to evaluate the efficacy of insulin glargine. Fasting plasma glucose was measured at baseline, week 6 or 8 (6/8) and week 12. HbA(1c) was measured at week 24 to assess glycaemic control.

RESULTS

One thousand and thirty-six patients (56% male, 81% white) were included in the analysis (mean age 56.3 years; duration of diabetes 8.4 years). Baseline mean fasting plasma glucose was 11.2 mmol/l and mean HbA(1c) was 73 mmol/mol (8.8%). After 24 weeks of treatment, mean HbA(1c) decreased to 53 mmol/mol (7.0%); 56% of patients reached a target HbA(1c) ≤ 53 mmol/mol (7.0%). Significant correlations with week 24 HbA(1c) were obtained for fasting plasma glucose measured at week 6/8 and week 12 (r = 0.32; P < 0.0001 for both). Patients with fasting plasma glucose > 10 mmol/l at week 6/8 or week 12 were significantly less likely to achieve the HbA(1c) target at the end of treatment than patients with fasting plasma glucose < 8.9 mmol/l (P < 0.0001 for both). If fasting plasma glucose was > 10 mmol/l at week 6/8 or week 12, patients had only a 27% chance of reaching the HbA(1c) goal.

CONCLUSIONS

Fasting plasma glucose remaining > 10 mmol/l after 6-12 weeks of glargine therapy indicates that reaching target HbA(1c) ≤ 53 mmol/mol (7.0%) is unlikely and calls for individualized attention to consider further therapeutic options.

The effect of genetic variability on the correlation between blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels

The disturbing results of recent clinical trials aimed to control cardiovascular risk of diabetes by aggressive control of blood glucose prompted us to analyze the effect of genetic variability of 2 polymorphic enzymes abundant in red blood cells on the correlation between blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (Hb). Two hundred eighty subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were studied. Adenylate kinase locus 1 (AK₁) and acid phosphatase locus 1 were determined. Correlation between blood glucose and glycated Hb was determined for phenotypes of the 2 systems. The correlation between blood glucose and glycated Hb is higher in carriers of AK₁*2 allele than in subjects with AK₁1 phenotype. The highest coefficient is observed in acid phosphatase locus 1 phenotypes with the highest enzymatic activity; and the lowest, in phenotypes with the lowest activity. Effects of sex, blood glucose level, age, age at onset, and duration of disease have been also considered. Our data are in agreement with recent observation in healthy subjects suggesting a role of genetic factors on glycated Hb level. If glycation of structural and functional protein is dependent not only on blood glucose level but also on genetic factors, these factors could have an important role in the susceptibility and clinical course of diabetes.

Contribution of postprandial glucose to excess hyperglycaemia in Asian type 2 diabetic patients using continuous glucose monitoring

BACKGROUND

previous studies examining the contributions of fasting glucose (FG) and postprandial glucose (PPG) to glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) have yielded conflicting results. We aimed to clarify the contributions of PPG to hyperglycaemia in Asian type 2 diabetic patients using continuous glucose monitoring.

METHODS

continuous glucose monitoring was conducted in 121 non-insulin-using type 2 diabetic outpatients, who were divided into five groups according to quintiles of HbA(1c) (ranging from 5.7 to 12.7%). Glucose area under the curve (AUC) above a glucose value of 5.5 mmol/L 24 or 4 h after meals was defined as AUC(total). Glucose AUC above FG or preprandial glucose levels was defined as AUC(PPG). The contribution of PPG to hyperglycaemia was calculated as (AUC(PPG)/AUC(total) × 100%. The contribution of FG or preprandial glucose was calculated as [(AUC(total) - AUC(PPG))/AUC(total)] × 100%.

RESULTS

the contribution of PPG to either 24-h hyperglycaemia or 4-h hyperglycaemia after meals was significantly higher than FG and preprandial glucose in the lowest quintile of HbA(1c) (both p < 0.001). However, no difference was observed in the other four quintiles. Peak PPG and glucose excursions were higher after breakfast than those after lunch and dinner (p < 0.01 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS

in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes, PPG 24 and 4 h after meals was a predominant contributor to excess hyperglycaemia in well-controlled patients and was equally important as FG or preprandial glucose in moderately to poorly controlled patients with mean HbA(1c) up to 10%.