Long-term sensor-augmented pump therapy for neonatal diabetes mellitus: a case series

Use of a long-term continuous glucose monitor for predicting sulfonylurea dose in patients with neonatal diabetes mellitus: a case series

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a monogenic form of diabetes that presents with uncontrolled hyperglycemia during the first 6 months of life. NDM is a rare disease in which gene variants mainly cause β-cell loss or dysfunction (6q24 duplication, KCNJ11, and ABCC8). Although NDM is primarily treated through insulin therapy, it is highly challenging to manage blood glucose levels using insulin therapy during infancy. In contrast, KCNJ11 and ABCC8 mutant patients received oral sulfonylureas (SU) instead of insulin injections; however, the dose and frequency differ among individuals. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is useful in patients with type 1 diabetes; but reports on patients with NDM are lacking. Herein, we report two cases of NDM with the KCNJ11 variant. We used CGM not only during insulin injection therapy but also after switching to oral SU therapy. The CGM data can also be used to determine the dose and frequency of SU. Furthermore, long-term CGM may be useful for adjusting SU dose and frequency, and maintaining good glycemic control not only during insulin injection but also during oral SU therapy.

Biotechnology Revolution Shaping the Future of Diabetes Management

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a millennia-long history, with early references dating back to ancient Egypt and India. However, it was not until the 20th century that the connection between diabetes and insulin was fully understood. The sequencing of insulin in the 1950s initiated the convergence of biotechnology and diabetes management, leading to the development of recombinant human insulin in 1982. This marked the start of peptide-based therapies in DM. Recombinant peptides for DM treatment: Numerous recombinant peptides have been developed since, starting with modified insulin molecules, with the aim of bettering DM management through fine-tuning the glycemic response to insulin. Peptide-based therapies in DM have expanded substantially beyond insulin to include agonists of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor and Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor, glucagon receptor antagonists, and even peptides exerting multiple receptor agonist effects, for better metabolic control. Insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring, and automated insulin delivery systems: The development of modern delivery systems combined with real-time glucose monitoring has significantly advanced diabetes care. Insulin pumps evolved from early large devices to modern sensor-augmented pumps with automated shutoff features and hybrid closed-loop systems, requiring minimal user input. The second-generation systems have demonstrated superior outcomes, proving highly effective in diabetes management. Islet cell transplantation, organoids, and biological pancreas augmentation represent innovative approaches to diabetes management. Islet cell transplantation aims to restore insulin production by transplanting donor beta cells, though challenges persist regarding graft survival and the need for immunosuppression. Organoids are a promising platform for generating insulin-producing cells, although far from clinical use. Biological pancreas augmentation relies on therapies that promote beta-cell (re)generation, reduce stress, and induce immune tolerance. Further biotechnology-driven perspectives in DM will include metabolic control via biotechnology-enabled tools such as custom-designed insulin hybrid molecules, machine-learning algorithms to control peptide release, and engineering cells for optimal peptide production and secretion.

Neonatal diabetes mellitus around the world: Update 2024

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), defined as diabetes with an onset during the first 6 months of life, is a rare form of monogenic diabetes. The initial publications on this condition began appearing in the second half of the 1990s and quite surprisingly, the search for new NDM genes is still ongoing with great vigor. Between 2018 and early 2024, six brand new NDM-genes have been discovered (CNOT1, FICD, ONECUT1, PDIA6, YIPF5, ZNF808) and three genes known to cause different diseases were identified as NDM-genes (EIF2B1, NARS2, KCNMA1). In addition, NDM cases carrying mutations in three other genes known to give rise to diabetes during childhood have been also identified (AGPAT2, BSCL2, PIK3R1). As a consequence, the list of NDM genes now exceeds 40. This genetic heterogeneity translates into many different mechanism(s) of disease that are being investigated with state-of-the-art methodologies, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and human embryonic stem cells (hESC) manipulated with the CRISPR technique of genome editing. This diversity in genetic causes and the pathophysiology of diabetes dictate the need for a variety of therapeutic approaches. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview on recent achievements in all aspects of this area of research.

Insulin Delivery Technology for Treatment of Infants with Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is a rare disorder of glucose metabolism with onset within the first 6 months of life. The initial treatment is based on insulin infusion. The technologies for diabetes treatment can be very helpful, even if guidelines are still lacking. The current study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the literature about the safety and efficacy of insulin treatment with technology for diabetes to support clinicians in the management of infants with neonatal diabetes mellitus. A total of 22 papers were included, most of them case reports or case series. The first infants with neonatal diabetes mellitus treated with insulin pumps were described nearly two decades ago. Over the years, continuous glucose monitoring systems were added to treat these individuals, allowing for a better customization of insulin administration. Insulin was diluted in some cases to further minimize the doses. Improvement in technology for diabetes prompted clinicians to use new devices and algorithms for insulin delivery in infants with neonatal diabetes as well. These systems are safe and effective, may shorten hospital stay, and help clinicians weaning insulin during the remission phase in the transient forms or switching from insulin to sulfonylurea when suggested by the molecular diagnosis. New technologies for insulin delivery in infants with neonatal diabetes can be used safely and closed-loop algorithms can work properly in these situations, optimizing blood glucose control.

Successful Termination of Insulin Therapy in Transient Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus

A sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy is used to treat neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM). We treated a case for which SAP therapy was successful and prevented hypoglycemia. The patient was a baby boy who was small for his gestational age. He had hyperglycemia at 4 days of age, and a diagnosis of NDM had previously been made at another hospital. A continuous intravenous insulin infusion was initiated. At 29 days of age, the patient was transferred to our hospital for further treatment. SAP therapy was initiated at 39 days, which was successful and prevented hypoglycemia. Gradually, blood glucose levels improved. The insulin infusion was stopped to determine if any potential pump issues arose prior to discharge; the patient's blood glucose level did not increase. The decision was therefore made to discharge the patient from the hospital at 58 days of age with discontinued insulin. After discharge, genetic analysis showed hypomethylation on one of the alleles within 6q24, leading to a diagnosis of 6q24-related diabetes mellitus. Although almost all 6q24-related NDM cases are transient, no evidence exists for the appropriate timing of insulin discontinuation. Retrospective continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) analysis showed improved standard deviation (SD) values as well as improved blood glucose variability. This experience suggested SD values of CGM may be used as an index for tapering and discontinuing insulin in SAP therapy. However, future collaborative studies at other centers that focus on SD values as a guide for insulin discontinuation in SAP are required.