Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes: optimizing care with a multidisciplinary approach

Codevelopment of a model of care for adults living with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes

BACKGROUND

Cystic fibrosis (CF) related diabetes affects up to half of all adults with CF and is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Our aim is to codevelop an ideal model of care that integrates diabetes technology and better meets the needs of adults living with the condition to improve attendance, engagement, service satisfaction, and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Using qualitative research methods, we evaluated disease perceptions, barriers, and enablers to optimal CF-related diabetes management and service delivery. Integration of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was also explored. An initial broad purposive consumer survey was followed by focus groups with end-users. Grounded theory approach was utilized with major problem areas identified then explored, coded, and grouped into requisites for an "ideal model of care" for adults living with CF-related diabetes.

RESULTS

Two key themes emerged (i) an ideal model of care consisted of a dual-specialty service co-led by endocrinology and CF physicians and supported by diabetes educator and CF dietitian with a goal to provide consistent and personalized diabetes management and (ii) CGM was acceptable for use in adults with CF-related diabetes with many perceived benefits and should be integrated into the model of care. Barriers to optimizing glycemic control included diet, finger-prick testing, reduced access to CGM, and pulmonary exacerbations. End-user feedback on CGM was overwhelmingly positive with regard to operability. CGM was also identified as a tool that could be used to engage, educate, and empower adults living with CF-related diabetes and facilitate constructive and personalized clinical decision-making by healthcare providers.

CONCLUSION

For adults living with CF, a diagnosis of diabetes is associated with increased treatment burden. Our findings suggest an "ideal model of care" for CF-related diabetes would be co-led by endocrinology services integrated within a pre-existing CF service, incorporating CGM.

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Cystic Fibrosis and Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes in Children: A Literature Review

The most common inherited condition that results in death, particularly in those of Caucasian heritage, is cystic fibrosis (CF). Of all the young adults diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, 20% will develop hyperglycemia as a complication, later classified as a disease associated with cystic fibrosis. Impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance represent the primary mechanisms associated with diabetes (type 1 or type 2) and cystic fibrosis. Oxidative stress represents the imbalance between oxygen-reactive species and antioxidant defense mechanisms. This pathogenic mechanism is vital in triggering other chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. It is essential to understand oxidative stress and the significant impact it has on CFRD. This way, therapies can be individually adjusted and tailored to each patient's needs. This review aims to understand the connection between CFRD and oxidative stress. As a subsidiary element, we analyzed the effects of glycemic balance on complications and their evolution over time, providing insights into their potential benefits in mitigating oxidative stress-associated complications.

Mediation of the total effect of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes on mortality: A UK Cystic Fibrosis Registry cohort study

AIM

To investigate whether the effect of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) on the composite outcome of mortality or transplant could act through lung function, pulmonary exacerbations and/or nutritional status.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who had not been diagnosed with CFRD were identified from the UK Cystic Fibrosis Registry (n = 2750). Rate of death or transplant was compared between patients who did and did not develop CFRD (with insulin use) during follow-up using Poisson regression, separately by sex. Causal mediation methods were used to investigate whether lung function, pulmonary exacerbations and nutritional status lie on the causal pathway between insulin-treated CFRD and mortality/transplant.

RESULTS

At all ages, the mortality/transplant rate was higher in both men and women diagnosed with CFRD. Pulmonary exacerbations were the strongest mediator of the effect of CFRD on mortality/transplant, with an estimated 15% [95% CI: 7%, 28%] of the effect at 2 years post-CFRD diagnosis attributed to exacerbations, growing to 24% [95% CI: 9%, 46%] at 4 years post-diagnosis. Neither lung function nor nutritional status were found to be significant mediators of this effect. Estimates were similar but with wider confidence intervals in a cohort that additionally included people with CFRD but not using insulin.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence that pulmonary exacerbations mediate the effect of CFRD on mortality but, as they are estimated to mediate less than one-quarter of the total effect, the mechanism through which CFRD influences survival may involve other factors.

Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes in Poland

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive inherited monogenic disease in Caucasians. As medical technology progresses and the quality of patient care improves, the survival time of patients with CF has increased, which results in more frequent comorbidities such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). CFRD is the result of abnormal glucose metabolism characterized primarily by insulin deficiency, exacerbated periodically by insulin resistance. The aim of our study was to analyze the epidemiology of patients with CFRD in Poland on the basis of data collected from six CF treatment centers. Analyses were performed on 1157 CF patients who were treated at one of the six CF care centers. CFRD was diagnosed according to standard criteria. All data including demographics, types of CFTR mutations, CFRD duration, and microorganisms in the sputum were obtained from the patients’ medical history. Our study indicates that the prevalence of CFRD in Poland is 12.9%. CFRD was most often diagnosed between the ages of 11 and 20 (60% of patients), while 23% of patients were diagnosed between 21 and 30 years of age. Furthermore, we observed that approximately 3–5% of patients under the age of 10 had CFRD. We found out that the type of mutation did not affect the frequency of CFRD development. Factors that increased the risk of developing CFRD include underweight and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Due to the extended lifespan of CF patients, the number of CFRD patients is currently increasing. We believe that the results of our study may complement information from other studies or may be useful in planning health policy in Poland.

Emerging Alternatives to Conventional Clinic Visits in the Era of COVID-19: Adoption of Telehealth at VCU Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease in which consistent follow-up care is required to avoid a decline in pulmonary and nutritional health. It is believed that if a CF patient ceases treatment for 2 days, this can result in an exacerbation. One week of missed treatments can result in a hospitalization and 1 month of missed treatments can result in an earlier demise. With a global pandemic that has affected more than 9 million people, many CF clinics were required to take steps to avoid transmission of this dangerous virus. This may result in delays in delivery of timely CF care due to closure of clinics and pulmonary function testing (PFT) laboratories and limited staff allowed on site for conducting in-person visits. These measures, along with suggestions from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) to extend the social distancing longer than traditional CDC recommendations for the CF community, create an urgent need to explore novel ways to deliver safer care via new standards in chronic health conditions like CF. Especially, as these preventive strategies may be necessary for long-term maintenance, few objective alternatives exist to guide clinicians and allied health professionals in CF centers how to proceed in this new era. This also presents an opportunity for novel approaches that could improve delivery of CF care with remote monitoring and real-time delivery of care in patients’ home environments. Such emerging approaches could benefit patient care, leading to reduced costs and readmissions and improved access to care, medication adherence, and patient communication. We summarize our own experience and discuss the emerging delivery of CF care which can be generalizable to other pulmonary illnesses.

GCK-MODY in a child with cystic fibrosis: the doubt of the treatment plan

Objectives The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) is not often easy as glucose homeostasis may be influenced by various disease-related conditions such as enteral continuous drip feeding, frequent acute illness, use of systemic corticosteroids and other concomitant medications. Other forms of diabetes should be considered in the diagnostic work-up, particularly in the first decade of life. Case presentation We hereby present the case of a cystic fibrosis 6-year-old female child diagnosed with glucokinase-maturity onset of diabetes of the young (GCK-MODY). The choice of treatment plan was doubtful since GCK-MODY does not usually require insulin treatment, but hyperglycemia could pose a threat to the respiratory tract. After intensive glucose monitoring, we decided to defer pharmacological treatment based on acceptable daily glycemic control. To date, no worsening in her respiratory function has been revealed. Conclusions Recognition of non-CFRD forms of diabetes is fundamental to plan the most suitable treatment and follow-up.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young: Different diabetes in an infant with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common autosomal recessive and multisystemic diseases. CF affects many systems. One of these systems is the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas, causing cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, which is extremely complex and has unique pathogenesis. Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare type of diabetes with autosomal dominant inheritance and is not expected in patients with CF. In this study, we present MODY due to a novel glucokinase gene mutation, which is an unexpected form of diabetes in patients with CF. This is previously unreported in the literature.

Effects of low glycemic index/high-fat, high-calorie diet on glycemic control and lipid profiles of children and adolescence with cystic fibrosis: A randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial

PURPOSE

Low glycemic index diets seem to be potentially effective to improve glycemic control and reduce lipid profiles. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of a low glycemic index/high fat, high-calorie diet on glycemic status and lipid profiles of patients with cystic fibrosis.

METHODS

In this randomized clinical trial, 44 children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis were randomized to receive for three months either a high fat, high-calorie diet (n = 22) or a low glycemic index/high fat, high-calorie diet (n = 22) with similar calorie and macronutrients composition. Patients in high fat, high-calorie diet arm were allowed to use all sources of carbohydrates with different glycaemic indices; whereas those in another arm consumed carbohydrates from low glycemic index sources. Serum levels of lipid profiles (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol), insulin, fasting blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin were measured at baseline and after the intervention.

RESULTS

Between-group differences were significant only for fasting blood glucose (P < 0.001). However, fasting blood glucose (P = 0.003) and glycated hemoglobin (P = 0.002) significantly decreased after the intervention in the low glycemic index group, while in another group a significant increase in fasting blood glucose (P = 0.038) and triglyceride (P = 0.004) was found. No significant within-group differences were observed in other variables in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that adherence to a low glycemic index/high fat, high-calorie diet can improve glycemic indices in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis compared to the high fat, high-calorie diet.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

IRCT2017102325267N5.

Retinopathy and microalbuminuria are common microvascular complications in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes

AIMS

To study the prevalence of microvascular complications and renal changes associated with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the West Midlands Adult Cystic Fibrosis centre, United Kingdom. Data regarding age, sex, microalbuminuria, retinopathy neuropathy, and biochemical results were collected for all people with CFRD who had an annual review from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 at the centre. Descriptive statistics were analysed using STATAv15.1.

RESULTS

A total of 189 patients were included, of which 56.6% were male and median age (interquartile range) was 33 (27-39) years; 79.4% (150/189) had their annual review in 2018. Those with a biochemically impaired renal function numbered 7.2% (13/180) and 22.7% (32/141) had microalbuminuria; 17.2% (10/58) had diabetes related retinopathy. No one in our cohort had diabetic ulcers; however, 10.3% (13/126) had absent foot pulses.

CONCLUSION

We found a higher prevalence of microalbuminuria compared with retinopathy in a large cohort of cystic fibrosis adults. This study demonstrates the need for regular specialist follow-up to facilitate early identification of such complications and a long-term prospective cohort to understand underlying mechanisms.