HbA1c values calculated from blood glucose levels using truncated Fourier series and implementation in standard SQL database language

A nutritional supplement based on a synbiotic combination of Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 and L-alanyl-L-glutamine improves glucose metabolism in healthy prediabetic subjects - A real-life post-marketing study

Introduction

Impaired glucose homeostasis is a significant risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, whereas the efficacy of available standard therapies is limited, mainly because of poor adherence. This post-marketing study assessed the glucose-lowering potential of a synbiotic-based formulation.

Methods

One hundred ninety-two participants were enrolled in a digital nutrition program with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and received a study product comprising Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 and L-alanyl-L-glutamine. Participants underwent a first sensor phase without supplementation, followed by a 14-day supplementation phase without sensor, and completed by a second sensor phase while continuing supplementation. Fasting glucose levels were determined before and after supplementation by CGM. In addition, the postprandial glycemic response to an oral glucose challenge, body weight, HbA1c concentrations, and BMI was analyzed. Subgroup analyses of subjects with elevated glucose and HbA1c levels vs. normoglycemic subjects were performed.

Results

Supplementation with the study product resulted in significant improvements in glucose parameters (delta values: fasting glucose -2,13% ± 8.86; iAUC_0-120 -4.91% ± 78.87; HbA1c: -1.20% ± 4.72) accompanied by a significant weight reduction (-1.07 kg ± 2.30) in the study population. Subgroup analyses revealed that the improvements were mainly attributed to a prediabetic subgroup with elevated fasting glucose and HbA1c values before supplementation (delta values: fasting glucose -6.10% 4± 7.89; iAUC_0-120 -6.28% ± 115.85; HbA1c -3.31% ± 4.36; weight: -1.47 kg ± 2.82).

Conclusion

This study indicates that the synbiotic composition is an effective and convenient approach to counteract hyperglycemia. Further placebo-controlled studies are warranted to test its efficacy in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases.

PalatinoseTM (Isomaltulose) and Prebiotic Inulin-Type Fructans Have Beneficial Effects on Glycemic Response and Gut Microbiota Composition in Healthy Volunteers—A Real-Life, Retrospective Study of a Cohort That Participated in a Digital Nutrition Program

It is well-appreciated that the diet is a crucial tool to counteract cardiometabolic disturbances due to its impact on blood glucose concentration and gut microbiome. This retrospective analysis aimed to examine whether the inclusion of isomaltulose and prebiotic inulin-type fructans (ITF) into the habitual diet has an impact on glycemic control and gut microbiota. Furthermore, we examined interindividual differences in glycemic response to sugar replacement with isomaltulose. We retrospectively analyzed data of 117 individuals who participated in a digital nutrition program including a 14-day continuous glucose measurement. Participants underwent six test days with sweetened drinks (isomaltulose vs. sucrose) consumed with their usual breakfasts and lunches. Dinner was supplemented with ITF for 11 days. Postprandial glycemia and 24 h-glycemic variability were determined following test meals and days, respectively. Fecal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing before and after test phase. Meals with isomaltulose-sweetened drinks compared to meals with sucrose-sweetened drinks induced lower postprandial glycemia. Moreover, glucose oscillations over 24 h were lower on isomaltulose when compared to sucrose test days and improved further during ITF supplementation. Furthermore, ITF modulated gut microbiota composition beneficially. Responder analysis revealed that 72% of participants benefited from the sugar replacement with isomaltulose and that their gut microbiota differed from the low responders. Taken together, the incorporation of isomaltulose and ITF into the habitual diet was shown to be an effective strategy to improve glucose control and beneficially modulate gut microbiota, and thereby aid to maintain metabolic health. Data indicate interindividual differences in glycemic response to ingredients and suggest that gut microbiota might be somehow related to it.

The calculated versus the measured glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that is increasing globally. It is associated with chronic complications that are more common among patients with poor glycaemic control. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA_1c ) is the gold standard for monitoring glycaemic control. Measurements of HbA_1c are relatively expensive and not available in some remote areas of developing countries.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the agreement between the calculated and measured HbA_1c levels. The equation to compute the calculated HbA_1c also incorporated the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and was as follows: HbA_1c  = 2.6 + 0.03 × FBG (mg/dl).

RESULT

We enrolled 290 patients with type 2 DM in this study. Of these, 204 (70.3%) were females and the mean (SD) age was 54.9 (12.8) years. The mean (SD) diabetes duration was 6.8 (5.5) years. There were 211 (72.8%) patients using oral hypoglycaemic agents, 62 (21.4%) were using insulin and 17 (5.9%) were using both insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents. There was a borderline difference between the mean (SD) calculated and measured HbA_1c levels (p = 0.054). There was a significant correlation between the calculated and measured HbA_1c (r = 0.595, p < 0.001). However, there was no agreement between the calculated and measured HbA_1c . The bias ±SD (limits of agreement) for calculated versus measured HbA_1c was -1.008 ± 2.02% (-5.05, 2.032).

CONCLUSION

Despite the presence of a significant correlation between the calculated and measured HbA_1c , the calculated level has shown an unacceptable agreement with the measured HbA_1c .

Simulation of a computed HbA1c using a weighted average glucose

BACKGROUND

The A1c-derived average glucose examined the link between the glycated haemoglobin and the estimated average glucose, and provided a linear relation between them. Other studies proved that, over a period of 4 months, plasma glucose in the preceding 30 days contribute to about 50 % to the glycated haemoglobin value while the other 50 % is due to the remaining 3 months altogether.

TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE METHOD

In this technical note, we propose a weighted method assuming that the contribution of glucose to glycated haemoglobin over 3 months is chronologically 20 %, 30 % and 50 % respectively. A comparison is made with the linear regression method which uses the same estimated average glucose over the whole period. Results yielded by the weighted method are also compared to those given by the model proposed by Ladyzyński et al.

FINDINGS

A simulation is carried out on data assumed to come from a first individual with nearly the same level of glucose over 3 months, a second individual who starts with high levels of glucose and then reaches a stabilised low level by the last month, and finally, a third case who had just been diagnosed with diabetes during the last month whereas he/she had a normal glycaemia during the preceding 2 months. The weighted method gives more realistic values of HbA1c (7.36 %, 6.80 %, 8.49 %) than the linear regression method without weights which gives the same value (7.45 %) for the three cases. Another comparison shows that the three values given by the weighted method are slightly smaller than the corresponding values given by the model of Ladyzynski et al. (7.62 %, 7.02 %, 8.8 %) but the relative variation is nearly the same for the three values (≈3 %).

CONCLUSSION

Without regular self-testing and day-to-day insights, a sole HbA1c value can be confusing and misleading. For physicians and patients, a clear understanding of the relationship between the weighted average glucose and HbA1c is necessary in order to set an appropriate daily control depending on whether the glucose is stabilized over the whole period, at the beginning, at the end; or still under recurrent episodes of high and low levels. The measured HbA1c at a biological laboratory gives no indication on glucose variation. Moreover, low values of glucose may cancel high values and lead to a "good" average glucose and ideal glycated haemoglobin.