Reduction of diabetes-related distress predicts improved depressive symptoms: A secondary analysis of the DIAMOS study

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline: Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan-2022 Update

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this clinical practice guideline is to provide updated and new evidence-based recommendations for the comprehensive care of persons with diabetes mellitus to clinicians, diabetes-care teams, other health care professionals and stakeholders, and individuals with diabetes and their caregivers.

METHODS

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology selected a task force of medical experts and staff who updated and assessed clinical questions and recommendations from the prior 2015 version of this guideline and conducted literature searches for relevant scientific papers published from January 1, 2015, through May 15, 2022. Selected studies from results of literature searches composed the evidence base to update 2015 recommendations as well as to develop new recommendations based on review of clinical evidence, current practice, expertise, and consensus, according to established American Association of Clinical Endocrinology protocol for guideline development.

RESULTS

This guideline includes 170 updated and new evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for the comprehensive care of persons with diabetes. Recommendations are divided into four sections: (1) screening, diagnosis, glycemic targets, and glycemic monitoring; (2) comorbidities and complications, including obesity and management with lifestyle, nutrition, and bariatric surgery, hypertension, dyslipidemia, retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease; (3) management of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes with antihyperglycemic pharmacotherapy and glycemic targets, type 1 diabetes with insulin therapy, hypoglycemia, hospitalized persons, and women with diabetes in pregnancy; (4) education and new topics regarding diabetes and infertility, nutritional supplements, secondary diabetes, social determinants of health, and virtual care, as well as updated recommendations on cancer risk, nonpharmacologic components of pediatric care plans, depression, education and team approach, occupational risk, role of sleep medicine, and vaccinations in persons with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

This updated clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations to assist with person-centered, team-based clinical decision-making to improve the care of persons with diabetes mellitus.

ACTonDiabetes: study protocol of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial for the evaluation of an acceptance and commitment-based internet-based and mobile-based intervention for adults living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Living with diabetes can be burdensome and lead to serious emotional distress and impaired mental health. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can support people facing the challenges of living with diabetes. This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the internet-based and mobile-based intervention (IMI) 'ACTonDiabetes' in reducing diabetes distress against enhanced treatment as usual (TAU+) following specialised diabetes care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A two-armed pragmatic randomised controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the guided IMI ACTonDiabetes against TAU+. A total of 210 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and elevated diabetes distress (Problem Areas in Diabetes ≥40) will be recruited at a specialised diabetes centre. The intervention begins 2-4 weeks after hospital discharge and takes about 7-10 weeks to complete. Assessments are performed at baseline and 5 and 10 weeks as well as 6 and 12 months after randomisation. The primary outcome is diabetes distress at a 10-week follow-up (T2). Secondary outcomes are depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), psychological well-being (WHO-5), quality of life (Assessment of Quality of Life-8 Dimension), Diabetes-related Self-Management Questionnaire, diabetes acceptance (Acceptance and Action Diabetes Questionnaire) and negative treatment effects (Inventory for the Assessment of Negative Effects of Psychotherapy). All statistical analyses will be performed based on the intention-to-treat principle with additional per-protocol analyses. Changes in outcomes will be evaluated using the general linear model. A health-economic evaluation will be conducted from a societal perspective. Reasons for drop-out will be systematically investigated.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This clinical trial has been approved by the State Medical Chamber of Baden-Württemberg (file no. B-F-2019-010). Trial results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

DRKS00016738.

Glucose trajectory prediction by deep learning for personal home care of type 2 diabetes mellitus: modelling and applying

Glucose management for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus is essential but challenging due to the multi-factored and chronic disease nature of diabetes. To control glucose levels in a safe range and lessen abnormal glucose variability efficiently and economically, an intelligent prediction of glucose is demanding. A glucose trajectory prediction system based on subcutaneous interstitial continuous glucose monitoring data and deep learning models for ensuing glucose trajectory was constructed, followed by the application of personalised prediction models on one participant with type 2 diabetes in a community. The predictive accuracy was then assessed by RMSE (root mean square error) using blood glucose data. Changes in glycaemic parameters of the participant before and after model intervention were also compared to examine the efficacy of this intelligence-aided health care. Individual Recurrent Neural Network model was developed on glucose data, with an average daily RMSE of 1.59 mmol/L in the application segment. In terms of the glucose variation, the mean glucose decreased by 0.66 mmol/L, and HBGI dropped from 12.99 × 10² to 9.17 × 10². However, the participant also had increased stress, especially in eating and social support. Our research presented a personalised care system for people with diabetes based on deep learning. The intelligence-aided health management system is promising to enhance the outcome of diabetic patients, but further research is also necessary to decrease stress in the intelligence-aided health management and investigate the stress impacts on diabetic patients.

Evaluation of a Stepped Care Approach to Manage Depression and Diabetes Distress in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial (ECCE HOMO Study)

INTRODUCTION

Depression is a common and serious complication of diabetes. Treatment approaches addressing the specific demands of affected patients are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to test whether a stepped care approach for patients with diabetes and depression and/or diabetes distress yields greater depression reduction than treatment-as-usual.

METHODS

Two-hundred and sixty patients with diabetes and elevated depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥16) and/or elevated diabetes distress (PAID ≥40) were randomized to stepped care for depression or diabetes treatment-as-usual. The primary outcome was the rate of meaningful depression reduction at the 12-month follow-up according to the HAMD (score <9 or reduction by ≥50%). Secondary outcomes were changes in depression scores (HAMD/CES-D), diabetes distress (PAID), diabetes acceptance (AADQ), well-being (WHO-5), quality of life (EQ-5D/SF-36), self-care behavior (SDSCA/DSMQ), HbA1c, and biomarkers of inflammation.

RESULTS

One-hundred and thirty-one individuals were assigned to stepped care and 129 to treatment-as-usual. Overall, 15.4% were lost to follow-up. Meaningful depression reduction was observed in 80.2 versus 51.2% in stepped care versus treatment-as-usual (p < 0.001, intention-to-treat analysis). Of the secondary measures, the HAMD (∆ -3.2, p < 0.001), WHO-5 (∆ 1.5, p = 0.007), and AADQ (∆ -1.0, p = 0.008) displayed significant treatment effects, while effects on CES-D (∆ -2.3, p = 0.065), PAID (∆ -3.5, p = 0.109), and SDSCA (∆ 0.20, p = 0.081) were not significantly different. Both groups showed comparable changes in EQ-5D/SF-36, DSMQ, HbA1c, and biomarkers of inflammation (all p ≥ 0.19).

CONCLUSIONS

The stepped care approach improved depression, well-being, and acceptance. The results support that increasing treatment intensity on demand is effective and can help provide more optimal treatment. The inclusion of diabetes-specific interventions may be beneficial for patients with diabetes and elevated depression.

People with diabetes need a lower cut-off than others for depression screening with PHQ-9

Aims

This study evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Polish version of the PHQ-9 in detecting major depression (MDD) and ‘MDD and/or dysthymia’ in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Participants were randomly selected from a diabetes outpatient facility (N = 216) and from among patients admitted to a medical center and psychiatric hospital (N = 99). The participants completed the PHQ-9. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview were used to identify the presence of psychiatric symptoms. The optimal cut-offs for PHQ-9 in people with and without type 2 diabetes were investigated based on two methods: 1) Youden’s index which identifies cut-off points useful in scientific research; 2) a second method of two-stage screening for depressive disorders to provide guidance for clinical practice.

Results

The Polish version of the PHQ-9 is a reliable and valid screening tool for depression in people with and without type 2 diabetes. An optimal cut-off of ≥ 7 was indicated by Youden’s index and ≥ 5 by the two-stage method for screening for MDD and ‘MDD and/or dysthymia’ in the group with type 2 diabetes. A cut-off of ≥ 11 was optimal for screening for both MDD and ‘MDD and/or dysthymia’ among people without diabetes (Youden’s index). The two-stage approach suggested a ≥ 10 score for screening for MDD and ≥ 9 for screening for ‘MDD and/or dysthymia’ in people without diabetes.

Conclusions

A lower cut-off score of the PHQ-9 is recommended for people with type 2 diabetes as compared to the general population.

Depressive symptoms and disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To examine developments in the understanding of certain aspects of depression in diabetes mellitus patients with a special focus on diabetes distress, screening of depression and its management in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies reviewed indicate an increasing trend of both major and minor depression in patients with diabetes. Depression is also reported to be persistent and chronic in diabetes patients. There is a bidirectional link between depression and diabetes. Diabetes-related distress independently increases the diabetes-related complications. Collaborative care is both applicable and helpful in managing depression in diabetes.

SUMMARY

Although a significant number of patients with diabetes suffer from depression or diabetes-related distress, majority of them remain undiagnosed and untreated. This treatment gap suggests the need for routine screening for depression and distress in patients with diabetes. Studies have confirmed that treatment focussing on diabetes may alleviate depressive symptoms. Diabetes-specific psychological interventions may prove useful in improving diabetes self-management in depressed diabetes patients. Effect of specific psychopharmacological and psychological interventions in treating depression in diabetes patients should be examined in future studies.

Efficacy of an Education Program for People With Diabetes and Insulin Pump Treatment (INPUT): Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is the most advanced form of insulin delivery, but it requires structured education to provide users with the necessary knowledge/skills and to support their motivation. Currently, no structured education program designed to provide this training has been evaluated. We developed a CSII-specific, structured education program (Insulin Pump Treatment [INPUT]) and evaluated its impact on glycemic control, behavior, and psychosocial status.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, randomized, parallel trial with a 6-month follow-up. Eligible participants (age 16-75 years) currently were treated with insulin pump therapy. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to the INPUT program or to usual care using a computer-generated algorithm, with study center as the stratification factor. The primary outcome was HbA_1c change from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes were incidence of severe hypoglycemia and changes in behavioral and psychosocial measures.

RESULTS

Between 1 April 2016 and 26 April 2016, 268 people with diabetes and a mean duration of CSII therapy of 9.5 years were randomly assigned to the INPUT group (n = 135) or control group (n = 133). At 6 months, HbA_1c improved in the INPUT group (8.33 ± 0.8 vs. 8.04 ± 0.9; P < 0.0001) but not in the control group (8.33 ± 1.0 vs. 8.27 ± 1.0; P = 0.11). The between-group difference in HbA_1c reduction was significant, favoring INPUT (-0.28% vs. -0.06%, Δ -0.22%, 95% CI -0.38 to -0.06; P = 0.0029). The incidence rate ratio of severe hypoglycemia was 3.55 times higher for participants in the control group than for those in the INPUT group (95% CI 1.50-8.43; P = 0.0041).

CONCLUSIONS

The INPUT education program led to a significant improvement in glycemic control and incidence of severe hypoglycemia in insulin pump users.

Glycaemic status and depressive symptoms among adults in Germany: results from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1)

AIMS

To examine the association between glycaemic status and depressive symptoms in a nationwide sample of the adult population in Germany.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 6385 participants aged 18-79 years in the nationwide German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011 (DEGS1). Glycaemic status was classified as follows: diagnosed diabetes (self-reported diagnosis or receiving antidiabetes medication); undiagnosed diabetes (HbA_1c ≥48 mmol/mol [≥6.5%]); prediabetes (HbA_1c 39-47 mmol/mol [5.7-6.4%]); or normoglycaemia (HbA_1c <39 mmol/mol [<5.7%]). Current depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9) and defined as elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥10 points; dichotomous variable) and severity of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score, range 0-27 points; continuous variable). Associations of glycaemic status and HbA_1c with both depressive symptoms variables were analysed using multivariable logistic (elevated depressive symptoms) and linear (severity of depressive symptoms) regression models.

RESULTS

Compared with normoglycaemia, diagnosed diabetes, but not prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes, was associated with elevated depressive symptoms (odds ratio 1.55, 95% CI 1.00-2.41) and severity of depressive symptoms (β coefficient 0.71, 95% CI 0.23-1.19) in models adjusting for sociodemographics and health behaviours. Associations were similar among people with diagnosed diabetes taking and not taking antidiabetes medication. Among people without diagnosed diabetes, no associations between HbA_1c and depressive symptoms were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosed diabetes, but not prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes or HbA_1c , was associated with depressive symptoms among adults in Germany. Studies examining psychosocial and biological mechanisms that may potentially explain relationships between diagnosed diabetes and depressive symptoms are needed.

Diabetes-Related Distress Assessment among Type 2 Diabetes Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases; it is a debilitating and hard to live with. Diabetes-related distress (DRD) refers to the emotional and behavioral changes caused by diabetes. Our study aims to assess the prevalence of DRD among type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients using Diabetes Distress Scale-17 items (DDS-17) and its relation to complications and treatment modalities.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of adult T2D patients with follow-up visits at the Diabetes and Endocrinology Center in Taif, Saudi Arabia, between January and July 2017. We excluded patients with other forms of diabetes, untreated hypothyroidism, and psychiatric illness. The total score of DDS-17 was calculated by summing the 17 items' results and then dividing the total by 17. If the total score was >2, then it was considered as clinically significant results (moderate distress), but if it is ≥3, then it is classified as a high distress.

RESULTS

A total of 509 T2D patients with a mean age of 58 ± 14 years were included. The majority of participants were male, married, not college educated, and reported a sedentary lifestyle. We found 25% of the screened T2D patients have moderate to high DRD. Regarding the DRD components, emotional distress was the most prevalent followed by physician-related distress. HabA1c was significantly higher in those with high combined distress and high emotional distress compared to those with mild/moderate distress (p = 0.015 and 0.030, resp.).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that DRD is a medically relevant issue that clinicians need to address. Despite observing a low prevalence of DRD compared to other studies, we found significant correlations between DRD scores and HabA1c, triglyceride levels, BMI, T2D duration, and interval between visits.