Scans per day as predictors of optimal glycemic control in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus using flash glucose monitoring: what number of scans per day should raise a red flag?

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the minimum frequency of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) scans necessary for optimal glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

METHODS

Data were collected from 692 patients (47.5% female, with a median age of 47.4 years) who used FGM systems daily and recorded their clinical variables and device data.

RESULTS

Logistic regression models showed that performing more than 12 scans per day was associated with improved T1D control (OR = 4.22, p < 0.001) and a reduction in HbA1c (7.6 vs 7.0%, 60-53 mmol/mol p < 0.001). However, those performing less than 6 scans showed no improvement in HbA1c (7.9 vs 7.8%, 63-61 mmol/mol p = 0.514). Thirteen daily scans were determined as the optimal cutoff point for predicting optimal glycemic control using a maximally selected rank algorithm. Significant reductions were observed in mean glucose (< 0.001), coefficient of variation (< 0.001), HbA1c (< 0.001), and an increase in TIR (< 0.001) in patients who performed more than 12 daily scans.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that a higher frequency of daily scans by T1D patients using FGM systems leads to improved chronic glycemic control. The minimum recommended frequency for optimal control is 13 scans per day, and more than 6 daily scans are needed to improve HbA1c.

Impact of socioeconomic status on chronic control and complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus in users of glucose flash systems: a follow-up study

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and glycemic control in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using flash glucose monitoring (FGM) devices within a public health system where these technologies are freely available and utilized according to recommended guidelines.

METHODS

A follow-up study of 1060 adults (mean age 47.4 ± 15.0 years, 49.0% women) with T1D, receiving care at three Spanish university hospitals that regularly employ the FGM system. SES was assessed using the Spanish Deprivation Index and the average annual net income per person. Glycemic data were collected over a 14-day follow-up period, including baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels prior to sensor placement, the last available HbA1c levels, and FGM-derived glucose metrics. Individuals with sensor usage time < 70% were excluded. Chronic micro and macrovascular complications related to diabetes were documented. Regression models, adjusted for clinical variables, were employed to determine the impact of SES on optimal sensor control (defined as time in range (TIR) ≥ 70% with time below range < 4%) and disease complications.

RESULTS

The average follow-up was of 2 years. The mean TIR and the percentage of individuals with optimal control were higher in individuals in the highest SES quartile (64.9% ± 17.8% and 27.9%, respectively) compared to those in the lowest SES quartile (57.8 ± 17.4% and 12.1%) (p < 0.001). Regression models showed a higher risk of suboptimal control (OR 2.27, p < 0.001) and ischemic heart disease and/or stroke (OR 3.59, p = 0.005) in the lowest SES quartile. No association was observed between SES and the risk of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. FGM system improved HbA1c levels across all SES quartiles. Although individuals in the highest SES quartile still achieved a significantly lower value at the end of the follow-up 55 mmol/mol (7.2%) compared to those in the lowest SES quartile 60 mmol/mol (7.6%) (p < 0.001), the significant disparities in this parameter between the various SES groups were significantly reduced after FGM technology use.

CONCLUSIONS

Socioeconomic status plays a significant role in glycemic control and complications in individuals with T1D, extending beyond access to technology and its proper utilization. The free utilization of FGM technology helps alleviate the impact of social inequalities on glycemic control.

Renin as a Biomarker to Guide Medical Treatment in Primary Aldosteronism Patients. Findings from the SPAIN-ALDO Registry

INTRODUCTION

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with several cardiometabolic comorbidities. Specific treatment by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) or adrenalectomy has been reported to reduce the cardiometabolic risk. However, the cardiovascular benefit could depend on plasma renin levels in patients on MRA.

AIM

To compare the development of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic complications between medically treated patients with PA and those who underwent adrenalectomy, taking the renin status during MRA treatment into account.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study (SPAIN-ALDO Register) of patients with PA treated at 35 Spanish tertiary hospitals. Patients on MRA were divided into two groups based on renin suppression (n = 90) or non-suppression (n = 70). Both groups were also compared to unilateral PA patients (n = 275) who achieved biochemical cure with adrenalectomy.

RESULTS

Adrenalectomized patients were younger, had higher plasma aldosterone concentration, and lower potassium levels than MRA group. Patients on MRA had similar baseline characteristics when stratified into treatment groups with suppressed and unsuppressed renin. 97 (55.1%) of 176 patients without comorbidities at diagnosis, developed at least one comorbidity during follow-up (median 12 months vs. 12.5 months' follow-up after starting MRA and surgery, respectively). Surgery group had a lower risk of developing new cardiovascular events (HR 0.40 [95% CI 0.18-0.90]) than MRA group. Surgical treatment improved glycemic and blood pressure control, increased serum potassium levels, and required fewer antihypertensive drugs than medical treatment. However, there were no differences in the cardiometabolic profile or the incidence of new comorbidities between the groups with suppressed and unsuppressed renin levels (HR 0.95 [95% CI 0.52-1.73]).

CONCLUSION

Cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic events were comparable in MRA patients with unsuppressed and suppressed renin. Effective surgical treatment of PA was associated with a decreased incidence of new cardiovascular events when compared to MRA therapy.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring as an Additional Tool in Early Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes Monitoring and in Evaluation of Short-Term Sitagliptin Response

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is a complication associated with a negative prognosis in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Although the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the widely recommended screening test for CFRD diagnosis, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is increasingly considered a useful and easy-to-perform test for diagnosis and follow-up in clinical practice. Regarding CFRD treatment, although insulin is the classic approved pharmacological option, incretins could also be a helpful alternative in early stages. CGM could be also a useful tool to measure the early response to this therapy.

METHODS

We studied 25 CF patients with abnormal OGTT results and compared glucose and insulin levels during the OGTTs with CGM results as a tool for early CFRD diagnosis. In addition, we evaluated glycaemic control with CGM before and after treatment with sitagliptin.

RESULTS

A correlation was found between lower plasma insulin levels during the OGTTs and higher average sensor glucose (p = 0.009) and hyperglycaemic excursions (p = 0.017). The CGM data on sitagliptin treatment (n = 25) showed an average glycaemic improvement from 124.2 to 117.2 mg/dL (p = 0.002) with a 5.6-point standard deviation of glucose decrease (p < 0.001). Hyperglycaemic excursions ≥200 mg/dL diminished 57.1% (p = 0.021). Both time in range and time above 180 mg/dL improved during treatment (p = 0.036 and p = 0.006, respectively).

CONCLUSION

CGM is a useful tool that offers valuable information for both the diagnosis and the management of CFRD. Lower plasma insulin levels during OGTTs are associated with a poor ambulatory glucose profile in CGM. Sitagliptin could play an important role in the treatment of the early stages of CFRD.

Impact of Change in Body Composition during Follow-Up on the Survival of GEP-NET

Background: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are heterogeneous rare diseases causing malnutrition and cachexia in which the study of body composition may have an impact in prognosis. Aim: Evaluation of muscle and fat tissues by computed tomography (CT) at the level of the third lumbar (L3 level) at diagnosis and at the end of follow-up in GET-NET patients and their relationships with clinical and biochemical variables as predictors of survival. Methodology: Ninety-eight GEP-NET patients were included. Clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Total body, subcutaneous, visceral and total fat areas and very low-density, low-density, normal density, high-density, very high-density and total muscle areas were obtained from CT images. Results: Body composition measures and overall mortality correlated with age, ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status) metastases, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin and urea levels. Although there was no relationship between body composition variables at diagnosis and overall and specific mortality, an increase in low-density muscle and a decrease in normal-density muscle during follow-up were independently correlated to overall (p <0.05) and tumor-cause mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although body composition measures obtained by CT at diagnosis did not impact survival of GEP-NET patients, a loss of good quality muscle during follow-up was associated with an increased overall and tumor-related mortality. Nutritional status should therefore be supervised by nutrition specialists and an increase in good quality muscle could improve prognosis.