[Patient participation in the development and application of eHealth]

Aim

The aim was to gain insight in the preferences of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus regarding the moments and methods of patient participation in the development and application of eHealth, and which factors influence this.

Methods

A digital questionnaire with both closed and open questions was distributed via various online platforms and the newsletter of the Diabetes Association in the Netherlands. Information was collected on: 1) willingness to participate; 2) preferences about the method of participation; 3) influencing factors on participation, including motivation, competence, resources, social influences, and outcome expectations; 4) background characteristics.

Results

160 questionnaires were analysed. More than three quarter of the respondents intend to be involved in patient participation. Most respondents prefer solo participation methods over group participation, respectively 93% and 46%. Half of the respondents feel that they have sufficient knowledge to participate, and 40% feels that they can provide valuable input. As compensation for participation, participants prefer to use new technologies for free.

Conclusion

As people with diabetes type 2 differ in their preferences for moments and methods of participation, it is recommended to offer different methods of participation and types of compensation in the process from development to application of eHealth.

The effects of antidiabetic agents on heart failure

In the Netherlands, approximately 250,000 people are living with heart failure. About one-third of them have comorbid diabetes mellitus type 2. Until recently, the effects of antidiabetic agents on heart failure were largely unknown. This changed after an observed increased risk of heart failure and ischaemic heart disease associated with thiazolidinediones that prompted the requirement for cardiovascular outcome trials for new glucose-lowering drugs. In the past decade, three new classes of antidiabetic agents have become available (i.e. dipeptidyl peptidase‑4 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide‑1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter‑2 (SGLT2) inhibitors). Although the first two classes demonstrated no beneficial effects on heart failure compared to placebo in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, SGLT2 inhibitors significantly and consistently lowered the risk of incident and worsening heart failure. Two recent trials indicated that these favourable effects were also present in non-diabetic patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, resulting in significantly lower risks of hospitalisation for heart failure and presumably also cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown to be benefit on top of recommended heart failure therapy including sacubitril/valsartan and may also prove beneficial for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. In this review, we discuss the effects of antidiabetic agents on heart failure.

Effect of Group Patient Education on Glycemic Control Among People Living with Type 2 Diabetes in Vietnam: A Randomized Controlled Single-Center Trial

INTRODUCTION

In low- to middle-income countries such as Vietnam, urgent measures are required to prevent and control type 2 diabetes and its complications. This study measured the effect of a 3-month patient education and self-management intervention in a low-resource setting on diabetes knowledge and levels of blood glucose control.

METHODS

This was a single-center randomized controlled study among adult outpatients with type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomly assigned to 3-month community intervention consisting of group education for type 2 diabetes knowledge, diet, exercise in combination with usual diabetes care, or to usual diabetes care alone (control). Diabetes knowledge was measured with a modified Michigan University Diabetes Knowledge Test (MDKT). Other study outcomes included change in mean HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and systolic blood pressure (SBP).

RESULTS

A total of 364 patients were randomized, 182 to the intervention group and 182 to control. The two groups were similar regarding main baseline characteristics. The male/female ratio was 45.1%/54.9% and mean age was 62.2 ± 9.3 years. Approximately half the patients (48.1%) were overweight and 15.7% were obese, mean baseline HbA1c was 8.21 ± 1.92%, and only 29.9% of participants had a baseline HbA1c < 7.0%. At baseline, diabetes knowledge was "very poor" or "poor" in 63.7% of patients. After a 3-month follow-up, the proportion achieving the target MDKT score increased from 37.4% to 81.3% in the intervention group and from 35.2% to 51.7% in the control (between-group difference P < 0.001). The estimate (SD) of the difference between intervention and control groups was - 1.63 (2.16), 95% CI - 2.07 to - 1.18. Mean changes from baseline HbA1c were - 0.54 ± 1.41% and - 0.18 ± 1.33% in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.012). Among those with poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%) at baseline, mean changes at 3 months were - 0.80 ± 1.52% vs 0.41 ± 1.47%, respectively, (P = 0.013). Statistically significant decreases in FBG and SBP were also observed in the intervention group at 3 months, but not in the control group. Multivariate analysis revealed the variables with the strongest influence on blood glucose control at 3 months were study group, baseline MDKT score, diabetes duration, and baseline HbA1c (all P ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Provision of a structured educational program to Vietnamese people living with type 2 diabetes is effective at improving disease knowledge and is associated with better glycemic control. Larger and longer-term studies are now warranted to confirm these findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was retrospectively registered on 27 May 2020 through the https://clinicaltrials.gov site with the following identifier: NCT04403841.

Clinical inertia in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with oral antidiabetic drugs: Results from a Japanese cohort study (JDDM53)

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Treatment intensification is commonly delayed in people with type 2 diabetes, resulting in poor glycemic control for an unacceptable length of time and increased risk of complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study investigated clinical inertia in 33,320 Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes treated with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) between 2009 and 2018, using data from the Computerized Diabetes Care (CoDiC® ) database.

RESULTS

The median time from first reported glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥7.0% (≥53 mmol/mol) to treatment intensification was considerably longer and HbA1c levels were higher the more OADs the patient was exposed to. For patients receiving three OADs, the median times from HbA1c ≥7.0% (53 mmol/mol) to intensification with OAD, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist or insulin were 8.1, 9.1 and 6.7 months, with a mean HbA1c level at the time of intensification of 8.4%, 8.9% and 9.3%, respectively. The cumulative incidence for time since the first reported HbA1c ≥7.0% (≥53 mmol/mol) to intensification confirmed the existence of clinical inertia, identifying patients whose treatment was not intensified despite poor glycemic control. HbA1c levels ≥7.0% (≥53 mmol/mol) after ≥6 months on one, two or three OADs were observed in 42%, 51% and 58% of patients, respectively, showing that approximately 50% of patients are above HbA1c target regardless of how many OADs they take.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world data here show clinical inertia in Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes from early diabetes stages when they are receiving OADs, and illustrate a need for earlier, more effective OADs or injectable treatment intensification and better communication around the existence of clinical inertia.

[Confusion, tachypnea, and tachycardia in a 71-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus]

Bei Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus Typ 2 muss im Falle einer unklaren Bewusstseinsstörung und/oder Bauchschmerzen eine Natrium/Glukose-Kotransporter-2(SGLT-2)-Inhibitor-induzierte diabetische Ketoazidose in die Differenzialdiagnose einbezogen werden. Dabei können die Blutzuckerspiegel trotz ausgeprägter Azidose nur moderat erhöht sein. Bei Nachweis ist eine umgehende intensivmedizinische Therapie unerlässlich.

[New oral antidiabetic drugs]

A paradigm change in the treatment of type 2 diabetes has recently emerged due to the introduction of new oral antidiabetic agents. Cardiovascular endpoint studies confirmed the safety of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and a cardiovascular protective effect for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose linked transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Furthermore, SGLT‑2 inhibitors reduce the risk for heart failure and have a renoprotective effect. These studies led to changes in clinical recommendations and guidelines. In patients with high or very high cardiorenal risk, SGLT‑2 inhibitors or GLP‑1 receptor agonists are recommended for risk protection independent of HbA1c values, with existing or high risk for chronic heart failure SGLT‑2 inhibitors are the preferred choice. Therefore, the choice of antidiabetic treatment strategy is no longer determined by the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) alone but particularly by the cardiorenal risk of the individual patient.

Insulin Glargine 300 U/mL and Insulin Glulisine Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Non-Interventional Study of Effectiveness in Routine Clinical Practice

INTRODUCTION

The EDITION development program confirmed that insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla-300) provides comparable glycemic control to insulin glargine 100 U/mL (Gla-100) but with lower hypoglycemia risk. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Gla-300 in everyday practice.

METHODS

This one-arm, non-interventional study included patients with type 2 diabetes who were switched to Gla-300-based basal-bolus therapy (BBT) and followed for 6 months. Indications for switching included inadequate glycemic control and/or hypoglycemic events with the previous regimen.

RESULTS

Overall 229 patients were included, with mean age of 60.9 years. All glycemic variables improved between baseline and 6 months significantly (mean ± standard deviation [SD] hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] from 8.9 ± 1.5% to 7.5 ± 1.1%, fasting blood glucose from 9.5 ± 3.1 mmol/L to 7.0 ± 2.1 mmol/L, postprandial blood glucose from 12.0 ± 3.8 mmol/L to 8.9 ± 2.5 mmol/L). Gla-300 doses were increased and mealtime insulin doses were unchanged. Rates of both non-severe and severe hypoglycemic events decreased significantly compared to pre-study and 6-month follow-up periods. Patients switched because of elevated HbA1c had higher baseline HbA1c and greater decrease in HbA1c paralleled with increase in insulin doses compared to those switched because of hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

In day-to-day practice, switching from human insulin to Gla-300-based BBT resulted in significant improvement in glycemic control and decrease in hypoglycemia risk.