Carlo L. Acerini

ESPE/LWPES consensus statement on diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (TIDM). Mortality is predominantly related to the occurrence of cerebral oedema; only a minority of deaths in DKA are attributed to other causes. Cerebral oedema occurs in about 0.3–1% of all episodes of DKA, and its aetiology, pathophysiology, and ideal method of treatment are poorly understood. There is debate as to whether physicians treating DKA can prevent or predict the occurrence of cerebral oedema, and the appropriate site(s) for children with DKA to be managed. There is agreement that prevention of DKA and reduction of its incidence should be a goal in managing children with diabetes.

Randomised placebo-controlled trial of human recombinant insulin-like growth factor I plus intensive insulin therapy in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUNDnGood glycaemic control in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) to prevent complications may be difficult to achieve during adolescence, because abnormalities in production of growth hormone or insulin-like growth-factor-I (IGF-I) can lead to lower insulin sensitivity. Recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) given as an adjunct to insulin therapy in IDDM, might improve glycaemic control in adolescents; we investigated the effects of the addition of IGF-I in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.nnnMETHODSn53 patients with IDDM (26 male, 27 female) with a median age of 16.1 years (range 10.8-20.6) and diabetes of more than 2 years duration were randomly assigned subcutaneous rhIGF-I (20 or 40 microg/kg daily [n=18, n=18, respectively]) or placebo (n=17), both in addition to multiple-injection insulin therapy for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and routine biochemistry were measured every 4 weeks. Retinal photographs and glomerular-filtration rates were assessed at base line and at the end of the study. Data were analysed by intention to treat.nnnFINDINGSnWith a dose of 40 microg/kg rhIGF-I daily, we found significant reductions in HbA1c compared with placebo (p=0.03), without changes in body-mass index, rate of hypoglycaemia, insulin dose, or circulating concentrations of IGF-binding proteins 1 and 3. The greatest median change in HbA1c of -0.6% (range -2.8 to -1.5%) was seen with rhIGF-I 40 microg/kg at week 12, but was not sustained at week 24. The greatest reductions in HbA1c at week 24 were seen among patients with the greatest changes in IGF-I concentrations (r=-0442, p=0.002). Retinal photographs, renal function (glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin excretion), and routine biochemistry showed no adverse events.nnnINTERPRETATIONnOur data confirm that rhIGF-I as an adjunct to insulin therapy can improve HbA1c values in adolescents with IDDM without overt toxic effects, but they raise questions about whether these effects can be sustained in cases of poor compliance or reduced bioefficacy.

Both insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance in children and young adults with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes vary with growth hormone concentrations and with age

Aims/hypothesis. We measured insulin clearance rates in children and young adults with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus to establish their relation with insulin sensitivity and with factors such as growth hormone secretion and body mass index.¶Methods. We studied 46 subjects [mean (range) age 14.4 (9.8–24.6) years), body mass index 21.1 (15.8–29.6)Kgm2] using an overnight (1800–0800 hours) variable rate insulin infusion euglycaemic clamp protocol (5 mmol/l). Plasma free insulin concentrations during steady-state euglycaemia were used as an index of insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance determined as a ratio of insulin infusion rate to plasma free insulin.¶Results. During steady-state euglycaemia (0500–0730 hours), insulin sensitivity [mean (SEM) plasma insulin 0.020 (0.002) mU/l] and insulin clearance rates [19.1 (1.8) ml · kg–1· min] varied with age non-linearly and in a reciprocal fashion to each other (cubic regression F = 4.09, p = 0.01; F = 3.55, p = 0.02, respectively). Insulin sensitivity was negatively related to BMI (r = –0.37, p = 0.011) and mean overnight growth hormone concentrations (r = –0.40, p = 0.007). Insulin clearance was only related to growth hormone concentrations (r = –0.37, p = 0.014). These relations were still evident after stepwise multiple regression analysis (potential determinants: C peptide, sex, age, puberty stage, HbA1 c, duration of diabetes): insulin sensitivity r = 0.55, p < 0.001; insulin clearance r = 0.37, p < 0.02.¶Conclusions/interpretation. Insulin clearance rates vary with age in young subjects with Type I diabetes and are highest during mid-adolescence when insulin sensitivity is at its lowest. Both insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance are related to circulating growth hormone concentrations. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 61–68]

Suspended insulin infusion during overnight closed-loop glucose control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

Diabet. Med. 27, 480–484 (2010)

Effects of recombinant human IGF-I/IGF-binding protein-3 complex on glucose and glycerol metabolism in type 1 diabetes.

Recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) complexed with its natural binding protein IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 (rhIGF-I/IGFBP-3) is a novel formulation that has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in type 1 diabetes, yet the mechanisms are not clear. We used stable isotopes to investigate the effects of rhIGF-I/IGFBP-3 on glucose and glycerol metabolism in type 1 diabetes. Fifteen subjects (age 13–24 years; 10 males) were studied on three occasions in random order. Each study period lasted for two days, and an injection of either placebo or rhIGF-I/IGFBP-3 (0.1–0.8 mg · kg−1 · day −1) was given subcutaneously at 6:00 p.m. on days 1 and 2. Following the second injection, the subjects were kept euglycemic overnight by a variable rate insulin infusion, followed by a 4-h, two-step (insulin 0.6 and 1.5 mU · kg−1 · min −1) hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. During the overnight basal steady state, rhIGF-I/IGFBP-3 dose-dependently reduced endogenous glucose production rate (Ra) (P = 0.004), while peripheral glucose uptake (Rd) was not different from placebo. The increase in glucose Rd during hyperinsulinemic clamp was greater following rhIGF-I/IGFBP-3 than placebo, both during the first (P = 0.008) and second step (P = 0.008) of the clamp. No significant differences were found in glycerol Ra, a measure of lipolysis, between rhIGF-I/IGFBP-3 and placebo. In conclusion, rhIGF-I/IGFBP-3 enhances glucose metabolism by controlling both endogenous glucose output and peripheral glucose uptake.

The effects of a specific growth hormone antagonist on overnight insulin requirements and insulin sensitivity in young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Aims/hypothesisGrowth hormone hypersecretion in Type 1 diabetes could exacerbate insulin resistance and contribute to declining glycaemic control. Our aim was to determine the effects of specific growth hormone blockade on insulin sensitivity and lipolysis in young adults with Type 1 diabetes.MethodsWe studied the effects of two doses of a specific growth hormone antagonist (B2036-PEG; Somavert, Pharmacia Corporation, Milton Keynes, UK) on insulin sensitivity in seven young adults (17–22 yrs, 3M) with Type 1 diabetes. Subjects recieved 5 and 10 mg B2036-PEG, in random order for 3 weeks, with a 3-week washout. At baseline and following each treatment block, an overnight (03:00 to 08:00xa0h) insulin infusion for euglycaemia (5xa0mmol/l), followed by two-step hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp, using [6,6 2H2] glucose and 2H5 glycerol to measure glucose and glycerol turnover was performed.ResultsCompared to baseline, overnight insulin requirements decreased with both doses: (means±SEM) 0.34±0.02xa0mU/Kg/min vs 0.25±0.01 (5xa0mg) (p=0.04), and 0.24±0.01 (10xa0mg) (p=0.004). IGF-I (ng/ml) decreased following 10xa0mg [223.5±23.9 vs 154.6±28.1 (p=0.005], but not 5xa0mg. Mean overnight non esterified fatty acid concentrations (mmol/l) decreased with 10xa0mg [0.51±0.04 vs 0.38±0.04 (p=0.03)], as did β-hydroxybutyrate (mmol/l); [0.31±0.04 vs 0.15±0.02 (p=0.004)]. Glycerol production rate, an index of lipolysis, was lower following 10xa0mg (p=0.04), but insulin sensitivity during the clamp did not change with either dose.Conclusion/interpretationTreatment with both doses of B2036-PEG reduced overnight insulin requirements. The 10xa0mg dose suppressed lipolysis and reduced IGF-I. Failure to show enhanced insulin sensitivity during the clamp with the 10xa0mg dose could reflect opposing actions of growth hormone and IGF-I.

Childhood and adolescent diabetes.

Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its principal binding protein IGFBP-3 are reduced, whereas those of the inhibitory binding protein, IGFBP-1, tend to be high in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). These abnormalities are thought to arise because of relative portal hypoinsulinaemia and partial resistance at the hepatic growth hormone (GH) receptor. During adolescence, reductions in IGF-I and IGF bioactivity lead to feedback for GH hypersecretion and the elevated GH and low IGF-I levels lead to an increase of the normal insulin resistance encountered during puberty. Low IGF-I levels, but in particular elevated GH levels, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathic complications, in particular, renal hypertrophy, glomerular hyperfiltration and the development of microalbuminuria. Early study of IGF-I replacement with recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) demonstrated, in the short term, reductions in GH hypersecretion with improved insulin sensitivity and, in the longer term, reductions in insulin requirements and improvements in HbA1c levels. However, larger doses of rhIGF-I were associated with retinopathy either due to rapid improvements in glycaemic control or direct effects of high levels of free IGF-I. More recently, pilot studies using the combination of rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3 have confirmed the physiological efficacy of IGF-I replacement in T1DM. The combined treatment is better tolerated and may result in reduced tissue exposure to high levels of free IGF-I. Longer term clinical studies with this IGF-I/IGFBP-3 combination are needed.

Validity of triple- and dual-tracer techniques to estimate glucose appearance

The triple-tracer (TT) dilution technique has been proposed to be the gold standard method to measure postprandial glucose appearance. However, validation against an independent standard has been missing. We addressed this issue and also validated the simpler dual-tracer (DT) technique. Sixteen young subjects with type 1 diabetes (age 19.5 ± 3.8 yr, BMI 23.4 ± 1.5 kg/m2, HbA1c 8.7 ± 1.7%, diabetes duration 9.0 ± 6.9 yr, total daily insulin 0.9 ± 0.2 U·kg−1·day−1, mean ± SD) received a variable intravenous 20% dextrose infusion enriched with [U-13C]glucose over 8 h to achieve postprandial-resembling glucose excursions while intravenous insulin was administered to achieve postprandial-resembling levels of plasma insulin. Primed [6,6-2H2]glucose was infused in a manner that mimicked the expected endogenous glucose production and [U-13C; 1,2,3,4,5,6,6-2H7]glucose was infused in a manner that mimicked the expected glucose appearance from a standard meal. Plasma glucose enrichment was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The intravenous dextrose infusion served as an independent standard and was reconstructed using the TT and DT techniques with the two-compartment Radziuk/Mari model and an advanced stochastic computational method. The difference between the infused and reconstructed dextrose profile was similar for the two methods (root mean square error 6.6 ± 1.9 vs. 8.0 ± 3.5 μmol·kg−1·min−1, TT vs. DT, P = NS, paired t-test). The TT technique was more accurate in recovering the overall dextrose infusion (100 ± 9 and 92 ± 12%; P = 0.02). The root mean square error associated with the mean dextrose infusion profile was 2.5 and 3.3 μmol·kg−1·min−1 for the TT and DT techniques, respectively. We conclude that the TT and DT techniques combined with the advanced computational method can measure accurately exogenous glucose appearance. The TT technique tends to outperform slightly the DT technique, but the latter benefits from reduced experimental and computational complexity.

Serum insulin-like growth factor II levels in normal adolescents and those with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE Unlike IGF‐I and its principal binding proteins, data regarding IGF‐II levels have not been well defined in normal subjects and those with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We have therefore measured IGF‐II, as well as IGF‐I, and IGFBP‐3, levels In a large cohort of subjects with IDDM and in age/sex matched controls.

Data related to "Vomiting in Pregnancy is Associated with a Higher Risk of Low Birth Weight: A cohort study"

This contains the data relating to publication by Petry et al., entitled Vomiting in Pregnancy is Associated with a Higher Risk of Low Birth Weight: A cohort study which will be published in BMC Pregnancy Childbirth in 2018.