Lenita Zajdenverg

Dysglycemias in pregnancy: from diagnosis to treatment. Brazilian consensus statement

There is an urgent need to find consensus on screening, diagnosing and treating all degrees of DYSGLYCEMIA that may occur during pregnancies in Brazil, considering that many cases of DYSGLYCEMIA in pregnant women are currently not diagnosed, leading to maternal and fetal complications. For this reason the Brazilian Diabetes Society (SBD) and the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Societies (FEBRASGO), got together to introduce this proposal. We present here a joint consensus regarding the standardization of clinical management for pregnant women with any degree of Dysglycemia, on the basis of current information, to improve medical assistance and to avoid related complications of Dysglycemia in pregnancy to the mother and the fetus. This consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis among general practitioners, endocrinologists and obstetricians allowing the dissemination of information in basic health units, public and private services, that are responsible for screening, diagnosing and treating disglycemic pregnant patients.

Regional differences in clinical care among patients with type 1 diabetes in Brazil: Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group

BackgroundTo determine the characteristics of clinical care offered to type 1 diabetic patients across the four distinct regions of Brazil, with geographic and contrasting socioeconomic differences. Glycemic control, prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, screening for chronic complications and the frequency that the recommended treatment goals were met using the American Diabetes Association guidelines were evaluated.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted from December 2008 to December 2010 in 28 secondary and tertiary care public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities in north/northeast, mid-west, southeast and south regions. The data were obtained from 3,591 patients (56.0% females and 57.1% Caucasians) aged 21.2 ± 11.7 years with a disease duration of 9.6 ± 8.1 years (<1 to 50 years).ResultsOverall, 18.4% patients had HbA1c levels <7.0%, and 47.5% patients had HbA1c levels ≥ 9%. HbA1c levels were associated with lower economic status, female gender, age and the daily frequency of self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) but not with insulin regimen and geographic region. Hypertension was more frequent in the mid-west (32%) and north/northeast (25%) than in the southeast (19%) and south (17%) regions (p<0.001). More patients from the southeast region achieved LDL cholesterol goals and were treated with statins (p<0.001). Fewer patients from the north/northeast and mid-west regions were screened for retinopathy and nephropathy, compared with patients from the south and southeast. Patients from the south/southeast regions had more intensive insulin regimens than patients from the north/northeast and mid-west regions (p<0.001). The most common insulin therapy combination was intermediate-acting with regular human insulin, mainly in the north/northeast region (p<0.001). The combination of insulin glargine with lispro and glulisine was more frequently used in the mid-west region (p<0.001). Patients from the north/northeast region were younger, non-Caucasian, from lower economic status, used less continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, performed less SBGM and were less overweight/obese (p<0.001).ConclusionsA majority of patients, mainly in the north/northeast and mid-west regions, did not meet metabolic control goals and were not screened for diabetes-related chronic complications. These results should guide governmental health policy decisions, specific to each geographic region, to improve diabetes care and decrease the negative impact diabetes has on the public health system.

Diabetic ketoacidosis in adults: update of an old complication

Diabetic ketoacidosis is an acute complication of Diabetes Mellitus characterized by hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, dehydration, and ketosis, in patients with profound insulin deficiency. It occurs predominantly in patients with type 1 diabetes and is frequently precipitated by infections, insulin withdrawal or undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. The authors review its pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria and treatment options in adults, as well as its complications.

Interventions to improve patients' compliance with therapies aimed at lowering glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 1 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled clinical trials of psychological, telecare, and educational interventions

BackgroundBrazilian records on glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes show treatment efficacy. Poor patient adherence to therapeutic proposals influences these results and can be associated with social, psychological, and economic aspects, besides others factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of psychological, telecare, and educational interventions to improve treatment compliance among patients with type 1 diabetes. Compliance was assessed indirectly using reduction of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as the principal outcome measure.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were performed using Medline, Embase, Cochrane and Scopus databases up to April 2015. The following medical subject headings were used: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Patient Compliance or Adherence, Hemoglobin A, glycated, and Randomized Controlled Trial. The principal outcome was change in HbA1c between baseline and follow-up. Where appropriate, trials were combined in meta-analysis using fixed effects models.ResultsFrom 191 articles initially identified, 57 were full text reviewed, and 19 articles met the inclusion criteria providing data from 1782 patients (49.4 % males, age 18 years). The RCTs (2 to 24 months in duration) were divided into four groups according to type of intervention: psychology (seven studies; 818 patients), telecare (six studies; 494 patients); education (five studies; 349 patients), and psychoeducation (one study; 153 patients). All studies reported some type of adherence measurement of the interventions. Decrease in HbA1c was observed after psychology (MD −0.310; 95 % CI, −0.599 to −0.0210, P = 0.035) but not after telecare (MD −0.124 %; 95 % CI, −0.268, 0.020; P = 0.090) or educational (MD −0.001; 95 % CI, −0.202, 0.200; P = 0.990) interventions.ConclusionPsychological approaches to improve adherence to diabetes care treatment modestly reduced HbA1c in patients with type 1 diabetes; telecare and education interventions did not change glycemic control. However, the limited number of studies included as well as their methodological quality should be taken into account.

Effects of pregnancy on the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy and of diabetic nephropathy on pregnancy outcomes.

Controversy exists regarding the effect of pregnancy on the development and course of diabetic nephropathy. This study followed 43 pregnant women with previous diabetes mellitus, 32 without nephropathy (Group I) and 11 with nephropathy (Group II). Urinary albumin excretion (UAE), serum creatinine (Cr) and creatinine clearance (CCr) in the pre-pregnancy (Pre-P), first trimester (1T), third trimester (3T) and 1 year postpartum (PP) were evaluated. In both groups there were an increase in 3T compared to Pre-P of CCr (137 vs. 98 ml/min and 110 vs. 81 ml/min, p=0.0001, respectively) and UAE (7.78 vs. 3.15 mg/24 h and 592 vs. 119 mg/24 h, p=0.0001, respectively). Increase of Cr in the PP compared to 1T in Group II (0.88 vs. 0.70 mg/dL, p=0.031) was observed. There were no difference in UAE, CCr and Cr in the PP when compared to pre-P as well variance over time between groups. Group II showed higher prevalence of chronic hypertension (72.7 vs. 21.9%, p=0.004), preeclampsia (63.6 vs. 6.3%, p=0.0003) and lower gestational age at birth (36 vs. 38 weeks, p=0.003). We conclude that pregnancy was not associated with development and progression of diabetic nephropathy in women with or without mild renal dysfunction. The presence of diabetic nephropathy was associated with increased risk of perinatal complications.

Family history of type 2 diabetes is increased in patients with type 1 diabetes

It has been suggested that type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) might share some susceptibility risk factors. A higher prevalence of T2D has been reported in families of Caucasian T1D children than in the general population, although data in adults and multiethnic groups is still lacking. Our goal was to compare the prevalence of T2D family history between adults with T1D from a multiethnic population and a non-diabetic control group. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 145 adults with T1D and 141 healthy adults (control group) that included an interview and a review of the medical charts. Groups were matched for age, sex, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI). We found a higher prevalence of not only T1D but also T2D in first-degree relatives of patients than in controls (p<0.001 and p=0.042, respectively). These differences were not observed for second/third-degree relatives. When subjects were stratified according to their ethnicity, the higher frequency of T2D in FDR of patients than controls became more striking in non-white (p=0.002) and disappeared in white individuals (p=0.85). To conclude, the prevalence of T1D and T2D was higher in first-degree relatives of patients with T1D than of controls. The difference in T2D family history between patients and controls was specially striking among non-whites, which may represent a peculiarity of T1D in this group.

Body composition study by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in familial partial lipodystrophy: finding new tools for an objective evaluation

BackgroundFamilial partial lipodystrophies (FPLD) are clinically heterogeneous disorders characterized by selective loss of adipose tissue, insulin resistance and metabolic complications. Until genetic studies become available for clinical practice, clinical suspicion and pattern of fat loss are the only parameters leading clinicians to consider the diagnosis. The objective of this study was to compare body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in patients with FPLD and control subjects, aiming to find objective variables for evaluation of FPLD.MethodsEighteen female patients with partial lipodystrophy phenotype and 16 healthy controls, matched for body mass index, sex and age were studied. All participants had body fat distribution evaluated by DXA measures. Fasting blood samples were obtained for evaluation of plasma leptin, lipid profile and inflammatory markers. Genetic studies were carried out on the 18 patients selected that were included for statistical analysis. Thirteen women confirmed diagnosis of Dunnigan-type FPLD (FPLD2).ResultsDXA revealed a marked decrease in truncal fat and 3 folds decrease in limbs fat percentage in FPLD2 patients (p <0.001). Comparative analysis showed that ratio between trunk and lower limbs fat mass, characterized as Fat Mass Ratio (FMR), had a greater value in FLPD2 group (1.86 ± 0.43 vs controls 0.93 ± 0.10; p <0.001) and a improved accuracy for evaluating FPLD2 with a cut-off point of 1.2. Furthermore, affected women showed hypoleptinemia (FLPD2 4.9 ± 2.0 vs controls 18.2 ± 6.8; p <0.001), insulin resistance and a more aggressive lipid profile.ConclusionIn this study, assessment of body fat distribution by DXA permitted an objective characterization of FLPD2. A consistent pattern with marked fat reduction of lower body was observed in affected patients. To our knowledge this is the first time that cut-off values of objective variables were proposed for evaluation of FPLD2.

Precocious markers of cardiovascular risk and vascular damage in apparently healthy women with previous gestational diabetes

AbstractPrevious gestational diabetes mellitus (pGDM) indicates future risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Insulin resistance (IR) may precede T2DM in many years and is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases.AimThis study aims to identify endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors in women with pGDM.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis included 45 non diabetic women, 20 pGDM and 25 controls, at least one year after delivery. Body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC), blood pressure, serum lipids, liver enzymes, uric acid, nonesterified fatty acids, C-reactive protein and plasma glucose, insulin, fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 were measured. HOMA IR and β were calculated. Pre and post induced ischemia videocapillaroscopy was performed in hand nailfold to evaluate microvascular morphologic aspect and functional response.ResultsAC and fasting glucose were significantly higher in pGDM (p = 0.01 and p = 0.002 respectively). Women with pGDM and BMI < 25 kg/m2 had significantly higher levels of fasting insulin and HOMA IR than controls (p = 0.008 and 0.05 respectively). Abnormal morphologic findings were more frequent and papillae rectification were 3.3 times more prevalent in pGDM (p = 0.003). Other microvascular parameters did not differ between groups.ConclusionCardiovascular risk factors and a microcirculation abnormality (papillae rectification) were significantly increased in young non-diabetic women with pGDM.

Should thyroid-stimulating hormone goals be reviewed in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus? Results from the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group.

To investigate if thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are associated with any differences in glycaemic control or diabetes‐related complications in individuals with Type 1 diabetes.

Anti-parietal cell antibodies and pernicious anemia in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and multiethnic background

Anti-parietal cell (APC) antibodies and pernicious anemia (PA) were evaluated in patients with type 1 diabetes (n=75) and in controls. A higher frequency of APC (13.3%) and PA (4%) was found in cases than in controls (p=0.003), associated with other autoimmune diseases (p=0.003), but not with insulin or PTPN22 polymorphisms.