Marta Dominguez-Lopez

Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Versus Multiple Daily Injections in Pregnant Women with Type 1 Diabetes

BACKGROUND Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) may be an alternative to multiple daily injections (MDI) in pre-gestational diabetes during pregnancy. However, no clear improvement in obstetric and perinatal outcome has so far been established for CSII treatment. METHODS In a case-control study, 35 pregnancies treated with CSII and 64 pregnancies treated with MDI treatment were evaluated. Metabolic control and obstetric and perinatal outcome were compared. RESULTS Women in the CSII group improved their metabolic control (hemoglobin A1c before CSII, 7.83 +/- 0.97%; 3-6 months after, 6.77 +/- 0.61%; P < 0.05). Hemoglobin A1c before pregnancy was lower in the CSII group (6.62 +/- 0.60%) than in the MDI group (7.59 +/- 1.61%) (P < 0.05). No other significant differences, either in metabolic control of diabetes or in obstetric and perinatal outcome, were found. CONCLUSIONS CSII treatment is safe in pregnancy, but it has not yet been associated with any improved pregnancy outcome.

Development of a new fear of hypoglycemia scale: FH-15.

Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse event associated with insulin treatment in diabetes. The consequences of hypoglycemia can be quite aversive and potentially life threatening. The physical sequelae provide ample reason for patients to fear hypoglycemia and avoid episodes. For these reasons, our purpose in this study was to develop a new measure that explores specific fear of hypoglycemia (FH) in adult patients with type 1 diabetes and to examine its psychometric properties. The instrument developed to assess FH was initially made up of 20 items, of which 18 were negative and 2 were positive, assessed on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5). This scale was completed by 229 patients with type 1 diabetes. Additionally, a structured interview and a closed question called subjective fear of hypoglycemia were included as diagnostic criteria. A factor analysis employing the principal-components method and promax rotation was carried out, resulting in a new scale composed of 15 items. Three factors (fear, avoidance, and interference) were obtained and explained 58.27% of the variance. The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbachs α = .891) and test-retest reliability (r = .908, p < .001), as well as adequate concurrent and predictive validity. The cutoff score that provided the highest overall sensitivity and specificity was set at 28 points. The Fear of Hypoglycemia 15-item scale (FH-15) demonstrated good reliability and validity. This study suggests that the new instrument may serve as a valuable measure of specific FH for use in research and clinical practice.

Use of telemedicine in subjects with type 1 diabetes equipped with an insulin pump and real-time continuous glucose monitoring

We evaluated a telemedicine system in patients with type 1 diabetes who had optimized treatment with an insulin pump and a real-time continuous glucose monitoring system. We conducted a prospective, one-year study of 15 subjects. Three medical visits took place: pre-baseline, baseline and at 6 months. Each month the subjects transmitted information from the glucose meter, glucose sensor and insulin pump. We adjusted the treatment and returned the information by email. We evaluated psychological and metabolic variables, including HbA1c, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia and glucose variability. At baseline the mean age of the subjects was 40 years and the mean duration of diabetes was 22 years. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c (7.50 to 6.97%) at 6 months, a significant increase in the number of self-monitoring blood glucose checks per day (5.2 to 6.2), and significant improvements in variability: MODD, mean of daily difference (67 to 53) and MAGE, mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions (136 to 102). There were significant improvements in quality of life (92 to 87), satisfaction with the treatment (34 to 32) and less fear of hypoglycaemia (36 to 32). Adult subjects with type 1 diabetes on treatment with a continuous insulin infusion system and a real time glucose sensor and who have acceptable metabolic control and optimized treatment can benefit from the addition of a telemetry system to their usual outpatient follow-up.

Depresión en la diabetes mellitus tipo 1 y factores asociados

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE In recent years, there has been an increased interest in depression and diabetes risk factors. Our objectives were 1) Study the variables associated with the presence of depression in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), 2) to analyze potential risk factors for depression in these patients, and 3) to study a possible explanatory model of depression scores in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS 207 patients with DM1. We evaluated sociodemographic and biomedical variables by means of a structured interview. We assessed psychological variables by means of the Scale for Depression in Type 1 Diabetes (EDDI-1) and the Spanish version of Diabetes Quality of Life (Es DQOL). RESULTS Prevalence of depression was 21,7%. Variables associated with risk of depression in this sample were to be female; be unemployed; smoking; having complications of diabetes or other physical conditions; not perceiving family support or support from friends or colleagues in relation to diabetes; having a high number of weekly hyperglycemia; and a poor quality of life. A model based on previous research was obtained. This model explains a high percentage of the variability in the scores of patients in the EDDI-1. CONCLUSIONS These results provide an empirical support to the knowledge of the risk factors associated with depression in patients with DM1. Glycemic control and quality of life have an important effect on the scores of depression in these patients, providing information for their treatment.

The Calculating Boluses on Multiple Daily Injections (CBMDI) study: A randomized controlled trial on the effect on metabolic control of adding a bolus calculator to multiple daily injections in people with type 1 diabetes

Although the insulin bolus calculator is increasingly being used by people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy, few studies have investigated its effects on glycemic control. The aim of this study was to determine whether adding this device to therapeutic intensification could further improve metabolic control.

The CBMDI study: A randomized controlled trial on the effect on metabolic control of adding a bolus calculator to a multiple daily injections treatment in people with type 1 diabetes.

Although the insulin bolus calculator is increasingly being used by people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on multiple daily injection (MDI) therapy, few studies have investigated its effects on glycemic control. The aim of this study was to determine whether adding this device to therapeutic intensification could further improve metabolic control.

[Chonic diarrhea and malabsorption due to common variable immunodeficiency, gastrectomy and giardiasis infection: a difficult nutritional management].

Gastric cancer is a frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Surgery is the only potentially curative therapy, although the adverse effects of surgery are common and considerable. Common variable immunodeficiency is in many cases cause of gastrointestinal system problems such as chronic diarrhea caused by infestation with giardia lamblia, nodular lymphoid hiperplasia ad loss of villi leading frequently to malapsortion and malnutrition. Nutritional deficiencies due to malapsorption (postgastrectomy and secondary to loss of villi, giardiasis and common variable inmunodeficiency) are common. We present the case of a patient with gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy with common variable hipogammaglobulinemia and chronic infestation by giardia lamblia, with serious diarrhea resistant to treatment and malabsorption.