Roger Mazze

The significance of one abnormal glucose tolerance test value on adverse outcome in pregnancy.

A matched control study of 126 women equally divided into three groups (normal oral glucose tolerance test, one abnormal test value, and gestational diabetes mellitus) was undertaken to examine the relationships among oral glucose tolerance test results, glycemic control in pregnancy, and adverse perinatal outcome. Characterization of metabolic control for the one abnormal oral glucose tolerance test value and the gestational diabetes mellitus groups (before treatment) showed no significant difference. After the start of treatment, however, a significant (p less than 0.01) difference between the groups in level of control was found. While no significant difference in the average birth weight between the three groups was discovered, the incidence of large infants (macrosomia and large for gestational age) was found to be significantly higher in the one abnormal oral glucose tolerance test group when compared with the normal (34% versus 9%; p less than 0.01) and gestational diabetes mellitus group (34% versus 12%; p less than 0.01). No significant difference for the incidence of an infant large for gestational age was found between the normal group and the patients with gestational diabetes mellitus after treatment. Neonatal metabolic disorders were found to be significantly higher for the one abnormal oral glucose tolerance test group (15%) when compared with the control and the gestational diabetes mellitus groups (3%). We conclude that, if left untreated, one abnormal value on an oral glucose tolerance test is strongly associated with adverse perinatal outcome.

The relationship between large-for-gestational-age infants and glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes

In this prospective study 246 women with gestational diabetes were followed up to determine the characteristics of metabolic control associated with large-for-gestational-age infants. Memory-based reflectance meters were used for self-monitoring blood glucose. Ambulatory glucose profiles were produced to characterize glycemic control levels throughout pregnancy. With these novel approaches to the collection and representation of glucose data, the severity of glucose intolerance (hyperglycemia) was found to be associated with both maternal and neonatal morbidity in terms of infant size and cesarean section rate. By use of hierarchical cluster analysis to identify three groups on the basis of control levels (low less than 87 mg/dl, mid 87 to 105 mg/dl, high greater than 105 mg/dl) we were able to show a positive outcome in the low group with reduced rates of large-for-gestational-age (2%) and macrosomatic (0%) infants. Furthermore, we showed that as mean blood glucose levels and instability in glycemic control increased from group to group, incidence of large-for-gestational-age and macrosomatic infants increased. Whereas obesity increased the relative risk of adverse neonatal outcome, type of treatment (insulin versus diet) did not appear to be significant. Appropriately monitored toward stability within a narrow range to achieve tight metabolic control, ambulatory glycemia in pregnancy is associated with a decreased risk of maternal and fetal complications.

Diabetes in pregnancy: Evaluating self-monitoring performance and glycemic control with memory-based reflectance meters

Reflectance meters modified by the addition of a memory microchip that stored glucose values were used to measure the difference between self-reported and actual blood glucose data in 34 pregnant diabetic women. Overall two thirds of the patients reported values that were significantly lower and less variable than those recorded in the memory meters.

Pregestational diabetes: Insulin requirements throughout pregnancy

The management of pregestational diabetes requires tight metabolic control to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. It has been suggested that type I diabetes is a disorder characterized by insulin deficiency and type II diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance; however, it may be hypothesized that a difference in insulin requirements should emerge throughout pregnancy to reflect the dissimilarities in these two metabolic disturbances. The current investigation of 103 women with pregestational diabetes used a novel approach (reflectance meters with onboard memories) to uncover the actual insulin dosages required to reach and maintain optimum metabolic control throughout pregnancy. It was found that both type I and type II diabetes appear to have a triphasic insulin pattern, with the patient having type II diabetes requiring significantly higher doses of insulin during each trimester. This seems to suggest that the hormonal changes in pregnancy may have a similar effect on both type I and type II diabetes but to a different degree. Thus this should be considered in the treatment of pregestational diabetes and in the development of an algorithm for diabetes management.

Gestational diabetes: insulin requirements in pregnancy.

A prospective study of 57 women with gestational diabetes mellitus was undertaken to determine actual insulin requirements throughout pregnancy. Women were placed on a multiple injection, mixed insulin regimen and monitored their blood glucose level 6.5 +/- 1 times per day using a memory-based reflectance meter to obtain verified data. A significant (p less than 0.01) increase in total insulin dose was found during the initial treatment period (7 +/- 2 days) until the target glucose range was achieved. Insulin requirements continued to significantly (p less than 0.01) rise until 30 +/- 1 gestational weeks, despite a stabilization of glucose level. Thereafter, there was no significant change (3%) in insulin requirement. A correlation of r = 0.58 (p less than 0.001) for the relationship between insulin dose at the 24 and 32 weeks gestation, and an r = 0.99 (p less than 0.0001) for the relationship between insulin dose at 32 and 39 weeks gestation was found. We concluded that an emphasis on ambulatory blood glucose control and insulin adjustments should occur in the early treatment phase of gestational diabetes.

An epidemiological model for diabetes mellitus in the United States: Five major complications*

Diabetes mellitus affects almost 5.5 million Americans each year. An estimated additional 5 million individuals may have diabetes, but remain undetected. Individuals with diabetes are at high risk for the development of micro- and macrovascular disease, diabetic coma and adverse outcome of pregnancy. The rate at which these complications develop are now partially identifiable for the United States. For 5 potentially preventable complications (retinopathy, adverse outcome of pregnancy, vascular disease, nephropathy and diabetic coma) the morbidity and mortality rates can now be calculated. There exist 50,000 cases of blindness due to diabetes with an additional 5800 new cases each year. Adverse outcome of diabetic pregnancy occurs in over 18,000 births each year, with as many as 4500 related perinatal deaths. Each year 40,000 diabetics are required to have a lower extremity amputation. Of the already 70,000 diabetics who have had an amputation, 25,000 will die this year. End stage renal disease affects 4000 diabetics each year. During the same time period, of the 7500 existing cases of end stage renal disease, 2000 will result in mortality cases. Diabetic coma (DKA and HHNK) accounts for 67,400 hospitalizations and results in 3600 deaths each year. Together these complications and those associated with cardiovascular disease account for 323,000 deaths with diabetes as the underlying or contributing cause in the United States.

Verified self-monitored blood glucose data versus glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated serum protein as a means of redicting short- and long-term metabolic control in gestational diabetes

Glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated serum protein have been suggested as tools for evaluation of long- and short-term glycemic control, respectively. Twenty-six patients with gestational diabetes were prospectively studied to determine the relationship of glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated serum protein to metabolic control. To verify the accuracy of blood glucose data, a memory-based reflectance meter was used for subjects with gestational diabetes who tested 6.5 +/- 1 times per day. Our analysis revealed that despite a statistically positive correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin, glycosylated serum protein, and verified data, their use as a clinical tool is limited because of their poor predictability.

Assessment of long-term glycemia in type I diabetes using multiple blood glucose values stored in a memory-containing reflectometer

The relationship between repetitive hemoglobin A1 values and daily blood glucose tests performed by 20 insulin-dependent diabetic outpatients was assessed over a six-week period using a modified reflectance meter capable of storing blood glucose determinations automatically. An average of four and a half determinations per subject per day was recorded with a range of average blood glucose values between 82 +/- 2 mg/dl and 316 +/- 5 mg/dl (mean +/- SE). The relationship between average blood glucose and hemoglobin A1 values was significant when hemoglobin A1 values at the end of the six-week period were correlated with the mean blood glucose level over that period (r = 0.55, p less than 0.02), but improved when a more remote hemoglobin A1 value obtained at 10 weeks was used (r = 0.64, p less than 0.005). Hemoglobin A1 values covering two-week intervals were extremely poor in reflecting average glycemia. The average fasting blood glucose level in these subjects was highly correlated with the overall daily blood glucose values (r = 0.89, p less than 0.0001), although the coefficients of variation of these parameters averaged 43 +/- 3 percent and 47 +/- 2 percent, respectively, and were greater than that of the hemoglobin A1 values over six weeks (10 +/- 2 percent). It is concluded that labile blood glucose control in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes is accurately reflected by the average fasting blood glucose level, although multiple determinations must be employed. Satisfactory assessment may be made by use of hemoglobin A1 value provided that the hemoglobin A1 determination follows a sufficiently long period of time, presumably related to the turnover of glycosylated hemoglobin.

Diabetes Patient Education: A Health Care Provider Perspective

Diabetes patient educa tion, a preventive health service, is an integral component of the overall program of care for the diabetic patient. Affecting both biomedical and psychosocial status, it may be analyzed through its knowledge- and behavior-based com ponents. Both are impor tant to the overall result, and each involves distinct provider knowledge and skills for successful, effec tive application. This application optimally in cludes a reproducible process involving a needs assessment, educational content planning, im plementation strategies, and appropriate evaluative methods. Familiarity with these concepts and tech niques will benefit the interested health care provider.

Delivery of diabetes care to low--income patients: assessment of a federally funded program.

the availability of diabetes care services for this high-risk group. Additionally, the increasing impetus for sifting diabetes education and care from the inpatient to the outpatient setting suggests that ambulatory clinics must be prepared to provide these services. The federal government, by congressional mandate, provides funding to approximately 600 neighborhood family care centers (NFCC)* throughout the United States.?,3 These clinics provide primary care health services in medicall~ under;erved areas. The quality of care m monitored at the regional level by the Public Health Service, traditional regulatory agencies, and a locally elected community board.; When patients attending one of the federally funded primary care clinics were asked to assess the quality of care, they judged care to be excellent.a However, the effectiveness of this health care system in controlling the short-term and long-term complications of diabetes, in particular, needs evaluation. Although the NFCC clinics offer