Simona Georgiana Popa

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and prediabetes in the adult Romanian population: PREDATORR study†

The PREDATORR (PREvalence of DiAbeTes mellitus, prediabetes, overweight, Obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease in Romania) study is the first national study analyzing the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes, and their association with cardiometabolic, sociodemographic, and lifestyle risk factors in the Romanian population aged 20–79 years.

WRIST CIRCUMFERENCE: AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF BOTH INSULIN RESISTANCE AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION

Abstract Background and aim: It was recently reported that wrist circumference is associated with insulin resistance (IR) both in children and adults. We aimed to evaluate whether wrist circumference is a useful anthropometrical parameter for the evaluation of IR in an elderly population. Material and method: We performed a study on 40 subjects, 20 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 20 control subjects. IR was evaluated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). We measured the following anthropometrical parameters: weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, wrist circumference, waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI) and body adiposity index (BAI). Results: We found statistically significant differences between the subjects with T2D and the control group for all the analyzed parameters. Statistically significant correlations between all the anthropometrical parameters and HOMA-IR were observed. However, only WC was an independent predictor of IR. Wrist circumference was the only parameter negatively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Furthermore, this measurement was an independent predictor of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the studied subjects. Conclusion: Wrist circumference can be used in the general practice as a surrogate marker of IR in the elderly, being both easily determined and a cost-free method

Peritoneal dialysis – risk factor for glycemic variability assessed by continuous glucose monitoring system

Abstract Background and Aims. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is accompanied by a multitude of factors that influence glycemic variability, and HbA1c does not detect dynamic glucose changes. In this study we wanted to assess glycemic variability, using a 72-hour continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS), in 31 patients stratified according to the presence of type 2 diabetes and PD. Materials and Methods. The study included 31 patients (11 type 2 diabetic PD patients, 9 non diabetic PD patients and 11 type 2 diabetic patients without PD). Glycemic variability was assessed on CGM readings by: Mean Amplitude of Glycemic Excursion (MAGE), Mean of Daily Differences (MODD), Fractal Dimensions (FD), Mean Interstitial Glucose (MIG), Area Under glycemia Curve (AUC), M100, % time with glucose >180/<70 mg/dl. Results. The PD diabetic patients presented AUC, MIG and inter-day glycemic variability (MODD) significantly higher than diabetic patients without PD. In PD patients, the type of dialysis fluid in the nocturnal exchange and peritoneal membrane status did not significantly influence glycemic variability. Conclusions. CGMS is more useful than HbA1c in quantifying the metabolic imbalance of PD patients. PD induces inter-day glycemic variability and poor glycemic control, thus being a potential risk factor for chronic complications progression in diabetic patients.

The role of the central nervous system in glucose homeostasis

Abstract Central nervous system, mainly the hypothalamus and the brainstem are important keys in glucose homeostasis. Not only do they use glucose as primary fuel for their functioning but they are part of intricate neuronal circuits involved in glucose uptake and production as was first shown by Claude Bernard. Moreover electrophysiological analysis of hypothalamus revealed the existence of glucosensing neurons whose firing rates are controlled by glucose extracellular level. Further information was obtained regarding the importance of leptin, insulin and free fatty acids as afferent signals received by these neural structures. As for the main efferent pathways, autonomic system is the one connecting CNS with the effector organs (the liver, the pancreas and the adrenal glands).

Biochemistry of hyperglycemia induced vascular dysfunction

Abstract Glucose enters the endothelium via a non-insulin sensitive GLUT-1 facilitated transporter that transports glucose continuously. Extracellular hyperglycemia is positively correlated with intracellular glucose. As the glucose levels increase, several changes in the glycolytic pathway, tricarboxilic acid cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway occur, all of them leading to an increase of oxygen reactive species (ROS). ROS are capable not only of directly impairing endothelial cells, but also indirectly by activating poly(ADPribose) polymerase, which inhibits glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Further increase in glycloytic intermediates is followed by activation or overexpression of the main pathological pathways of hyperglycemia induced vascular damage: upregulation of glycation end-products, activation of protein kinase C, increased hexosamine pathway, and increased flux through polyol pathway, finally leading to the progressive narrowing and occlusion of the vessels.

Beta-Cell Function and Failure in Type 2 Diabetes

The main role of beta-cell is to synthesize and secrete insulin in order to maintain circulating glucose levels within physiological range. Although there exist several triggers of insulin secretion like nutrients (amino acids such as leucine, glutamine in combination with leucine, nonesterified fatty acid), hormones, neurotransmitters and drugs (sulfonylurea, glinides), glucose represents the main physiological insulin secretagogue [1].

The Diabetes-Tuberculosis Co-Epidemic: The Interaction between Individual and Socio-Economic Risk Factors

Abstract Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbi-mortality, about 30% of the population having a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a threefold increased risk of developing the disease. The prevalence of DM is rapidly increasing, especially in countries with low and middle income, where TB incidence is also increased, thus baffling the efforts for TB control. The DM-TB co-epidemic is more frequent in married, older men, with reduced level of education, low income, without a steady job, with lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption, smoking, sedentarism, living in an urban environment, in crowded areas, in insanitary conditions. These patients have a higher body mass index (BMI) compared with those without DM and frequently present family history of TB, family history of DM, longer duration of DM and reduced glycemic control. TB associated with DM is usually asymptomatic, more contagious, multidrug resistant and is significantly associated with an increased risk of therapy failure, relapse and even death. Thus, the DM-TB comorbidity represents a threat to public health and requires the implementation of urgent measures in order to both prevent and manage the two diseases.

NEW INSIGHT INTO THE ROLE OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA IN CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASES

Abstract Humans spend almost one third of their life sleeping, thus sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality will have consequences upon the quality of life. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep disorder that represents a respiratory cessation for at least ten seconds, which appears repeatable during sleep and it is accompanied by decreased oxygen saturation. The diagnosis of OSA is possible by filling in the STOP, STOP BANG, BERLIN questionnaires and performing the polysomnography, an accessible and more accurate method but yet very expensive. The prevalence of OSA is continuously increasing, but because of the nonspecific symptoms, the percentage of un-diagnosed cases is further increased. Data from 11 epidemiological studies published between 1993 and 2014 indicated an OSA prevalence of 22% in men and 17% in women. It has been suggested that there is a bidirectional causal relationship between OSA and obesity, and numerous studies have shown association of OSA with insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications and atrial fibrillation.

Associations of smoking with cardiometabolic profile and renal function in a Romanian population-based sample from the PREDATORR cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: The impact of smoking on morbidity is well known, but in Romania, limited data are available regarding the smoking prevalence and relationship with cardiometabolic profile and kidney function. Objectives: To assess the association of smoking with cardiometabolic traits and kidney function, in a Romanian population-based sample from the PREDATORR study. Methods: PREDATORR was an epidemiological cross-sectional study. Between 2012 and 2014, participants were randomly selected from the lists of general practitioners and enrolled if they were aged 20 to 79 years, born and living in the past 10 years in Romania. Sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results: Overall, 2704 participants were included in the analysis, 18% of them being current smokers and 30.8% former smokers. Current smokers compared to non-smokers had higher total cholesterol (220.6 ± 50.4 versus 213.9 ± 86.8 mg/dl, P = 0.017), LDL-cholesterol (137.8 ± 45.2 versus 130.7 ± 83.7 mg/dl, P = 0.004) and glomerular filtration rate (96.9 ± 16.8 versus 90.7 ± 19.1 ml/min/1.73 m2, P <0.001) in women and higher triglycerides (170.7 ± 129.8 versus 144.3 ± 94.2 mg/dl, P = 0.007), glomerular filtration rate (97.6 ± 17 versus 90.3 ± 18 ml/min/1.73 m2, P < 0.001) and lower HDL-cholesterol (48 ± 15.5 versus 50.4 ± 14.1 mg/dl, P = 0.002) in men. Active smoking was associated with hypercholesterolaemia [OR: 1.40 (95% CI: 1.01–1.96), P = 0.04] and low HDL-cholesterolaemia [OR: 1.39 (95% CI: 1.01–1.91), P = 0.04] and negatively associated with overweight/obesity [OR: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.48–0.94), P = 0.02]. Male former smokers had higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (82.4% versus 76.4%, P = 0.02), hypertriglyceridaemia (43.6% versus 35.6%, P = 0.01), hypertension (64% versus 56.4%, P = 0.01) and ischaemic vascular disease (40.5% versus 30.9%, P = 0.003) than male non-smokers. Conclusion: The PREDATORR study showed a high prevalence of smoking in the adult Romanian population providing data on the association of smoking with cardiometabolic traits.

Insulin Initiation in Type 2 Diabetes – Why, When and How?

Abstract Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease and, despite recent progress in the treatment of diabetes, the glycemic control usually deteriorates gradually and insulin therapy is needed. When insulin therapy should be started and which are the appropriate insulin therapy strategies, still represent subjects of debates. Insulin represents a therapeutic option in type 2 diabetes due to the existence of early β-cell dysfunction and significant reduction of β-cell mass in natural history of type 2 diabetes. The current guidelines recommend insulin in double therapy in association with metformin or in combination with metformin and other noninsulin agent. Initiation of insulin therapy is recommended in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and symptomatic and/or presenting important hyperglycemia or elevated HbA1c. Initiation of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes should take into consideration the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, the effects and the potential risks of insulin therapy, the guidelines recommendations and the barriers to insulin use. Literatures of only English language were analyzed from NCBI database. Guidelines were accessed electronically from organisations, i.e. American Diabetes Associations, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology, European Association for the Study of Diabetes, International Diabetes Federation.