Willy Marcos Valencia

How to prevent the microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes beyond glucose control.

Microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) affect hundreds of millions of patients with type 2 diabetes. They usually affect people with longstanding or uncontrolled disease, but they can also be present at diagnosis or in those yet to have a diagnosis made. The presentation and progression of these complications can lead to loss of visual, renal, and neurologic functions, impaired mobility and cognition, poor quality of life, limitations for employment and productivity, and increased costs for the patient and society. If left uncontrolled or untreated, they lead to irreversible damage and even death. This review focuses on the primary and secondary prevention of diabetic microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes, beyond glycemic control. Interventions discussed include standard of care interventions supported by guidelines from major organizations, as well as additional proposed interventions that are supported by research published in the past decade. High level evidence sources such as systematic reviews and large, multicenter randomized clinical trials have been prioritized. Smaller trials were included where high quality evidence was unavailable.

Weight Loss and Physical Activity for Disease Prevention in Obese Older Adults: an Important Role for Lifestyle Management

Weight loss in older adults has been a controversial topic for more than a decade. An obesity paradox has been previously described and the issue of weight status on health outcomes remains a highly debated topic. However, there is little doubt that physical activity (PA) has a myriad of benefits in older adults, especially in obese individuals who are inactive and have a poor cardiometabolic profile. In this review, we offer a critical view to clarify misunderstandings regarding the obesity paradox, particularly as it relates to obese older adults. We also review the evidence on PA and lifestyle interventions for the improvement of cardiorespiratory fitness, which can prevent disease and provide benefits to obese older adults, independent of weight changes.

Exercise and Older Adults

Regular exercise is essential for healthy aging and offers many health benefits, including reduced risk of all-cause mortality, chronic disease, and premature death. Because physical inactivity is prevalent, greater focus is needed on integrating exercise into care plans and counseling, and developing partnerships that support exercise opportunities. Older adults should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow. For substantial health benefits, older adults need to do aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and stretching exercises weekly, and balance activities as needed. Appropriate planning must take account of factors such as prescribed medications, nutrition, injuries, hip and knee arthroplasties, and chronic conditions.

Professional practice committee

The Professional Practice Committee (PPC) of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is responsible for the “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes” position statement, referred to as the “Standards of Care.” The PPC is a multidisciplinary expert committee comprised of physicians, diabetes educators, registered dietitians, and others who have expertise in a range of areas, including adult and pediatric endocrinology, epidemiology, public health, lipid research, hypertension, preconception planning, and pregnancy care. Appointment to the PPC is based on excellence in clinical practice and research. Although the primary role of the PPC is to review and update the Standards of Care, it is also responsible for overseeing the review and revision of ADA’s position statements and scientific statements. The ADA adheres to the Institute of Medicine Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines. All members of the PPC are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest with industry and/or other relevant organizations. These disclosures are discussed at the onset of each Standards of Care revision meeting. Members of the committee, their employer, and their disclosed conflicts of interest are listed in the “Professional Practice Committee Disclosures” table (see p. S130). For the current revision, PPC members systematically searched MEDLINE for human studies related to each section and published since 1 January 2016. Recommendations were revised based on new evidence or, in some cases, to clarify the prior recommendation or match the strengthof thewording to the strength of theevidence.A table linking the changes in recommendations to new evidence can be reviewed at http://professional .diabetes.org/SOC. As for all position statements, the Standards of Care position statement was approved by the Executive Committee of ADA’s Board of Directors, which includes health care professionals, scientists, and lay people. Feedback from the larger clinical communitywas valuable for the 2017 revision of the Standards of Care. Readers who wish to comment on the 2017 Standards of Care are invited to do so at http://professional.diabetes.org/SOC. The ADA funds development of the Standards of Care and all ADA position statements out of its general revenues and does not use industry support for these purposes. The PPC would like to thank the following individuals who provided their expertise in reviewing and/or consulting with the committee: Conor J. Best, MD; William T. Cefalu, MD; Mary de Groot, PhD; Gary D. Hack, DDS; Silvio E. Inzucchi, MD; Meghan Jardine, MS, MBA, RD, LD, CDE; Victor R. Lavis, MD; Mark E. Molitch, MD; Antoinette Moran, MD; Matt Petersen; Sean Petrie; Louis H. Philipson, MD, PhD; Margaret A. Powers, PhD, RD, CDE; Desmond Schatz, MD; Philip R. Schauer, MD; Sonali N. Thosani, MD; and Guillermo E. Umpierrez, MD.

A new angle for glp-1 receptor agonist: the medical economics argument. Editorial on: Huetson P, Palmer JL, Levorsen A, et al. Cost-effectiveness of the once-daily glp-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide compared to bolus insulin both in combination with basal insulin for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes in Norway. J Med Econ 2015: 1-13 [Epub ahead of print].

Abstract Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) are relatively new medications for diabetes that offer a weight-loss profile that can be considered desirable for patients with both type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. GLP-1 RA are effective in combination with insulin, and even slightly superior or at least equal to short-acting insulin in T2D; however, since they work in the incretin system, they may not be effective in long-standing disease. Additionally, only recently have publications reported their cardiovascular safety, and there is limited evidence for long-term effectiveness. The work presented by Huetson et al. offers a much needed perspective through a medical economic model for the long term cost-effectiveness of GLP-1 RA. The authors found benefits in quality-adjusted life years and reduced lifetime healthcare costs. While there are a few limitations, this study contributes to the understanding of these agents and their impact on the epidemics of obesity in T2D, where weight management is no longer an option, but an essential component of the diabetes plan of care.

Exercise and Quality of Life

Exercise is a fundamental intervention for any patient with diabetes or at risk for it. Exercise not only contributes to the control of blood glucose but also reduces the risk of metabolic abnormalities and diabetes-related complications and comorbidities. Despite the growing prevalence of diabetes in the world, most people are not as physically active as guidelines and evidence recommend.

Should Structured Exercise Be Promoted As a Model of Care? Dissemination of the Department of Veterans Affairs Gerofit Program

Exercise provides a wide range of health‐promoting benefits, but support is limited for clinical programs that use exercise as a means of health promotion. This stands in contrast to restorative or rehabilitative exercise, which is considered an essential medical service. We propose that there is a place for ongoing, structured wellness and health promotion programs, with exercise as the primary therapeutic focus. Such programs have long‐lasting health benefits, are easily implementable, and are associated with high levels of participant satisfaction. We describe the dissemination and implementation of a long‐standing exercise and health promotion program, Gerofit, for which significant gains in physical function that have been maintained over 5 years of follow‐up, improvements in well‐being, and a 10‐year 25% survival benefit among program adherents have been documented. The program has been replicated at 6 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. The pooled characteristics of enrolled participants (n = 691) demonstrate substantial baseline functional impairment (usual gait speed 1.05 ± 0.3 m/s, 8‐foot up and go 8.7 ± 6.7 seconds, 30‐second chair stands 10.7 ± 5.1, 6‐minute walk distance 404.31 ± 141.9 m), highlighting the need for such programs. Change scores over baseline for 3, 6, and 12 months of follow‐up are clinically and statistically significant (P < .05 all measures) and replicate findings from the parent program. Patient satisfaction ratings of high ranged from 88% to 94%. We describe the implementation process and present 1‐year outcomes. We suggest that such programs be considered essential elements of healthcare systems.

Use of an online personal health record’s Track Health function to promote positive lifestyle behaviors in Veterans with prediabetes

This pilot 3-month clinical trial investigated the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of using the Track Health function of the Veterans Health Administration’s personal health record for eliciting a more positive physical activity and dietary intake lifestyle in a sample of 38 overweight and obese Veterans with prediabetes. Comparisons between baseline and 3 months post-intervention indicated significant improvements in weight, physical activity, abdominal circumference, and blood pressure. Use of a personal health record that users can identify with and find usable and useful coupled with instruction targeting critical functionalities could potentially promote healthy behavioral lifestyle changes.

Diabetes Treatment in the Elderly: Incorporating Geriatrics, Technology, and Functional Medicine

Purpose of ReviewThe current approach to diabetes in the elderly incorporates components from the comprehensive geriatric approach. The most updated guidelines from the American Diabetes Association reflect influence from the consensus made in 2012 with the American Geriatrics Society. Notably, the framework included the evaluation for geriatric syndromes (falls and urinary incontinence), functional and cognitive abilities. The goal for this review is to provide an updated summary of treatment strategies for community-dwelling older adults. We identified the need to expand our approach by addressing innovative approaches and scientific concepts from telemedicine, functional medicine, and geriatrics.Recent FindingsFindings on cardiovascular protection with sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and some glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) support their use for older patients with diabetes. However, careful consideration for agent selection must incorporate the presence of geriatric issues, such as geriatric syndromes, or functional and cognitive decline, as they could increase the risk and impact adverse reactions. Telemedicine interventions can improve communication and connection between older patients and their providers, and improve glycemic control. Functional medicine concepts can offer additional adjuvant strategies to support the therapeutic interventions and management of diabetes in the elderly.SummaryA systematic review confirmed the efficacy and safety of metformin as first-line therapy of type 2 diabetes in the older adult, but multiple reports highlighted the risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. Randomized controlled trials showed the efficacy and safety of antihyperglycemic agents in the elderly, including some with longer duration and lesser risk for hypoglycemia. Randomized clinical trials showed cardiovascular protection with SGLT-2i (empagliflozin, canagliflozin) and GLP-1RA (liraglutide, semaglutide). The most current guidelines recommend addressing for geriatric syndromes, physical and cognitive function in the elderly, in order to individualize targets and therapeutic strategies. Clinicians managing diabetes in the elderly can play a major role for the early detection and evaluation of geriatric issues in their patients. Telemedicine interventions improve glycemic control, and certain functional medicine strategies could be adjuvant interventions to reduce inflammation and stress, but more studies focused on the elderly population are needed.

Validation of an automatically generated screening score for frailty: the care assessment need (CAN) score.

BackgroundFrailty is a state of vulnerability to stressors that is prevalent in older adults and is associated with higher morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilization. Multiple instruments are used to measure frailty; most are time-consuming. The Care Assessment Need (CAN) score is automatically generated from electronic health record data using a statistical model. The methodology for calculation of the CAN score is consistent with the deficit accumulation model of frailty. At a 95 percentile, the CAN score is a predictor of hospitalization and mortality in Veteran populations. The purpose of this study was to validate the CAN score as a screening tool for frailty in primary care.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional, validation study compared the CAN score with a 40-item Frailty Index reference standard based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment. We included community-dwelling male patients over age 65 from an outpatient geriatric medicine clinic. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of the CAN score.Results184 patients over age 65 were included in the study: 97.3% male, 64.2% White, 80.9% non-Hispanic. The CGA-based Frailty Index defined 14.1% as robust, 53.3% as prefrail and 32.6% as frail. For the frail, statistical analysis demonstrated that a CAN score of 55 provides sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 91.67, 40.32, 42.64 and 90.91% respectively whereas at a score of 95 the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 43.33, 88.81, 63.41, 77.78% respectively. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.736 (95% CI = .661–.811).ConclusionCAN score is a potential screening tool for frailty among older adults; it is generated automatically and provides acceptable diagnostic accuracy. Hence, the CAN score may be a useful tool to primary care providers for detection of frailty in their patient panels.