PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Glycemic Control”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources

[Effect of the start of glycemic control on the progression of diabetic retinopathy].

The effect of the start of glycemic control on retinopathy progression was investigated. The changes of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) were compared between the retinopathy progression group (Group 1, 24 eyes) and the non-progression group (Group 2, 23 eyes). The follow-up period was 24 months. The grades of retinopathy, age, duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), sex, and manner of DM control in these subjects were matched between the two groups. They were classified into 9 strata according to the matched systemic factors. In Group 1, HbA1 value decreased rapidly 6 or 7 months before the retinopathy progression, but did not change in Group 2 during 24 months. The change rate was significantly different between Group 1 and Group 2. The block efficacy for 6-7 months follow-up was also statistically significant between the two groups by analysis of variance (ANDVA). The estimated mean HbA1 value for the 9-10 month period in Group 1 was 2.46% less than that of Group 2. The higher the HbA1 value, the higher the relative risk (odds ratio) of retinopathy progression. The relative risk of retinopathy progression of the mean HbA1 value was highest for 9-10 month period. The relative risks of 1, 2, and 3% decrease of HbA1 for 9-10 months were 1.7, 2.8, and 4.7, respectively.

Aged↗

Effect of diabetes drug counseling by pharmacist, diabetic disease booklet and special medication containers on glycemic control of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to increase in prevalence worldwide. Many factors have been cited as contributing to compliance, such as family and social support, education, number of tablets per dose, frequency of administration and health care provider communication. Toward these goals, the present study was developed to measure the effect offactors on glycemic control such as diabetes education by pharmacists, a diabetes disease booklet and special medication containers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 360 volunteers with type 2 DM patients were recruited, participants were simple randomized to control 180 and intervention 180 patients. Which intervention categorized to 4 groups; all intervention groups received diabetes drug counseling by a pharmacist, one group received plus a diabetes booklet, one received plus special medical containers and the last group received all of them. The interventions were done at the 1st time of visit. Both the control and intervention groups were monitored for fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c at 0, 3, 6 months and glycemic level in both groups was compared. RESULTS: After 3 months, mean fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c decreased wiih the intervention group vs. control group (152.36 +/- 39.73 to 131.52 +/- 35.22 mg%) and (150.16 +/- 41.78 to 153.98 +/- 47.95 mg%) respectively; (p < 0.001). HbA1c level 8.16 +/- 1.44 to 7.72 +/- 1.26 vs 8.01 +/- 1.51 to 8.38 +/- 1.46 respectively; (p < 0.001). After 6 months, mean fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c decreased with the intervention group vs. control group (152.36 +/- 39.73 to 145.20 +/- 46.07 mg%) and (150.16 +/- 41.78 to 159.16 +/- 54.90 mg%) respectively; (p < 0.013). HbA1c level 8.16 +/- 1.44 to 7.91 +/- 1.27 vs. 8.01 +/- 1.51 to 8.80 +/- 1.36 respectively; (p < 0.001). The most favorable glycemic outcome was the group that received all of the interventions; mean FPG was reduced from 147.46 +/- 36.07 to 125.38 +/- 31.12 mg% (p < 0.000) in 1nd visit (3 months later) and still reducing effect on the 2nd visit (6 month later) mean FPG from 147.46 +/- 36.07 to 130.21 +/- 33.96 mg% (p < 0.016) also the same way in HbA 1c level. The group that received only drug counseling by pharmacist had no significant reduction in FPG and HbA1c. (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Drug counseling by a pharmacist has little beneficial effect on diabetes management outcome compared to the diabetes booklet and special drug container. To improve glycemic control of type 2 DM is to integrate self-management in daily life, wide a variety of education, drug taken behavior and health care provider available communication produce improvement in patient management and is somewhat better when used in combination.

Adult↗

A cross-sectional study of alcohol consumption patterns and biologic markers of glycemic control among 459 women.

OBJECTIVE: Little research has explored associations of drinking patterns with glycemic control, especially among women. Our objective was to determine the relationship of patterns of alcohol consumption-including average daily consumption, weekly frequency of consumption, drinking with meals, and beverage type-with biologic markers of insulin resistance in young women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was cross-sectional in design. The subjects consisted of a stratified random subpopulation of 459 U.S. normal-weight and overweight female nurses, 33-50 years of age, drawn from the Nurses' Health Study II and sampled for distinct drinking patterns. Women provided blood samples and detailed information on dietary and lifestyle factors between 1995 and 1999. The main outcome measures were fasting insulin, C-peptide, and HbA(1c). RESULTS: Adjusting for age, smoking, physical activity, television watching, BMI, and several dietary factors, average alcohol intake was inversely associated with HbA(1c) (units in percentage of HbA(1c)): 0 g/day (reference = 5.36%), 0.1 to <5.0 g/day (-0.04%), 5.0 to <15.0 g/day (-0.09%), 15.0 to <25.0 g/day (-0.10%), and > or =25.0 g/day (-0.17%) (P value, test for trend <0.001). We found an inverse association of alcohol intake and insulin, but only for women with a BMI > or =25 kg/m(2). Specifically, insulin levels were lowest for episodic drinkers consuming > or =2 drinks per day on 0-3 days per week. Consumption with meals and type of alcoholic beverage did not further influence these results. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate alcohol consumption of 1-2 drinks per day on a few to several days of the week may have a beneficial glycemic effect, particularly among overweight women.

Adult↗

Troglitazone monotherapy improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, controlled study. The Troglitazone Study Group.

To assess the effects of troglitazone monotherapy on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, we carried out a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 24 hospital and outpatient clinics in the United States and Canada. Troglitazone 100, 200, 400, or 600 mg or placebo once daily with breakfast was administered to 402 patients with type 2 diabetes with fasting serum glucose (FSG) > 140 mg/dL, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 6.5%, and fasting C-peptide > or = 1.5 ng/mL. Prior oral hypoglycemic therapy was withdrawn in patients who received it before the study. FSG, HbA1c, C-peptide, and serum insulin were evaluated at baseline and the end of the study. Analysis was performed on two subsets of patients based on prestudy therapy: Patients treated with diet and exercise only before the study (22% of patients), and those who had been receiving sulfonylurea therapy (78% of patients). Patients treated with 400 and 600 mg troglitazone had significant decreases from baseline in mean FSG and HbA1c at month 6 compared with placebo-treated patients (FSG: -51 and -60 mg/dL, respectively; HbA1c: -0.7 and -1.1%, respectively). In the diet-only subset, 600 mg troglitazone therapy resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in HbA1c (-1.35%) and a significant reduction in FSG (-42 mg/dL) compared with placebo. Patients previously treated with sulfonylurea therapy had significant (P < 0.05) decreases in mean FSG with 200-600 mg troglitazone therapy compared with placebo (-48, -61, and -66 mg/dL, respectively). Significant (P < 0.05) decreases in mean HbA1c occurred with 400 and 600 mg troglitazone therapy at month 6 (-0.8 and -1.2%, respectively) compared with placebo in this same subset. Significant (P < 0.05) decreases in triglycerides and free fatty acids occurred with troglitazone 400 and 600 mg, and increased high-density lipoprotein occurred with 600 mg troglitazone. We conclude that troglitazone monotherapy significantly improves HbA1c and fasting serum glucose, while lowering insulin and C-peptide in patients with type 2 diabetes. Troglitazone 600 mg monotherapy is efficacious for patients who are newly diagnosed and have never received pharmacological intervention for diabetes.

Aged↗

Glomerulopathy in spontaneously diabetic rat. Impact of glycemic control.

The spontaneously diabetic BioBreeding/Worcester (BB/W) rat was used to examine the role of glycemic control in the pathogenesis of diabetic glomerulopathy and proteinuria. Nondiabetic BB/W rats (group 1) were compared with moderately (group 2) and severely (group 3) hyperglycemic diabetic animals of similar age. Urinary protein excretion and morphometric measurements of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) width and mesangial area were performed after 4, 8, and 12 mo of study. At 4 mo, urinary protein excretion both in group 2 (9.3 +/- 0.7 mg/24 h) and group 3 (24.8 +/- 1.98 mg/24 h) exceeded that in group 1 (5.4 +/- 0.6 mg/24 h; P less than .05). Moreover, proteinuria in group 3 was significantly greater than in group 2 (P less than .05). In addition, proteinuria increased in group 3 animals between 4 and 12 mo of study but did not advance in groups 1 or 2. GBM width in both diabetic groups (168.8 +/- 2.4 and 165.7 +/- 2.2 nm, groups 2 and 3, respectively) exceeded that in group 1 (148.3 +/- 3.8 nm; P less than .01) by 4 mo. At 12 mo, severely hyperglycemic group 3 animals had significantly greater GBM thickening than group 2. GBM width increased in all three groups over the course of study, but the rate of growth did not differ between groups 1 and 2. However, the rate of growth in group 3 was greater than in either group 1 or group 2. Urinary protein excretion correlated significantly with GBM width in diabetic rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Response to intensive therapy steps and to glipizide dose in combination with insulin in type 2 diabetes. VA feasibility study on glycemic control and complications (VA CSDM).

OBJECTIVE: The feasibility study for the VA Cooperative Study on Glycemic Control and Complications in Type 2 Diabetes (VA CSDM) prospectively studied 153 insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes patients, randomized between an intensively treated arm and a standard treatment arm during a mean follow-up of 27 months. The glycemic response to each of the progressive, sequential phases of insulin treatment was assessed, along with the incidence of hypoglycemic reactions and the relative efficacy of different doses of glipizide in combination with fixed doses of insulin. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Five medical centers participated; half of the patients were assigned to the intensive treatment arm aiming for normal HbA1c levels. Age of patients was 60 +/- 6 years, duration of diabetes 8 +/- 3 years, and BMI 30.7 +/- 4 kg/m2. A four-step management technique was used, with patients moving to the next step if the operational goals were not met: Phase I, evening intermediate or long-acting insulin; phase II, added day-time glipizide; phase III, two injections of insulin alone; and phase IV, multiple daily insulin injections. Home glucose monitoring measurements were done twice daily and at 3:00 A.M. once a week. Hypoglycemic reactions and home glucose monitoring results were recorded and counted in each of the treatment phases. RESULTS: Baseline HbA1c was 9.3 +/- 1.8%, and fasting plus serum glucose was 11.4 +/- 3.3 mmol/1. Fasting serum glucose fell to near normal in phase I, and remained so in the other treatment phases. An HbA1c separation of 2.1% between the arms was maintained during the course of the study, while the intensive arm kept HbA1c levels below 7.3% (P = 0.001). Most of the decrease in HbA1c occurred with one injection of insulin alone (phase I, -1.4%) or adding day-time glipizide (phase II, -1.9% compared with baseline). HbA1c did not decrease further after substituting two injections of insulin alone, with twice the insulin dose. Multiple daily injections resulted in an additional HbA1c fall (-2.4% compared with baseline). However, two-thirds of the patients were still on one or two injections a day at the end of the study. Changes in home glucose monitoring levels paralleled those of the HbA1c, as did the increments in number of reported hypoglycemic reactions, virtually all either "mild" or "moderate" in character. For the combination of glipizide and insulin (phase II), the only significant effect was obtained with daily doses up to 10 mg a day; there were no significant additional benefits with up to fourfold higher daily doses, and HbA1c levels had an upward trend with doses > 20 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: A simple regime of a single injection of insulin, alone or with glipizide, seemed sufficient to obtain clinically acceptable levels of HbA1c for most obese, insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes patients. Further decrease of HbA1c demanded multiple daily injections at the expense of doubling the insulin dose and the rate of hypoglycemic events. In combination therapy, doses of glipizide > 20 mg/day offered no additional benefit.

Adult↗

Marked deterioration in glycemic control with change in brand of lactulose syrup.

Lactulose is a poorly absorbed synthetic disaccharide frequently used in the treatment of portasystemic encephalopathy. Because lactulose syrup contains small amounts of absorbable sugars, it may cause hyperglycemia in diabetic individuals, but is usually well tolerated. We report the case of a patient with diet-controlled diabetes and cirrhosis who experienced a marked deterioration in glycemic control, requiring insulin use, when he began using a different brand of lactulose syrup. The hyperglycemia resolved and insulin was discontinued after use of the original brand of lactulose syrup was resumed.

Aged↗

Carbohydrate oxidation and storage in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Effects of improving glycemic control.

We have determined total body carbohydrate and lipid oxidation rates in response to a standard breakfast in nine obese patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and in seven age- and weight-matched controls. The patients with NIDDM were studied twice, once while in poor glycemic control (fasting blood glucose concentration 267 +/- 24 mg/dl, urinary glucose excretion 28.9 +/- 6.3 g/24 h) and again after modest glycemic improvement following 2 mo of fiber treatment (fasting blood glucose 227 +/- 19 mg/dl, urinary glucose excretion 10.7 +/- 1.9 g/24 h). Basal carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation rates were normal in patients with NIDDM before and after fiber treatment. However, in patients before fiber treatment the rise in CHO oxidation rates, the reciprocal fall in lipid oxidation rates, and the rise in serum insulin and C-peptide concentrations after the breakfast were all severely blunted. In addition, storage of ingested CHO was significantly reduced (from 55% to 32%, P less than 0.05). After fiber treatment, postbreakfast CHO oxidation rates had improved and were no longer significantly lower than control values. In contrast, CHO storage remained suppressed. We conclude that (1) basal CHO oxidation remained normal but that postbreakfast CHO oxidation was impaired in our obese patients with NIDDM. This impairment, however, appeared to be a relatively late event, occurring only during severely uncontrolled NIDDM. (2) Inability to dispose of CHO by storage appeared to be an earlier defect with a greater impact on glucose tolerance than the impairment of CHO oxidation.

Adult↗

Development and validation of the Economic Assessment of Glycemic Control and Long-Term Effects of diabetes (EAGLE) model.

BACKGROUND: The Economic Assessment of Glycemic control and Long-term Effects of diabetes (EAGLE) model was developed to provide a flexible and comprehensive tool for the simulation of the long-term effects of diabetes treatment and related costs in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: EAGLE simulations are based on risk equations, which were developed using published data from several large studies including the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, and the Wisconsin Epidemiological Study of Diabetic Retinopathy. Risk equations for the probability of complications (including hypoglycemia, retinopathy, macular edema, end-stage renal disease, neuropathy, diabetic foot syndrome, myocardial infarction, and stroke) were based on regression analyses, using linear, exponential, and quadratic regression formulae. Subsequent cost calculations are made from the simulated event rates. Internal validation of the EAGLE model was completed by comparing simulated event rates with the published event rates used as the basis for the model. RESULTS: EAGLE provides microsimulations of virtual patient cohorts for type 1 and type 2 diabetes over n years in 1-year cycles. Complications include microvascular and macrovascular events and death, which are calculated over time as cumulative incidences. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels over time are simulated in relation to treatment regimen. Internal validation demonstrated that each mean event rate simulated by EAGLE overlapped with the published mean event (within a range of +/-10%). CONCLUSIONS: The EAGLE model is an evidence-based, internally valid tool for the assessment of the long-term effects of diabetes treatment and related costs.

Diabetes Complications↗

Glycemic control in a sample of black and white clinic patients with NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: To compare glycemic control of black and white patients under treatment for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Medical records of patients with NIDDM were reviewed at 19 of 24 clinics or health centers in a specified area of north central Florida. Data were abstracted from the charts of all non-Hispanic black (n = 248) or white (n = 280) patients who met preset eligibility criteria. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD age was 58 +/- 14 years; the mean +/- SD duration of diabetes was 9 +/- 7.5 years. Of 528 patients, 220 were treated with oral hypoglycemic agents, 269 were treated with insulin, 28 were treated with diet alone, and 11 were treated with a combination of oral agents, diet, and insulin. Glycosylated hemoglobin was > or = 8% for 47% of black women, 41% of black men, 38% of white men, and 29% of white women. The less favorable control status of the black women persisted within categories of age (40-59 years or > or = 60 years), treatment (insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents), time since diagnosis (less than versus greater than or equal to the median of 7 years), and obesity (noted versus not noted in chart). In multiple logistic regression analyses controlling simultaneously for these variables, the odds (95% confidence interval [CI]), compared with white women, of having glycosylated hemoglobin > or = 8% were 2.2 (1.4, 3.4) for black women and 1.5 (0.8, 2.9) and 1.4 (0.8, 2.5) for black and white men, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Black women were more likely than white women or men to have glycosylated hemoglobin > or = 8%. This difference was not readily explained by age, type of treatment, time since diagnosis, or a notation of obesity in the medical record, although an effect of obesity cannot be excluded on this basis.

Adult↗

Does antidepressant adherence have an effect on glycemic control among diabetic antidepressant users?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between adherence to antidepressant medications and HbA1c levels among patients with diabetes in a managed care setting. METHOD: The analysis included measures of HbA1c levels before, during, and after initial antidepressant use among 568 patients with diabetes enrolled in the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care insurance plan from 1991-1995. Adherence was defined as four refills in a six-month period after the first antidepressant prescription. General linear models using SAS PROC MIXED were used to estimate the effects of covariates including antidepressant adherence on HbA1c levels over time, comparing patients who were adherent to antidepressant medications to those patients who were non-adherent to antidepressant medications. RESULTS: Adherence to antidepressant treatment was not significantly associated with HbA1c levels among diabetic patients who are antidepressant users. Younger age, use of insulin and oral medications, and female gender were all significantly associated with HbA1c levels over time. CONCLUSIONS: Although we did not observe any association between level of adherence to antidepressant therapy among diabetic patients and levels of glucose control, our results confirm previously established associations between patient characteristics and glycemic control. Further research is needed to disentangle the complex relationship among antidepressant treatment adherence and diabetes outcomes.

Adolescent↗

Psychosocial and quality of life correlates of glycemic control during intensive treatment of type 1 diabetes.

To identify emotional and attitudinal barriers to improved glycemic control (HbA1c) during intensive diabetes treatment, 55 patients attending a 4-5 month intensive diabetes medical/education clinic were followed. Subjects completed a battery of psychological surveys, had HbA1c and body mass index measured, and rated their attitude toward weight gain and the extent of problems with specific self-management behaviors before and after the medical intervention. Although HbA1c improved on average, 29% had only modest improvement and 16% showed no improvement. The number of diabetes-related annoyances, worry about hypoglycemia, and diabetes-related emotional distress diminished. Only the satisfaction subscale of the Diabetes Quality of Life survey, diabetes-related emotional distress, and problems with self-management behaviors correlated with HbA1c. Treatment-related frustration and emotional distress may initially act as motivators to improve glycemia but can later become barriers to that goal. Interventions designed to help patients overcome attitudinal barriers should be incorporated into medical programs geared toward improving glycemia.

Adult↗

Effect of therapy with insulin glargine (lantus) on glycemic control in toddlers, children, and adolescents with diabetes.

To determine the effect of insulin glargine on glycemic control in pediatric type 1 and 2 diabetes, a retrospective repeated-measure analysis of variance was performed of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), frequency of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, mean blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), and daily weight-adjusted insulin dosage before and after institution of glargine therapy in 72 children and adolescents with diabetes. At glargine start, age range was 1.2-19.6 years, mean age was 12.5 +/- 4.6 years, BMI was 22.48 +/- 6.3 kg/m(2), and mean HbA1C was 9.7 +/- 1.9%. Mean duration of diabetes was 3.58 years, and mean baseline insulin dose was 0.93 U/kg/day. Gender breakdown was 60% female, and the majority (83%) had type 1 diabetes. Average HbA1C decreased from 9.5% pre-glargine to 8.6% post-glargine (p < 0.001). HbA1C decrease was significant in both types of diabetes without a concomitant increase in frequency of hypoglycemia, BMI, or weight-adjusted insulin dose. Hypoglycemia decreased significantly in type 1 diabetes. Thus, glargine therapy may decrease HbA1C and frequency of hypoglycemia in toddlers, children, and adolescents with diabetes, without an increase in BMI or insulin requirements.

Adolescent↗

Effect of glycemic control on refractive changes in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of intensive glycemic control on hyperglycemia- induced changes in refraction, corneal topography, lenticular and corneal thickness in diabetic patients. METHODS: Eighteen diabetic patients with plasma glucose >300 mg/dl were enrolled in the study consecutively. Autorefraction, C-Scan corneal topography, Javal keratometry, corneal pachymetry and ultrasonic biometric measurements were carried out at presentation and after metabolic control of blood sugar (plasma glucose profile <200 mg/dl). One eye of each patient was selected randomly for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mean plasma glucose levels were 356.00 mg/dl before and 133.78 mg/dl after treatment. The median values of the autorefractometric measurements were - 0.125 D on admission and + 0.375 D at the second examination. The difference in the refraction was statistically significant (P = 0.022). Nine of 18 patients became hyperopic, 2 became myopic and 7 showed no change after treatment. There was a significant change in the corneal topographic keratometric measurements at the flattest corneal meridian after treatment (P = 0.037). After treatment no statistically significant changes were observed in the pachymetric corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, biometric dioptric lens calculations and Javal keratometric data. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia is the major cause of the transient refractive changes in diabetic patients. Following intensive medical treatment, a considerable number of patients tend to become more hyperopic compared with the hyperglycemic state. During the treatment period, changes in the corneal topographic parameters might be a potential source of error for keratorefractive and cataract surgery.

Adult↗

Is patient readiness to change a predictor of improved glycemic control?

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that patient readiness to change (RTC) predicts future changes in glycemic control in adults with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We linked survey data with HbA1c data for a stratified random sample of consenting adults with diabetes. Change in HbA1c from baseline to the 1-year follow-up was computed and used as a dependent variable. Linear regression models assessed RTC and other patient variables as predictors of HbA1c change. RESULTS: Among 617 patients with baseline HbA1c > or = 7% and complete data for analysis, RTC predicted subsequent improvement in HbA1c for those with higher physical functioning (interaction t = -2.45, P < 0.05). Other factors that predicted HbA1c improvement in multivariate linear regression models included higher self-reported medication adherence (t = -4.41, P < 0.01), higher baseline HbA1c (t = -15.08, P < 0.01), and older age (t = -2.61, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes RTC independently predicts change in HbA1c for patients with high but not for patients with low functional health status. Customized use of RTC assessment may have potential to improve care.

Adult↗

Guar gum and glycemic control of pregnant insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

The effect of guar gum preparation on the glycemic control of 12 pregnant insulin-dependent diabetic patients was investigated. The study was performed on inpatients and lasted 3 wk (from week 32 of pregnancy and onward). Weeks 32 and 34 were control periods during which time the patients had their normal diet only. During week 33, the diet was supplemented with guar. The mean blood glucose level of week 33 was 14% lower than that of week 32 (P less than 0.01) but equal to that of week 34. Mean fluctuations of blood glucose during individual days of the 3 wk were similar. The M-value declined significantly from week 32 to week 33, but the M-value of week 33 was not different from that of week 34. The average 24-h glycosuria declined by 63% from week 32 to week 33 (P less than 0.05), whereas the values of weeks 33 and 34 were not significantly different. The mean daily insulin doses of weeks 32, 33, and 34 were similar. The results show that whereas admission of pregnant insulin-dependent diabetic women to a diabetes ward exerts a favorable influence on diabetes control, no further improvement is obtainable if the diet is supplemented with guar.

Adult↗

Should minimal blood glucose variability become the gold standard of glycemic control?

The Diabetes Complications and Control Trial (DCCT) established glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) as the gold standard of glycemic control, with levels </=7% deemed appropriate for reducing the risk of vascular complications. Yet, even when A1Cs were comparable between intensively treated subjects and their conventionally treated counterparts, the latter group experienced a markedly higher risk of progression to retinopathy over time. Our speculative explanation, based on the discovery that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress is the chief underlying mechanism of glucose-mediated vascular damage, was that glycemic excursions were of greater frequency and magnitude among conventionally treated patients, who received fewer insulin injections. Subsequent studies correlating the magnitude of oxidative stress with fluctuating levels of glycemia support the hypothesis that glucose variability, considered in combination with A1C, may be a more reliable indicator of blood glucose control and the risk for long-term complications than mean A1C alone.

Blood Glucose↗

A low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized clinical trial in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether a low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Individuals with type 2 diabetes (n = 99) were randomly assigned to a low-fat vegan diet (n = 49) or a diet following the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines (n = 50). Participants were evaluated at baseline and 22 weeks. RESULTS: Forty-three percent (21 of 49) of the vegan group and 26% (13 of 50) of the ADA group participants reduced diabetes medications. Including all participants, HbA(1c) (A1C) decreased 0.96 percentage points in the vegan group and 0.56 points in the ADA group (P = 0.089). Excluding those who changed medications, A1C fell 1.23 points in the vegan group compared with 0.38 points in the ADA group (P = 0.01). Body weight decreased 6.5 kg in the vegan group and 3.1 kg in the ADA group (P < 0.001). Body weight change correlated with A1C change (r = 0.51, n = 57, P < 0.0001). Among those who did not change lipid-lowering medications, LDL cholesterol fell 21.2% in the vegan group and 10.7% in the ADA group (P = 0.02). After adjustment for baseline values, urinary albumin reductions were greater in the vegan group (15.9 mg/24 h) than in the ADA group (10.9 mg/24 h) (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Both a low-fat vegan diet and a diet based on ADA guidelines improved glycemic and lipid control in type 2 diabetic patients. These improvements were greater with a low-fat vegan diet.

Adult↗