Current Diabetes Reviews - Volume 18, Issue 7, 2022

SARS-COV-2 is the novel type of beta coronavirus that was first evolved in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. People with type 2 diabetes are the most vulnerable group to SARS-COV-2 and its associated complications. Many factors such as medication, pathophysiologic-induced compensatory mechanisms, and alterations in protein expression and immune system function can all contribute to severe outcomes in diabetics. In this review article, we first described the possible mechanisms of increased risk and more severe complications rate of SARS-COV-2 in diabetic patients. Secondly, we discussed the crucial role of exercise in diabetic patients in balancing the RAS system (ACE2/ACE). Finally, we examine the possible roles of acute and chronic exercise in reducing SARS-COV-2 severe outcomes in people with diabetes in accordance with the latest evidence. We concluded that regular exercise (especially moderate-intensity exercise) can play a role in immune- enhancing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities and can balance the ACE2/ACE ratio (decreasing ANG2 levels) in diabetic subjects.

Background: Although a large amount of research has been conducted in diabetes management, many of the articles do not focus on patient-centered questions and concerns. To address this shortcoming, patients and various other stakeholders from three northern Mississippi communities co-created research questions focused on Type 2 diabetes management. Objective: To identify the diabetes management literature pertaining to each of the six patient-developed research questions from March 2010 to July 2020. Methods: A scoping review was conducted via PubMed to identify research articles from March 2010 to July 2020 focused on patient-centered Type 2 diabetes studies relevant to the six research questions. Results: A total of 1,414 studies were identified via the search strategy and 34 were included for qualitative analysis following article exclusion. For one of the research questions, there were no articles included. For the remaining research questions, the number of articles identified ranged from two to eleven. After analysis of the included articles, it was found that these questions either lacked extensive data or had not been implemented in the practice of diabetes management. Conclusion: Additional research is warranted for three of the five questions, as current evidence is either lacking or contradictory. In the remaining two questions, it seems that adequate current research exists to warrant transitioning to implementation focused studies wherein data may be generated to improve sustainability and scaling of current programming.

Minerals are critical for maintaining overall health. These tiny chemical compounds are responsible for enzymatic activation, maintaining healthy teeth and bones, regulating energy metabolism, enhancing immunity, and aiding muscle and brain function. However, mineral deficiency in the form of inadequate or under nourished intake affects millions of people throughout the world, with well-documented adverse health consequences of malnutrition. Conversely, mineral deficiency may also be a risk factor for Insulin Resistance (IR) and obesity. This review focuses on another, more “less discussed” form of malnutrition, namely mineral deficiency and its contribution to metabolic disorders. At the cellular level, minerals maintain not only molecular communication but also trigger several key biochemical pathways. Disturbances in these processes due to mineral insufficiency may gradually lead to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and central obesity, which might lead to renal failure, cardiac arrest, hepatic carcinoma, and various neurodegenerative diseases. Here we discuss the burden of disease promoted by mineral deficiencies and the medical, social, and economic consequences. Mineral deficiency-mediated IR and obesity have a considerable negative impact on individual well-being, physical consideration, and economic productivity. We discuss possible molecular mechanisms of mineral deficiency that may lead to IR and obesity and suggest strategies to counter these metabolic disorders. To protect mankind from mineral nutrient deficiencies, the key is to take a variety of foods in reasonable quantities, such as organic and pasture-raised eggs, low fat dairy, and grass-fed and finished meats, insecticide, and pesticide-free vegetables and fruits.

Background: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease, which is characterized by an increased prevalence worldwide, which, in fact, tends to take extensive dimensions. The recent rapid development of science and technology has significantly contributed to the improvement of the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus, both in achieving the required euglycaemic regulation and reducing the psychological burden associated with the disease, consequently improving the quality of life of the patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A literature review from 2010, related to the contribution of the modern insulin analogues, continuous glucose monitoring and the insulin pump, was performed using Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed databases. Results: Studies included in the review support a direct and indirect association of technological innovations with the quality of life. The use of type 1 diabetes mellitus technology was negatively associated with the frequency of the hypoglycaemias and the value of the glycosylated hemoglobin, while at the same time, the development and use of the related technology were highly associated with an improvement in the quality of life. Conclusion: Patients’ quality of life is an indicator of the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus, and it is just as important as glycaemic regulation. Through this review, it was concluded that a better quality of life of T1DM patients was associated with the improvement of glycosylated hemoglobin and hypoglycemic episodes.

Background: Pre-gestational diabetes can pose significant risk to the mother and infant, thus requiring careful counselling and management. Since Saint Vincent’s declaration in 1989, adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, such as preeclampsia, perinatal mortality, congenital anomalies, and macrosomia, continue to be associated with type 1 diabetes. Although pregnancy is not considered an independent risk factor for the development of new onset microvascular complications, it is known to exacerbate pre-existing microvascular disease. Strict glycaemic control is the optimal management for pre-existing type 1 diabetes in pregnancy, as raised HbA1C is associated with increased risk of maternal and fetal complications. More recently, time in range on Continuous Glucose Monitoring glucose profiles has emerged as another useful evidence-based marker of fetal outcomes. Objectives: This review summarises the complications associated with pre-gestational type 1 diabetes, appropriate evidence-based management, including preparing for pregnancy, intrapartum and postpartum care. Methods: A structured search of the PubMed and Cochrane databases was conducted. Peer-reviewed articles about complications and management guidelines on pre-gestational type 1 diabetes were selected and critically appraised. Results: One hundred and twenty-three manuscripts were referenced and appraised in this review, and international guidelines were summarised. Conclusion: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recurring themes in the literature pertaining to type 1 diabetes in pregnancy: maternal and fetal complications, microvascular disease progression, and an overview of current guideline-specific management.

Clinical features of diabetic kidney disease include glomerular hyperfiltration, albuminuria, and kidney function decline towards End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD). There are presently neither specific markers of kidney involvement in patients with diabetes nor strong predictors of rapid progression to ESKD. Serum-creatinine-based equations used to estimate glomerular filtration rate are notoriously unreliable in patients with diabetes. Early kidney function decline, reduced glomerular filtration rate, and proteinuria contribute to identifying diabetic patients at higher risk for rapid kidney function decline. Unlike proteinuria, the elevation of urinary albumin excretion in the range of microalbuminuria is frequently transient in patients with diabetes and does not always predict progression towards ESKD. Although the rate of progression of kidney function decline is usually accelerated in the presence of proteinuria, histological lesions of diabetes and ESKD may occur with normal urinary albumin excretion. No substantial reduction in the rate of ESKD associated with diabetes has been observed during the last decades despite intensified glycemic control and reno-protective strategies, indicating that existing therapies do not target underlying pathogenic mechanisms of kidney function decline. Very long-term effects of sodium-glucose transporters- 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs remain to be defined. In patients with diabetes, glucagon secretion is typically elevated and induces insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is consistently and strongly associated with clinical manifestations of diabetic kidney disease, suggesting that reduced insulin sensitivity participates in the pathogenesis of the disease and may represent a therapeutic objective. Amelioration of insulin sensitivity in patients with diabetes is associated with cardioprotective and kidney-protective effects.

Objective: Pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus features various combinations of treatments, with different therapies providing different levels of effectiveness. In clinical settings, choices are driven by cost, effectiveness, and safety considerations, and these choices are still under question in Indonesia. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of metformin-sulfonylurea and metformin-acarbose combination therapies on glycemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This study was carried out at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Jakarta and utilized a retrospective cohort study design. Participants had consumed the same drug without switching for six months and were divided into a metformin-sulfonylurea group (n = 100) and a metformin-acarbose group (n = 100). The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated by considering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), two hours postprandial glucose, and fasting blood glucose. Results: After six months’ consumption, there were no statistical differences between results for the metformin-sulfonylurea and metformin-acarbose groups in terms of change of HbA1c (p = 0.062), controlled two hours postprandial blood glucose (p = 0.649), and controlled fasting blood glucose (p = 0.282). Regular exercise was the most significant factor for constant/decreased HbA1c, whereas being male and following a diet were the most significant factors for controlled two hours postprandial blood glucose and fasting blood glucose, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the analysis performed, there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of six months’ consumption of metformin-sulfonylurea and metformin-acarbose on HbA1c, two hours postprandial blood glucose, and fasting blood glucose.

Background: This study explores the management of self-concept in improving the quality of life of diabetic ulcer patients. Low confidence in the quality of life is a factor causing patients with long-term diabetes to believe they cannot be cured properly. Ulcers result from diabetes mellitus complications due to the nervous system and blood vessel damage. Patients with diabetic ulcers experience depression and feel acute stress when the disease has been categorized as a chronic condition. Methods: This study uses quantitative methods with a cross-sectional study design approach. The data collection techniques used purposive sampling and had 82 diabetic ulcer sufferers as respondents in the study. Results: This study empirically proves that (p-value ≤ α=0.05) where there is effective management of the concept of self-health applied by diabetic ulcer patients in reducing the level of depression and sufferers can increase their confidence in better health factors. Conclusion: The effectiveness of self-care management is an important indicator in overcoming diabetic ulcer disease. The low management of self-concept for people with diabetes will certainly impact increasing depression and acute stress, decreasing the quality of life for sufferers.

Background: Blood sugar and lifestyle problems have long been problems in diabetes. There has also been a lot of research on that. However, we see that diabetic patients are still increasing even though many patients are not aware of the start of the disease occurrence. Therefore, we consider it very important to examine these two main problems of diabetes by using a more flexible statistical approach to obtain more specific results regarding the patient's condition. Objective: The form of data for type 2 diabetes patients is repeated measurements so that it is approached through longitudinal studies. We investigated various intervals of pattern change that can occur in blood glucose, namely fasting, random, and 2 hours after meals based on blood pressure and carbohydrate diets in diabetic patients in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Methods: This research is a longitudinal study proposing a flexible and accurate statistical approach. It is a weighted spline multi-response nonparametric regression model. This model is able to detect any pattern of changes in irregular data in large dimensions. The data were obtained from Hasanuddin University Teaching Hospital in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The number of samples analyzed was 418 from 50 patients with different measurements. Results: The optimal spline model was obtained at 2 knots for blood pressure and 3 knots for carbohydrate diets. There are three blood pressure intervals that give different patterns of increase in patient blood glucose levels, namely below 126.6 mmHg, 126.6-163.3 mmHg, and above 163.3 mmHg. It was found that blood sugar rose sharply at blood pressure above 163.3 mmHg. Furthermore, there are four carbohydrate diet intervals that are formed, which are below 118.6 g, 118.6-161.8 g, 161.8-205 g, and above 205 g. The result is that blood sugar decreased significantly at intervals of carbohydrate diet 161.8-205 g. Conclusion: Blood glucose increases with a very high increase in blood pressure, whereas for a carbohydrate diet, there is no guarantee that a high diet will be able to reduce blood glucose significantly. This may be affected by the patient's saturation of a very high carbohydrate diet.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the non-communicable diseases plaguing the world and contributes a major part to the total disease burden. Diabetes has been prevalent in all countries throughout the years, with the majority of diabetics living in low- and middle-income countries. Madras Diabetes Research Foundation developed the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), a simple and cost-effective method to assess the chances of developing diabetes. Objectives: To assess the diabetes risk profile of office workers using IDRS and to determine the proportion of individual risk factors of diabetes among the participants. Methods: This cross sectional study included 94 non-diabetic office workers working in two health care institutions situated in coastal South India. Data was collected by a study questionnaire consisting of three sections. Section A included details related to participant characteristics, Section B included anthropometric measurements, and Section C consisted of the Indian Diabetes Risk Score. The collected data were coded and entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 40.88 (±9.761) years, and the mean BMI was 23.8 (±3.6) kg/m². Majority (n=65, 67%) of the study participants did not have a family history of diabetes. One-third of the study participants had IDRS ≥ 60, which allocated them in the high risk category for type 2 diabetes (n=34, 35.1%). Conclusion: It has been conclusively shown from the study that most of the office workers have moderate to high risk of developing diabetes and are also overweight or obese.