Current Diabetes Reviews - Volume 21, Issue 10, 2025

There are numerous cross-sectional studies showing an association between arterial stiffness and diabetes, but the temporality of the association is unclear.

To investigate the temporal relationship between arterial stiffness and diabetes.

We searched MEDLINE and Embase from inception to 31 August 2023, to identify cohort studies that assessed whether arterial stiffness, as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), was predictive of the development of diabetes and vice versa. We summarised study data, and where possible undertook meta-analysis.

We identified 19 studies that included people with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. All 11 studies investigating arterial stiffness as a predictor of diabetes found a significant relationship. Six of those studies were suitable for meta-analysis. The risk of developing diabetes was greater in people with higher PWV at baseline than lower PWV (RR = 2.14, 95%CI 1.65 to 2.79, p < 0.00001) and the mean difference in baseline PWV was higher in people who developed diabetes than those who did not (mean difference: 0.77 m/s, 95%CI 0.47 to 1.06, p < 0.00001). Of 8 studies investigating diabetes as a predictor of arterial stiffness, 7 found a significant relationship.

There is evidence of a bidirectional relationship between arterial stiffness and diabetes. Arterial stiffness may provide a causal link between diabetes and future cardiovascular disease.

CRD42019129563.

Recent research demonstrates that diabetes can lead to heart problems, neurological damage, and other illnesses.

In this paper, we design a low-complexity Deep Learning (DL)-based model for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. In our experiments, we use the publicly available PIMA Indian Diabetes Dataset (PIDD). To obtain a low-complexity and accurate DL architecture, we perform an accuracy-versus-complexity study on several DL models.

The results show that the proposed DL structure, including Convolutional Neural Networks and Multi-Layer Perceptron models (i.e., CNN+MLP model) outperforms other models with an accuracy of 93.89%.

With these features, the proposed hybrid model can be used in wearable devices and IoT-based health monitoring applications.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). 30-50% of diabetics are likely to be affected by DPN. It significantly impacts the skeletal muscles, resulting in an accelerated loss of muscle mass. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the ankle and foot muscle changes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy using ultrasound.

A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, Embase, and PubMed databases, which yielded 64 studies, out of which 5 studies are included in this meta-analysis.

The meta-analysis shows that the thickness and cross-section area of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle are reduced in DPN as compared to the control group with p-value<0.004 and p-value<0.001, respectively. The thickness of MIL muscle was also smaller in DPN p-value=0.02. Similarly, the thickness and CSA of AH muscle are also reduced in DPN patients compared to the control group, with p-values of 0.21 and 0.14.

Meta-analysis reveals that diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients have reduced foot muscle thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) compared to controls without neuropathy. This highlights the importance of ultrasound in detecting muscle atrophy early in diabetic patients since it provides objective measures beyond traditional screening with its real-time and non-invasive nature.

Diabetic Cardiomyopathy (DCM) poses a substantial healthcare challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. This review delves into the evolving role of traditional Indian dietary herbs in managing DCM, aiming to shed light on their potential contributions.

A comprehensive examination of the existing body of literature was conducted, synthesizing data from studies exploring the effects of various Indian dietary herbs on DCM. Molecular mechanisms, clinical outcomes, and safety profiles were scrutinized to establish a holistic perspective on their therapeutic potential.

The review illuminates the multifaceted benefits of Indian dietary herbs in DCM management. These herbs have demonstrated efficacy in mitigating cardiac dysfunction, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating inflammatory responses. Molecular insights highlight their role in the intricate signaling pathways underlying DCM. Furthermore, their safety profiles render them promising candidates for adjunct therapy.

Indian dietary herbs emerge as promising allies in the battle against DCM, offering a holistic approach to the management of this intricate condition. Their cardioprotective effects, coupled with their ability to address the underlying molecular mechanisms, herald a new era in DCM therapy. This review underscores the need for further research to harness the potential of these herbs fully and provides a beacon of hope for individuals affected by DCM.

Prevention and reduction of liver fat accumulation and maintenance of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) have been proposed as important therapeutic goals in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

This study aimed to determine the effect of Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Training (LV-HIIT) on fatty liver index (FLI) and GFR estimation in patients with T2DM.

This randomized controlled trial included 80 patients with T2DM and a sedentary lifestyle, randomly divided into HIIT (n=40) and a control group (n=40). Patients with a history of T2DM for at least one year and HbA1C levels between 6.4% and 10% were selected. The intervention group underwent a 4-week LV-HIIT course, comprising 3 sessions per week, while the control group did not receive any intervention. FLI, eGFR, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory variables were assessed in all participants before and after the intervention.

FLI (62.0 at baseline, 53.0 at follow-up) significantly decreased in the LV-HIIT group after the intervention, while eGFR (71.0 at baseline, 73.6 at follow-up) significantly increased (P<0.001). However, the control group showed a significant reduction only in Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) (P<0.05). After the intervention, the LV-HIIT group had significantly lower FBS (129.0 at baseline, 121.0 at follow-up), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (24.0 at baseline, 18.0 at follow-up), and Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) (22.0 at baseline, 19.0 at follow-up), as well as higher eGFR, compared to the control group (P<0.05).

LV-HIIT exercise appears to be a promising and effective training method for improving FLI and eGFR in patients diagnosed with T2DM.

IRCT 20200 729048246N1.

The control of blood pressure (BP) is a challenge in diabetic patients and is associated with adverse outcomes of diabetes. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated the BP control rate among hypertensive diabetic patients in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries.

We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases up to January 2023 for observational studies on BP control among hypertensive diabetic patients in all EMR countries. We included studies reporting the proportion of hypertensive, type 2 diabetic patients with controlled BP, defined as systolic/diastolic BP < 140/90 or <130/80 mmHg. Study quality was assessed using modified STROBE guidelines, and a random-effect meta-analysis was conducted to pool prevalence data and calculate overall rates. Subgroup analysis was performed by gender, study design, country, and BP control cut-offs (140/90 and 130/80).

Among the 1949 retrieved studies, 20 studies assessing 27956 individuals were included. The proportion of BP control regardless of cut-off points was 36.8% (95% CI=29.1%45.3%) based on the studies reported for both genders. The prevalence was 53.2% (95% CI=36.1%-69.6%) and 43.5% (95% CI=20.0%-70.3%) based on the studies reported just for women or men, respectively.

Our findings indicate that BP control targets are not successfully achieved in hypertensive diabetic patients in the Eastern Mediterranean region. It is recommended to place greater emphasis on the quality of hypertension care in the management of type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to assess how the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the glycaemic control of adolescents aged 10-19 with type 1 diabetes.

A comprehensive search of literature was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest. Published articles up to September 2022 were included. The Glucose Monitoring Index (GMI) and HbA1c level were defined as outcome variables. Average glucose level was found to be a common variable in both HbA1c levels and GMI; therefore, HbA1c and GMI were converted to average glucose (mg/dL) using appropriate formulas. Studies reported the outcomes in two or three periods (pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown) were included in the analysis. A paired wise meta-analysis was performed among the studies that reported all three periods. Homogeneity across studies was assessed using I² statistic.

Fourteen studies were included in the study. The pooled average glucose during the lockdown decreased to 166.9 mg/dL (95% CI, 153.78, 180.02) from 205.793 mg/dL (95% CI, 188.412, 223.173) during the pre-lockdown period, then it increased to 204.23 mg/dL (95% CI, 186.17, 222.29) during the post-lockdown period. A paired wise meta-analysis indicated a reduction in average glucose levels. However, it was not statistically significant, possibly due to the small number of studies that reported data from all three periods.

Although the descriptive analysis of our study showed that the lockdown had affected (decreased) the average glucose level among adolescents with type 1 diabetes, this was not statistically significant in the pooled analysis.

Albuminuria in Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients may lead to nephropathy and end-stage renal disease. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of albuminuria and its associated predictors among type 2 DM patients in the United Arab Emirates.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among type 2 DM patients in the diabetic clinic at Fujairah Hospital from 1^st January 2016 to 30^th January 2020 after getting the ethical clearance. Data were collected electronically from the health information system and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Regression analysis and ANOVA were used for inferential analysis. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant.

Among the 200 patients included in the study, the mean age of the study population was 56 years, and the majority of them were females (71%). The prevalence of albuminuria was found to be 44%. By using regression analysis, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; P=0.038) and systolic blood pressure (SBP; P=0.003) were found to be predictors of albuminuria. One way ANOVA revealed that there were significant associations between the albumin levels and HbA1c (P=0.004), SBP (P= 0.002), diastolic blood pressure (DBP; P=0.028), serum creatinine (Scr) (P=0.039), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR; P=0.013).

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study from Fujairah emirate that explored the prevalence and predictors of albuminuria in type 2 DM patients. We found a high prevalence of albuminuria among type 2 DM patients. HbA1c and SBP directly contributed to albuminuria. To improve glycemic control, patients need to improve physical activity, reduce overweight and, adherence to medications that improve overall therapeutic outcomes.