What does postprandial hyperglycaemia mean?

AIMS: The potential importance of postprandial glucose (PPG) control in the development of complications in Type 2 diabetes is much debated. The recent American Diabetes Association (ADA) consensus statement discussed the role of postprandial hyperglycaemia in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications and concluded that the relationship between PPG excursions and the well-established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) should be further examined. Using the ADA statement as a starting point and including the more recent American College of Endocrinology guidelines on glycaemic control, a panel of experts in diabetes met to review the role of PPG within the context of the overall metabolic syndrome, in the development of complications in Type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Post-prandial hyperglycaemia is a risk indicator for micro- and macrovascular complications, not only in patients with Type 2 diabetes but also in those with impaired glucose tolerance. In addition, the metabolic syndrome confers an increased risk of CVD morbidity and mortality. The debate focused on the relative contributions of postprandial hyperglycaemia, the metabolic syndrome and, in particular, raised triglyceride levels in the postprandial state, to the development of cardiovascular complications of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The panel recommended that in the prevention and management of microvascular complications of Type 2 diabetes, targeting both chronic and acute glucose fluctuations is necessary. Lowering the macrovascular risk also requires control of (postprandial) triglyceride levels and other components of the metabolic syndrome.     

Addressing the burden of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease through the management of postprandial hyperglycaemia: an Asian-Pacific perspective and expert recommendations

The world is facing an epidemic of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes, with populations in low- to middle-income countries, including many in the Asia Pacific (AP) region, being disproportionately affected. Emerging data identify postprandial hyperglycaemia (PPHG) as an important predictor of CVD, and several professional bodies, including the International Diabetes Federation, have issued guidelines on the management of PPHG in type 2 diabetes. Guidance on how international recommendations could be implemented in Asian populations is currently lacking. Therefore, a panel of experts from the AP region convened to consider the current status of PPHG and CVD in the region, and to develop recommendations for clinical practice. The group concluded that improved awareness of the impact of PPHG on CVD risk, among clinicians and the general public, and more widespread use of routine screening for PPHG, using oral glucose tolerance testing in those without recognised diabetes, are required. Additionally, frequent meal-based testing and effective PPHG management are essential to the management of IGT and type 2 diabetes.     

Risk of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia: A review of real-world evidence

The outside front cover image is based on the Review Article Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia: A Review of Real-World Evidence by Peter Paul Toth, NATHAN D. WONG, GREGORY, A. NICHOLS et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13921 .

     

Isolated post-challenge hyperglycaemia confirmed as a risk factor for mortality

Abstract Aims/hypothesis. The aim of this study was to examine the possible link between isolated post-challenge hyperglycaemia (2-h post-challenge plasma glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l, and fasting plasma glucose < 7.0 mmol/l) and mortality. Methods. The data from three population based longitudinal studies (in Mauritius, Fiji and Nauru) were pooled and mortality rates were determined in 9179 people who were followed for between 5 and 12 years. Results. There were 595 people with previously diagnosed diabetes, and 799 with newly diagnosed diabetes, of whom 243 (31) had isolated post-challenge hyperglycaemia. In comparison with people without diabetes, people with isolated post-challenge hyperglycaemia had an increased risk of all-cause mortality [Cox proportional hazards ratio (95 % CI): 2.7 (1.8–3.9) – men; 2.0 (1.3–3.3) – women], and of cardiovascular mortality [2.3 (1.2–4.2) – men; 2.6 (1.3–5.1) – women]. In addition, men with isolated post-challenge hyperglycaemia had a high risk of cancer death [8.0 (3.6–17.9)]. Conclusion/interpretation. These data show that isolated post-challenge hyperglycaemia, which can only be identified by the 2-h glucose, is common, and at least doubles the mortality risk. This should be considered in the design of screening programmes that use only fasting glucose [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 1050–1054] Received: 18 March 1999 and in revised form: 27 May 1999     

B族维生素过量与心血管病风险

心血管疾病是一个全球性公共健康问题。在过去几十年中,心血管病呈现出全球性快速流行趋势,原因不明。B族维生素与人体的物质和能量代谢关系密切。长期摄入过量的B族维生素对人体有何影响?未引起人们的重视。最近,我们的生态学研究结果显示,美国肥胖和糖尿病流行与人均维生素B1、B2和B3(烟酸和烟酰胺)呈显著的滞后相关关系。已有的流行病学、临床和实验室证据强烈提示,长期摄入富含B族维生素的食物,特别是维生素B3(烟酸和烟酰胺)过量,可能是增加心血管病风险的主要因素之一。     

Postprandial blood glucose as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in Type II diabetes: the epidemiological evidence

That cardiovascular disease occurs more frequently in patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus has been recognized for a long time. However, the extent to which hyperglycaemia contributes to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease is still not clear. Epidemiological studies published in recent years suggest that postprandial blood glucose might be an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease. The main results of these studies, which are reviewed in this article, are that subjects from the general population with mild to moderate hyperglycaemia, following oral glucose load, but not in the fasting state, showed an increased cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, the post-challenge as well as postprandial glucose concentrations of subjects with Type II diabetes were found to be directly associated to incident cardiovascular disease independently of fasting glucose. Also, the correction of fasting hyperglycaemia or HbA_{1 c} or both, disregarding the specific correction of postprandial hyperglycaemia was not found to significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with Type II diabetes. Finally, the strict control of both preprandial and postprandial hyperglycaemia yielded a substantial reduction of cardiovascular disease in Type II diabetes. Trials specifically designed to address this issue are needed to determine whether postprandial hyperglycaemia plays an independent and causative role in cardiovascular disease in patients with Type II diabetes. [Diabetologia (2001) 44: 2107–2114]     

High prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in parents of IDDM patients with albuminuria

Summary Life expectancy is shorter in the subset of insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients who are susceptible to kidney disease. Familial factors may be important. In this study the prevalence of cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity and of risk factors for cardiovascular disease was compared in the parents of 31 IDDM patients with elevated albumin excretion rate (AER > 45 μg/min; group A) with that of parents of 31 insulin-dependent diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (AER < 20 μg/min; group B). The two diabetic patient groups were matched for age and duration of disease. Information on deceased parents was obtained from death certificates and clinical records and morbidity for cardiovascular disease was ascertained using the World Health Organization questionnaire and Minnesota coded ECG. Hyperlipidaemia was defined as serum cholesterol higher than 6 mmol/l and/or plasma triglycerides higher than 2.3 mmol/l and/or lipid lowering therapy; arterial hypertension as systolic blood pressure higher than 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure higher than 90 mmHg and/or antihypertensive treatment. The percentage of dead parents was similar in the two groups (26 vs 20 % for parents of group A vs group B, respectively), but the parents of the diabetic patients with elevated AER had died at a younger age (58 ± 10 vs 70 ± 14 years; p < 0.05). Parents of diabetic patients with nephropathy had a more than three times greater frequency of combined mortality and morbidity for cardiovascular disease than that of the parents of diabetic patients without nephropathy (26 vs 8 %; odds ratio 3.96, 95 % CI 1.3 to 12.2; p < 0.02). Living parents of group A had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (42 vs 14 % p < 0.01) and hyperlipidaemia (49 vs 26 % p < 0.05) as well as higher levels of lipoprotein (a) [median (range) 27.2 (1–107) vs 15.6 (0.2–98) mg/dl; p < 0.05]. They also had reduced insulin sensitivity [insulin tolerance test: median (range) K_itt index: 3.7 (0.7–6.2) vs 4.8 (0.7–6.7)% per min; p < 0.05]. In the families of IDDM patients with elevated AER there was a higher frequency of risk factors for cardiovascular disease as well as a predisposition to cardiovascular disease events. This may help explain, in part, the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity in those IDDM patients who develop nephropathy. [Diabetologia (1997) 40: 1191–1196] Received: 4 March 1997 and in revised form: 9 May 1997     

Insulin sensitivity at diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes is not associated with subsequent cardiovascular disease (UKPDS 67).

AIMS: Insulin resistance is common in Type 2 diabetes which, in turn, is associated with a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Whether insulin sensitivity measured after diagnosis of diabetes is associated with incident cardiovascular disease was evaluated in this prospective study. METHODS: Three thousand five hundred and eighty-two subjects with newly diagnosed diabetes, recruited to the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), free of cardiovascular disease, and with complete information on insulin sensitivity and potential confounders, were followed prospectively to the first occurrence of (i) fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction, MI (ii) fatal or non-fatal stroke, and (iii) coronary heart disease, CHD (fatal or non-fatal MI, sudden death or ischaemic heart disease). Insulin sensitivity was measured by Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA). RESULTS: Insulin sensitivity as measured by HOMA was not associated with subsequent MI, stroke, or CHD in univariate or multivariate models controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, HbA(1c), body mass index, plasma triglycerides, cholesterol and smoking. The hazard ratio associated with a doubling of insulin sensitivity with fatal or non-fatal MI in a multivariate model was 0.92 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.80-1.05). These results were not changed by the exclusion of overweight patients randomized to metformin. DISCUSSION: Estimation of insulin sensitivity provides no additional useful information with respect to the risk of the first occurrence of cardiovascular disease in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Among patients with Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance is not a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.