Trends in leisure time physical activity,smoking, body mass index and alcohol consumption in Danish adults with and without diabetes: A repeat cross-sectional national survey covering the years 2000 to 2010

Aims

In recent decades there has been an increased focus on non-pharmacological treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in leisure time physical activity (PA), smoking, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol consumption reported in 2000, 2005 and 2010 by Danish subjects with diabetes.

Methods

Data comprised level of leisure time PA (inactive; moderate active; medium active; high active); smoking; BMI; and alcohol consumption, provided by The Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys. Participants older than 45 years with or without diabetes were included from cross-sectional analyses from 2000, 2005 and 2010.

Results

In participants with diabetes, leisure time PA levels increased from 2000 to 2010: The percentage of those that were physically active increased from 53.5% to 78.2% (p < 0.001; women) and from 67.8% to 79.1% (p = 0.01; men). The prevalence of daily smokers was reduced from 27.2% to 16.4%, p = 0.015, in women with diabetes. In men with diabetes, BMI increased from 27.2 ± 4.0 to 28.6 ± 5.1 kg m⁻², p = 0.003, and men who exceeded the maximum recommendation for alcohol consumption increased from 9.4% to 19.0%, p = 0.007. The leisure time PA level was reduced in participants with diabetes compared to participants without diabetes throughout the study.

Conclusions

The percentage of physically active Danish participants older than 45 years with diabetes increased from 2000 to 2010, and the most beneficial trends in life style were observed among the women. These trends may have serious implications for cardiovascular risk in Danish patients with diabetes.     

Kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1 is associated with insulin resistance: Results from two community-based studies of elderly individuals

Background and Objectives

Insulin resistance has been shown to be closely associated with glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, even prior to the development of diabetes. Urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) is a novel, highly specific marker of kidney tubular damage. The role of insulin resistance in the development of kidney tubular damage is not previously reported. Thus, we aimed to investigate the associations between insulin sensitivity (assessed by HOMA) and urinary KIM-1.

Design, setting, participants and measurements

Two community-based cohorts of elderly individuals were investigated: Prospective Investigation of the vasculature in Uppsala seniors (PIVUS, n = 701; mean age 75 years, 52% women); and Uppsala Longitudinal Study of adult men (ULSAM, n = 533; mean age 78 years).

Results

Lower insulin sensitivity was associated with higher urinary KIM-1 in both cohorts after adjustments for age, BMI, blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment, glomerular filtration rate, and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (PIVUS: regression coefficient for 1-SD higher HOMA-IR 0.11, 95% CI 0.03–0.20, p = 0.009, and ULSAM: 0.13, 95% CI 0.04–0.22, p = 0.007). Results were similar in individuals without diabetes, with normal kidney function and normo-albuminuria.

Conclusions

Our findings in elderly individuals support the notion that the interplay between an impaired glucose metabolism and renal tubular damage is evident even prior to the development of diabetes and overt kidney disease.     

Decreased sucrose preference in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims

Increased sugar consumption may adversely affect glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Although patients with diabetes are generally thought to prefer sweet tastes, few data are available on the sucrose preference in these individuals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate sucrose preference in patients with type 2 diabetes in comparison with subjects without diabetes.

Methods

Sucrose preference was assessed in 200 subjects (100 type 2 diabetes patients and 100 age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched control subjects). Sucrose preference was evaluated together with sucrose perception (i.e., sucrose sensitivity). Clinical and biochemical factors affecting sucrose taste were also analyzed.

Results

Participants with type 2 diabetes preferred lower sucrose concentrations compared with control subjects (p = 0.001), although they had a less sensitive palate for sucrose compared with subjects without diabetes (p = 0.012). Individual sucrose preference demonstrated a negative relationship with sensitivity to sucrose in control subjects. Notably, this relationship between sucrose preference and sensitivity was completely absent in participants with type 2 diabetes. Male patients with diabetes demonstrated a higher sucrose preference compared with female patients. There were no significant correlations between sucrose preference and glycemic control, duration of diabetes, or anti-diabetic medications.

Conclusions

Participants with type 2 diabetes demonstrate a lower preference for sweet tastes than control subjects despite their decreased perception of sucrose. Reduced sucrose preference is not associated with better glycemic control in individuals with diabetes.     

Alteration in fasting glucose after prolonged treatment with a thiazide diuretic

Aims

Thiazide diuretics are recommended as first line antihypertensive treatment, but may contribute to new onset diabetes. We aimed to describe change in fasting glucose (FG) during prolonged thiazide treatment in an observational setting.

Methods

We conducted an observational, non-randomized, open label, follow-up study of the Pharmacogenomic Evaluation of Antihypertensive Responses (PEAR) and PEAR-2 studies. We enrolled previous participants from the PEAR or PEAR-2 studies with at least 6 months of continuous treatment with either hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or chlorthalidone. Linear regression was used to identify associations with changes in FG after prolonged thiazide and thiazide-like diuretic treatment.

Results

A total of 40 participants were included with a mean 29 (range 8–72) months of thiazide treatment. FG increased 6.5 (SD 13.0) mg/dL during short-term thiazide treatment and 3.6 (SD 15.3) mg/dL FG during prolonged thiazide treatment. Increased FG at follow-up was associated with longer thiazide treatment duration (β = 0.34, p = 0.008) and lower baseline FG (β = −0.46, p = 0.02). β blocker treatment in combination with prolonged thiazide diuretic treatment was also associated with increased FG and increased 2-h glucose obtained from OGTT.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that prolonged thiazide treatment duration is associated with increased FG and that overall glycemic status worsens when thiazide/thiazide-like diuretics are combined with β blockers.     

LCT-13910C > T polymorphism-associated lactose malabsorption and risk for colorectal cancer in Italy

Background

The activity of epithelial lactase (LCT) associates with a polymorphism 13910 bp upstream the LCT-encoding gene (LCT-13910C > T). The relationship between LCT-13910C > T polymorphism and risk for colorectal cancer is unclear.

Aims

We examined the relationship between the LCT-13910C > T polymorphism causing lactose intolerance and risk for colorectal cancer/polyps onset in the Italian population.

Patients and methods

793 subjects (306 with colorectal cancer, 176 with polyps and 311 controls) were genotyped for the LCT-13910C > T variant by TaqMan real time-PCR.

Results

Lactose malabsorption linked to the CC genotype did not associate with an increased risk for either colorectal cancer (OR = 1.041; 95% CI = 0.751–1.442; p = 0.868) or polyps (OR = 0.927; 95% CI = 0.630–1.363; p = 0.769). There was no association with colorectal cancer/polyps site. 60% of the subjects overall bore the CC genotype.

Conclusion

In the Italian population the LCT-13910C > T polymorphism is not associated to the risk for colorectal cancer or polyps.     

Is there a skeletal muscle mass threshold associated with the deterioration of insulin sensitivity in sedentary lean to obese postmenopausal women?

Aim

The purpose of this study was to determine an optimal cut-off point of skeletal muscle mass, using appendicular lean body mass (LBM) index, that identifies at risk individuals with deteriorated insulin sensitivity, using an established quantitative insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) cut-off.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis in 231 lean and obese (BMI: 18.7–51.0 kg/m²) menopausal women. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin were obtained to calculate QUICKI as an index of insulin sensitivity. Skeletal muscle mass was measured as appendicular LBM by DXA and expressed as appendicular LBM index [appendicular LBM (kg)/height (m²)]. Cut-offs were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

Results

The best cut-off value for skeletal muscle mass index to identify menopausal women with reduced insulin sensitivity was 7.025 kg/m² which had a sensitivity of 69.5% and specificity of 58.2%.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that sedentary postmenopausal women with an appendicular skeletal muscle mass index above 7.025 kg/m² may be at greater risk of insulin resistance. Prospective studies are needed to validate our result.     

Do physicians with diabetes have differences in dialysis use and survival than other patients with diabetes

Aims

To assess whether the increased knowledge and resources available to physicians led to differences in dialysis and survival rates between physicians and non-physician patients with diabetes.

Methods

All newly diagnosed (1997–2009) type 2 diabetes patients aged ≥35 years from the National Health Insurance Program of Taiwan database were included. After propensity score matching (1:10), we estimated the relative risk of dialysis and death using Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for demographic characteristics and comorbidities.

Results

Physicians with diabetes were more likely to start dialysis than general patients, with a 48% increased hazard risk (HR) (P = 0.006). Physicians with diabetes had significantly lower risk of death (HR: 0.88; P = 0.025). However, those requiring dialysis had a non-significant increased risk of death (HR: 1.19). There was an increased HR for death in older physicians (HR: 1.81; P < 0.001) and those with cancer or catastrophic illness. The HR of dialysis (7.89; P < 0.0001) increased dramatically with increasing Charlson Comorbidity Index scores.

Conclusions

Physicians with DM survived longer than other patients with diabetes, likely benefiting from their professional resources in disease control and prevention. Nonetheless, they displayed no advantage from their medical backgrounds compared with the general patients if they developed end stage renal disease.     

The prevalence of diabetes complications and associated risk factors in Pacific Islands countries

Aim

To determine the prevalence of diabetes complications and associated risk factors among people with type 2 diabetes in three Pacific Island countries, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 459 people with diabetes. Subjects were screened for complications using a standardised protocol which gathered information on demographics, physical and biochemical parameters.

Results

Of the 459 subjects, 47% were female, mean age was 54 years and mean duration of diabetes was eight years. The prevalence of diabetes complications was significantly higher in Nauru compared with the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – microalbuminuria 71%, 36% and 51% respectively (P < 0.001), retinopathy 69%, 40% and 42% respectively (P < 0.001), and abnormal foot sensation 30%, 23% and 19% respectively (P = 0.036). The prevalences of hypertension, overweight/obesity and poor glycaemic control were high. The percentages of subjects achieving recommended clinical targets were low. Microalbuminuria was significantly associated with duration of diabetes, hypertension and glycaemic control. Diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with duration of diabetes whereas abnormal foot sensation was significantly associated with duration of diabetes and glycaemic control.

Conclusions

This study found a high prevalence of diabetes complications and associated risk factors, which indicate the need to improve diabetes care and strengthen preventive efforts to reduce complications.     

Hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype and risk of cardiovascular diseases in China: Results from the Kailuan Study

Background

While some case–control studies have showed the correlation between the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype (increased WC and hypertriglyceridemia) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, there are few data regarding this correlation in cohort studies, especially in Asian populations that have a higher prevalence of central obesity than other populations.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between HTGW phenotype and risk of incident CVD events among men and women in China.

Methods

We analyzed 95,015 participants (18–98 years old) in the Kailuan Study. CVDs developed in 1958 people during follow-up. The cutoffs for defining HTGW phenotype were a waist circumference (WC) of 90 cm or more and a triglyceride level of 2.0 mmol/L or more for men and a WC of 85 cm or more and a triglyceride level of 1.5 mmol/L or more for women. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated from Cox regression models.

Results

Compared with participants who had a normal WC and a normal triglyceride level (NWNT), those with HTGW phenotype had a higher WC, body mass index, prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus; and a lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The HTGW group had an unadjusted HR of 1.76 (95% CI = 1.55–1.99) for future CVDs compared with the NWNT group. After adjustment for confounders, the HR still remained significant (HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.07–1.44).

Conclusions

HTGW phenotype was associated with the risk of CVDs independently. HTGW phenotype might be a simple but useful tool to screen the individuals at a high risk for future CVDs, and it might be recommended in most clinical practices.     

A short message service (SMS) intervention to prevent diabetes in Chinese professional drivers with pre-diabetes: A pilot single-blinded randomized controlled trial

Aim

To determine the efficacy of delivering short-message service (SMS) to provide diabetes-related information in reducing the risk of developing diabetes in Chinese professional drivers with pre-diabetes.

Methods

A pilot single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in Hong Kong between 05/2009 and 04/2012. Professional drivers with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were randomly allocated to either a SMS group receiving messages comprising knowledge and lifestyle modification on diabetes or to a control group with usual care. Primary outcomes were the incidence rate of diabetes mellitus over 12 and 24 months period.

Results

Fifty-four, out of 104 professional drivers recruited, were randomly allocated to intervention group. Fewer subjects developed diabetes at 12 months in intervention group (5.56%) compared to control group (16.00%). Relative risk (RR) of diabetes onset was 0.35 (95%CI: 0.10–1.24) and the number needed to treat (NNT) for preventing one diabetes was 9.57. At 24 months, RR increased to 0.62 (95%CI: 0.24–1.61) with a NNT of 10.58. Logistic regression showed a significant odds ratio of 0.04 (P = 0.021) for intervention group compared to control group at 12-month follow-up for completers and a non-significant odds ratio of 0.34 (P = 0.303) at 24-month follow-up.

Conclusions

The SMS program proved to have potential to reduce the risk of developing diabetes at 12 months but additional measures should be integrated to prevent or delay disease progression.