Advanced glycation end products assessed by skin autofluorescence in type 1 diabetics are associated with nephropathy,but not retinopathy

AimsAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs) are thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of diabetes complications. For this reason, a non-invasive tool using skin autofluorescence (AF) quantification that correlates with levels of tissue AGEs has been developed. The present study aimed to assess whether or not skin AF is associated with microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).MethodsAll consecutive patients with T1D (n = 133) had three AF measures taken on the forearm, using illumination with a fluorescent tube, all on the same day after breakfast or lunch. Potential associations between skin AF levels and microvascular complications, age, diabetes duration and health status were then assessed using a multivariate linear-regression model.ResultsOn age-adjusted analyses, diabetes duration, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy were significantly associated with skin AF levels (all P < 0.001). AF levels increased significantly with severity in both retinopathy and nephropathy (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, diabetes duration, HbA_1c, smoking, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy, the association of AF levels remained significant with nephropathy and neuropathy, but not with retinopathy and diabetes duration.ConclusionThis study suggests an independent association between skin AF levels and diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy, but not retinopathy, in T1D patients. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the ability of skin AF levels to predict microangiopathy.     

Obesity and Diabetic Complications: A Study from the Nationwide Diabetes Report of the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD-2021) Implications for Action on Multiple Scales

BackgroundObesity plays a major role in the pathogenesis and development of macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). We aimed to assess the association between obesity and macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes.MethodsThis study consisted of 111,830 patients (age range: 1–106) with diabetes including 10,641 T1D (3187 obese [38.2% men] and 7454 non-obese [45.5% men]) and 101,189 T2D (51,873 obese [27.5% men] and 49,316 non-obese [33.4% men]) from the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD-2021) in Iran, who attended academic tertiary care outpatient clinics from February 2016 to April 2021. A pooled logistic regression model was used to examine the association between obesity and diabetic complications.ResultsAmong patients with T1D, a significant association was found between obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD), neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy (OR= 1.75, 1.56, 1.80 and 1.92, P-value= 0.001, 0.004, 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). In T2D, a statistically significant association was found between obesity and CVD, neuropathy and nephropathy (OR= 1.63, 1.98, 1.21, respectively, P-values <0.001).ConclusionObesity was independently associated with CVD, neuropathy and nephropathy in patients with T1D and T2D and with retinopathy only in T1D, to different degrees. The association between obesity and retinopathy and neuropathy was the strongest among T1D and T2D, respectively. Findings from this study suggest that obesity affects diabetic complications differently among the two types of diabetes, in terms of epidemiology and pathophysiology. This signifies the importance of different preventive and therapeutic approaches to obesity in T1D compared to T2D, on a national and global scale.     

Alcohol consumption and risk of microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes patients: the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and risk of microvascular complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy) in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients in the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study. METHODS: The EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study is a follow-up study including 3,250 type 1 diabetes mellitus patients from 16 different European countries. We investigated the cross-sectional association between moderate alcohol consumption and risk of retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy among 1,857of these patients. RESULTS: We documented 304 cases of proliferative retinopathy, 660 cases of neuropathy and 157 cases of nephropathy (macroalbuminuria). Alcohol consumption was associated with risk of proliferative retinopathy, neuropathy and macroalbuminuria in a U-shaped fashion. Moderate consumers (30-70 g alcohol per week) had a lower risk of microvascular complications with odds ratios of 0.60 (95% CI 0.37-0.99) for proliferative retinopathy, 0.61 (0.41-0.91) for neuropathy and 0.36 (0.18-0.71) for macroalbuminuria in multivariate-adjusted models. These results were similar when excluding patients who had been advised to drink less alcohol because of their health. The relation was most pronounced for alcohol consumption from wine. Drinking frequency was significantly, inversely associated with risk of neuropathy, but a similar trend was visible for proliferative retinopathy and macroalbuminuria. Alcohol consumption was not associated with occurrence of ketoacidosis or hypoglycaemic attacks. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Consistent with its effects on macrovascular complications, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of all microvascular complications among type 1 diabetes patients.     

Microvascular Complications in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: Screening of complications is an important part of diabetes care. The aim of this study was to investigate diabetic complications and related risk factors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on type 1 diabetics who were over 11 years of age or had a diabetes duration of 2 years and included 155 adolescents with T1DM (67 male, 88 female). The mean age of the patients was 14.4±2.1 years. Mean diabetes duration was 6.3±2.9 years. The patients were screened for diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy.Results: Mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of the study group was 8.4%. The frequency of microalbuminuria and peripheral neuropathy were 16.1% and 0.6%, respectively. None of the patients had diabetic retinopathy. Dyslipidemia and hypertension rates were 30.3% and 12.3%, respectively. Risk factors associated with microalbuminuria were hypertension, higher HbA1c levels, longer diabetes duration and dyslipidemia.Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia as well as achieving a better metabolic control are important in prevention or postponement of complications in patients with T1DM. Yearly screening for diabetic nephropathy should be started 2 years after the onset of the diabetes. Conflict of interest:None declared.     

Severity and multiplicity of microvascular complications are associated with QT interval prolongation in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims/Introduction

A prolonged QT interval plays a causal role in life‐threatening arrhythmia, and becomes a risk factor for sudden cardiac death. Here, we assessed the association between microvascular complications and the QT interval in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

Patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 219) admitted to Nippon Medical School Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) for glycemic control were enrolled. QT interval was measured manually in lead II on the electrocardiogram, and corrected for heart rate using Bazett's formula (QTc). Diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy were assessed by neuropathic symptoms or Achilles tendon reflex, ophthalmoscopy and urinary albumin excretion, respectively.

Results

In univariate analyses, female sex (P = 0.025), duration of type 2 diabetes (P = 0.041), body mass index (P = 0.0008), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.0011) and receiving insulin therapy (P < 0.0001) were positively associated with QTc. Patients with each of the three microvascular complications had longer QTc than those without: neuropathy (P = 0.0005), retinopathy (P = 0.0019) and nephropathy (P = 0.0001). As retinopathy or nephropathy progressed, QTc became longer (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 for trend in retinopathy and nephropathy, respectively). Furthermore, QTc was prolonged with the multiplicity of the microvascular complications (P < 0.001 for trend). Multiple regression analyses showed that neuropathy, nephropathy and the multiplicity of the microvascular complications were independently associated with QTc.

Conclusions

Patients with type 2 diabetes with severe microvascular complications might be at high risk for life‐threatening arrhythmia associated with QT interval prolongation.     

2型糖尿病肾病亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶基因多态性研究

目的探讨亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(methylenetetrahydrofolate     

Predictors of development and progression of microvascular complications in a cohort of Brazilian type 2 diabetic patients

AIMS: Microvascular complications are associated with increased mortality in diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate the predictors of microvascular complication development and progression in a prospective study of Brazilian type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: A prospective follow-up study was carried out with 471 type 2 diabetic outpatients. Primary end points were the development or progression of retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and clinical nephropathy. Predictors were assessed for each individual microvascular complication and also as a composite outcome by Kaplan-Meier estimation of survival curves and by uni- and multivariate Cox analysis. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 57 months (range 2-84 months), 196 patients (41.6%) developed or had a progression in microvascular disease. Retinopathy occurred in 22.5%, nephropathy in 19.1%, and neuropathy in 15.5% of the patients. In Cox multivariate analysis, increased echocardiographic left ventricular mass (LVM) and longer diabetes duration were selected as predictors for all end points. Higher mean fasting glycemia was a predictor for retinopathy and neuropathy, lower serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol for neuropathy, and higher total cholesterol for nephropathy. Increased LVM [hazard ratio (HR): 1.39, 95% CI: 1.23-1.56], higher fasting glycemia (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04-1.36), and longer diabetes duration (HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.11-1.47) were the predictors of the composite end point. CONCLUSIONS: Development and progression of microvascular complications in Brazilian type 2 diabetic patients are associated with worse hypertension and metabolic control. Additional studies are necessary to show if modification of these risk factors can reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality related to microvascular disease in type 2 diabetes.     

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic complications of type 2 diabetic inpatients in Hubei Province of central China: results from a multiple-hospital study

The aims of this study are to investigate the prevalence of chronic complications in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Hubei Province of central China and identify its risk factors. The retrospective study was conducted in eight hospitals from four cities in Hubei Province from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. All participants’ medical records were collected, and the demographic characteristics, clinical features, metabolic parameters, and the occurrence of chronic complications associated to T2DM were analyzed. The risk factors of T2DM-associated chronic complications were identified using multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis. A total of 3469 subjects with T2DM were enrolled. Among the subjects included, 28.9 % developed diabetic retinopathy, 39.2 % developed diabetic nephropathy, 53.0 % developed diabetic neuropathy, 25.8 % developed coronary heart disease (CHD), 17.4 % developed cerebral vascular diseases (CVD), and 10.4 % developed vascular disease of the lower extremities. The prevalence of chronic complications varied significantly among the four cities (P?<?0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure >125 mmHg and diabetes duration >5 years were common risk factors for microvascular (nephropathy and retinopathy) and macrovascular (CHD and CVD) complications. Meanwhile, family history of diabetes was risk factor for retinopathy, HbA1c >7.0 % was risk factor for retinopathy and CHD, LDL-C level >3.12 mmol/L was risk factor for nephropathy and CHD, triglyceride level >1.7 mmol/L was risk factor for nephropathy and CVD, and age at admission >45 years was risk factor for CHD and CVD. Chronic complications are highly prevalent in inpatients with T2DM in Hubei Province of central China. Future efforts directed at blood glucose control and management of hypertension and lipid disorders are required to prevent and reduce the occurrence of chronic complications of T2DM.     

Familial aggregation of diabetic kidney disease in Type 2 diabetes in south India.

The study was done to assess whether there was a familial aggregation of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in Type 2 diabetic subjects. The profile of associated complications was also studied. Two groups of diabetic siblings of Type 2 diabetic patients, matched for age, body mass index (BMI) and duration of diabetes mellitus were studied. The siblings also had Type 2 diabetes. Group A comprised of siblings of probands with diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy (n = 30, M:F = 20:10) and Group B were siblings of probands without diabetic nephropathy or microalbuminuria (MAU) (n = 30, M:F = 14:16). Anthropometry, measurement of blood pressure and tests for proteinuria, MAU and retinopathy and ECG and biothesiometry were carried out for all study subjects. Persistent proteinuria was present in 15 (50%) siblings in group A and none in group B. MAU was detected in 26.7% (n = 7) in Group A and 3.3% (n = 1) in Group B (P = 0.057). Thus a total of 22 out of 30 cases in Group A had albuminuria. In Group A, seven (23.3%) had proteinuria and hypertension. Hypertension was present in nine (30.0%) in group A, and in five (16.7%) in group B (NS). Occurrence of retinopathy was found to be significantly higher in group A than in group B (33.3 vs 6.7%, chi2 = 5.1, P = 0.023). Abnormal ECG changes were present in 10% and 6.7% in Group A and Group B, respectively. In Group A, one patient had peripheral vascular disease (PVD) while in Group B none had PVD. A comparison of sib pairs, matched for age, duration of diabetes and the level of metabolic control showed that there was strong familial clustering of diabetic kidney disease in south Indians with Type 2 diabetes. This was independent of the familial clustering of diabetes. Prevalence of other vascular complications were also higher in Group A.     

老年糖尿病患者微血管并发症的患病率及危险因素

目的 探讨老年糖尿病患者微血管并发症的患病率,并分析发生微血管病变的危险因素。方法 回顾性分析北京协和医院2020年1月至2022年12月收治的495例老年糖尿病患者的临床资料,收集患者基线资料和生化指标,统计糖尿病视网膜病变、糖尿病肾病、周围神经病变等微血管并发症的患病率。根据微血管并发症的类型将患者分为4组：糖尿病视网膜病变组(n=107)、糖尿病肾病组(n=81)、周围神经病变组(n=169)及非并发症组(n=138)。采用SPSS 22.0统计软件进行数据分析。根据数据类型,分别采用方差分析或χ²检验进行组间比较。采用多因素logistic回归分析糖尿病微血管病变发生的危险因素。结果 495例老年糖尿病患者中共357例发生微血管并发症,总患病率为72.12%,其中糖尿病视网膜病变占21.62%(107/495),糖尿病肾病占16.36%(81/495),周围神经病变占34.14%(169/495)。与非并发症组患者比较,糖尿病视网膜病变组患者糖尿病病程更长,收缩压(SBP)和糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)水平更高,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平较低;糖尿...     

Helicobacter pylori prevalence in diabetic patients and its relationship with dyspepsia and autonomic neuropathy

AIMS: We evaluated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in Type 2 diabetic patients and its relationship with dyspeptic symptoms and complications of diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight Type 2 diabetic patients (54 females, 24 males, mean age: 51.9 +/- 10.6 yr) and 71 non-diabetic control subjects were involved in the study. Patients were questioned for dyspeptic symptoms. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy were investigated in diabetic patients. Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy was performed for all patients and gastric biopsies were obtained and searched for HP. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori prevalence was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects (75.6 vs 46%, p < 0.05). No differences were found between women and men with regard to HP infection status in diabetic patients. There was no relation between HP and diabetic complications, nephropathy and retinopathy. Helicobacter pylori prevalence was significantly higher in diabetic patients with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy than in diabetic patients without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (90.6 vs 44.0%, p < 0.02). Forty-seven subjects with diabetes had symptoms of dyspepsia (60.3%) and the prevalence of HP was higher in these patients (p < 0.002). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of HP infection in diabetic patients and it is correlated with dyspeptic symptoms. Diabetic subjects complicated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and dyspepsia are at high risk of HP infection and should be carefully investigated and considered for eradication therapy.     

Microvascular and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes Ghanaian residents in Ghana and Europe: The RODAM study

AimsTo compare microvascular and macrovascular complication rates among Ghanaians with type 2 diabetes (T2D) living in Ghana and in three European cities (Amsterdam, London and Berlin).MethodsData from the multicenter Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study were analyzed. 650 Ghanaian participants with T2D (206 non-migrant and 444 migrants) were included. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between migrant status and microvascular (nephropathy and retinopathy) and macrovascular (coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD) and stroke) complications with adjustment for age, gender, socioeconomic status, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, hypertension, BMI, total-cholesterol, and HbA1c.ResultsMicrovascular and macrovascular complications rates were higher in non-migrant Ghanaians than in migrant Ghanaians (nephropathy 32.0% vs. 19.8%; PAD 11.2% vs. 3.4%; CAD 18.4% vs. 8.3%; and stroke 14.5% vs. 5.6%), except for self-reported retinopathy (11.0% vs. 21.6%). Except nephropathy and stroke, the differences persisted after adjustment for the above-mentioned covariates: PAD (OR 7.48; 95% CI, 2.16–25.90); CAD (2.32; 1.09–4.93); and retinopathy (0.23; 0.07–0.75).ConclusionsExcept retinopathy, the rates of microvascular and macrovascular complications were higher in non-migrant than in migrant Ghanaians with T2D. Conventional cardiovascular risk factors did not explain the differences except for nephropathy and stroke.     

Sub-clinical vascular disease in type 2 diabetic subjects: relationship with chronic complications of diabetes and the presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the association between a low ankle-brachial index (ABI), chronic complications of diabetes, and the presence of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes but without known cardiovascular disease. METHODS: We included diabetic subjects (n=923; 52% male; age range 50-85 years) without clinical evidence of coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral artery disease (PAD). A history of nephropathy, retinopathy, or neuropathy was collected from the medical records. A 12-lead electrocardiogram and ABI measurements were conducted on all study participants. RESULTS: The mean duration of diabetes was 9.6 years. Prevalence of a low ABI (<0.9) was 26.2%. Multivariate analysis indicated that factors significantly associated with a low ABI were age (OR: 1.06; 95%CI: 1.033-1.084; p<0.001), plasma triglyceride concentration (OR: 1.002; 95%CI: 1.001-1.004; p=0.006), duration of diabetes (OR: 1.029; 95%CI: 1.008-1.051; p=0.007), and smoking habit (OR: 1.755; 95%CI: 1.053-2.925; p=0.03). The presence of nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, left bundle branch block, and atrial fibrillation were all associated with a low ABI, but only renal disease remained significant after adjusting for age, duration of diabetes, and cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: A low ABI is highly prevalent in subjects with diabetes and is related to age, duration of diabetes, smoking habit, and hypertriglyceridemia. Although chronic complications are frequently associated with a low ABI, only renal damage is independently associated with peripheral artery disease.     

Ankle-brachial index: a surrogate marker of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a marker of microvascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This study included 126 type 2 diabetic patients (64 male and 62 female) with an age of 66.6+/-5.3 years (mean+/-SD) and diabetes duration of 13.2+/-4.1 years. ABI was measured with a Doppler device. The exclusion criterion was the medial arterial calcification. Patients were also examined for microalbuminuria, retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy. RESULTS: ABI was significantly lower in patients with microalbuminuria than in those without microalbuminuria (0.91+/-0.17 vs 1.05+/-0.13, P=0.004), in patients with retinopathy than in those without retinopathy (0.91+/-0.18 vs 1.06+/-0.1, P=0.005), as well as in patients with neuropathy than in those without neuropathy (0.94+/-0.17 vs 1.06+/-0.11, P=0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of ABI <0.9 were 48.8% and 87.9% respectively for microalbuminuria, 39.1% and 93% respectively for retinopathy and 47% and 90.7% respectively for neuropathy. In multiple regression analysis, significant predictor of microalbuminuria was diabetes duration (P=0.0014), significant predictor of retinopathy was diabetes duration (P=0.001), while significant predictors of neuropathy were diabetes duration (P=0.001), male sex (P=0.001) and presence of retinopathy (P=0.047). CONCLUSION: ABI is significantly lower in patients with than in those without microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes. An ABI <0.9 has a low to modest sensitivity, but a high specificity for the diagnosis of these complications. Our results suggest a potential role for ABI as a surrogate marker of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.     

Association of periodontitis with microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus: A nationwide cohort study

BackgroundPeriodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease and one of oral complications in diabetes. Diabetes-related microvascular complications and periodontitis are also closely related to systemic inflammation. We hypothesized that periodontitis and oral hygiene markers might increase the risk of microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus.MethodsWe enrolled 11,353 diabetes participants without prior microvascular complications who received complete oral health checkups in the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort in 2003–2004. The primary outcome was the first development of diabetes-related microvascular complications, including nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy.ResultsThe age of all participants was 55.27 ± 9.46 years, and 7833 (68.99%) participants were male. Periodontitis was noted in 8.37%. During the 7.03 ± 4.30 year of the mean follow-up period, 7227 patients experienced diabetes-related microvascular complications (2645 with nephropathy, 2513 with neuropathy, 2069 with retinopathy). Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed that periodontitis was an independent risk factor for diabetes-related microvascular complications (adjusted hazard ratio (HR):1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.04–1.23; p = 0.004). In the secondary analysis for individual microvascular complications, periodontitis was an independent risk factor for retinopathy (adjusted HR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04–1.40; p = 0.013).ConclusionsThe presence of periodontitis was associated with an increased risk of microvascular complications in diabetes patients.     

Homocysteine as a risk factor for nephropathy and retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between serum total homocysteine concentrations and microvascular complications in Pima Indians with Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Homocysteine concentrations were measured in frozen sera of 396 diabetic participants in a longitudinal study who were 40 years of age or older and who had attended one or more examinations between 1982 and 1985. Retinopathy was assessed by fundoscopy and nephropathy by an albumin:creatinine ratio greater than 300 mg/g. The incidence rate ratio for a 5 micro mol/l difference in homocysteine was calculated using proportional hazard regression. RESULTS: The incidence of each complication was assessed in subjects without that complication at baseline and with more than one follow-up examination: 229 for nephropathy, 212 for retinopathy and 266 for proliferative retinopathy. There were 101 incident cases of nephropathy, 113 of retinopathy and 40 of proliferative retinopathy during a mean follow-up of 8.6, 7.5 and 8.9 years, respectively. Incidence of nephropathy was associated with homocysteine concentrations: IRR=1.42 (95% CI, 1.09-1.84, p=0.01); this remained statistically significant controlled for age, sex and duration of diabetes (p=0.03), but not when controlled for baseline renal function (p=0.4). Homocysteine concentrations were not associated with the incidence of any retinopathy IRR=1.14 (95%CI 0.89-1.46, p=0.3) but were associated with the incidence of proliferative retinopathy IRR=1.62 (95% CI 1.16-2.28, p=0.005); this association remained statistically significant when controlled for baseline renal function and diabetes duration (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Increased homocysteine concentrations are associated with an increased risk for incidence of nephropathy and proliferative retinopathy; the relation with incidence of nephropathy seems to be explained by an association with baseline albuminuria status concentrations, whereas the relation with incidence of proliferative retinopathy does not.     

Occurrence and interrelationships of complications in insulin-dependent diabetes in Finland

The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence and interrelationships of micro- and macrovascular complications and their risk factors in insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic patients. The prevalence of nephropathy, retinopathy and cardiovascular disease was examined, and their associations to risk factors (glycemic control, blood pressure, blood lipid concentrations) and neuropathy were estimated in a cross-sectional study. A total of 140 type 1 diabetic patients were examined. They were grouped by gender, age, and duration of diabetes into 14 subgroups of 10 patients each. Nephropathy was observed in 40%, retinopathy in 55%, and signs of cardiovascular disease in less than 5% of patients. Microvascular complications were associated with the duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, and serum triglyceride concentration. The glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) level was significantly associated with the presence of nephropathy, whereas the association with retinopathy was of borderline significance. Statistically speaking, the duration of diabetes, mean systolic blood pressure, HbA_1c, and triglyceride level explained 31% of the variation in log albumin excretion rate (P<0.001). Duration, age, and triglyceride level explained 46% of the variation in the severity of retinopathy (P<0.001) and 31% of the variation in the vibration perception threshold in the ankle (P<0.001). While the well-established risk factors (duration of diabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypertension) are associated with microvascular complications, more than half of the variation in their severity cannot be explained. An additional risk factor may involve triglycerides even at a normal serum concentration. The mechanism could be the incorporation of triglycerides in the cell membrane, leading to variations in membrane fluidity. Received: 30 September 1995 / Accepted in revised form: 19 September 1996     

Isolated symptomatic peripheral neuropathy in type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Diabetic neuropathy is probably the most frequent of the chronic complications of diabetes, and is usually found in association with diabetic retinopathy and/or nephropathy. We report seven patients with long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in whom symptomatic peripheral neuropathy was the first and only documented complication. The diagnosis of peripheral symmetrical neuropathy was based on the presence of symptoms and abnormal physical findings, confirmed with abnormal electrophysiological and/or vibratory and thermal threshold measurements. Diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy were absent. We conclude that in some type 1 insulin-dependent diabetic patients, similar to what has been reported in type 2 non-insulin-dependent diabetes, peripheral neuropathy may be the first chronic complication to become manifest. This observation provides additional evidence to suggest that each of the diabetic complications may have a different pathogenic mechanism.     

Relationship between diabetic retinopathy microalbuminuria and other modifiable risk factors

BackgroundDiabetic Retinopathy (DR) is an important microvascular complication of diabetes that can lead to irreversible blindness. Microalbuminuria is strongly associated with diabetic retinopathy and can be used as a reliable marker of diabetic retinopathy.AimTo assess the association between DR, microalbuminuria, and other modifiable risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methodology3090 patients with T2DM visiting North Delhi Diabetes Centre, New Delhi between July 2016 to October 2019 were evaluated for the clinical and biochemical parameters that included urinary albumin, HbA1C, lipid profiles, serum creatinine estimation and underwent biothesiometry.Results3090 patients (1350 females and 1740 males), with mean age of 52.7 ± 9.2 years and diabetes duration ranging from 1 to 19 years (mean 9.4 ± 6), duration of less than 5 years, 6–10 years and more than 10 years in 52%, 26% and in 22%, respectively. Duration of diabetes was strong predictor of retinopathy (p = 0.001). The HbA1c and BMI in patients with DR was significantly higher than in those without DR. 18.2% patients were diagnosed to have retinopathy. Peripheral neuropathy was observed in 24.2% and was positively associated with DR (p = 0.002). 33.9% and 4.5% patients had microalbuminuria macroalbuminuria, respectively and 9.7% patients had creatinine >1.3 mg/dL. There was significant positive relationship between different grades of retinopathy and albuminuria.ConclusionsOur study is a large real-world study that demonstrates that HbA1c, BMI, duration of diabetes, microalbuminuria and peripheral neuropathy are relatively, yet cohesively contributing factors towards varying grade of retinopathy.     

Association between serum C-peptide levels and chronic microvascular complications in Korean type 2 diabetic patients

This study evaluated the association between serum C-peptide levels and chronic vascular complications in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. Data for 1,410 patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated cross-sectionally. Fasting and postprandial 2-hour serum C-peptide levels were analyzed with respect to diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications. In the group of patients with lower fasting serum C-peptide quartile, the prevalences of diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy were significantly higher (P = 0.035, P < 0.001, respectively). In the group of patients with lower delta C-peptide (postprandial − fasting C-peptide) quartile, the prevalences of diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy were significantly higher (P < 0.001 for all). Low delta C-peptide quartile was also associated with increased severity of retinopathy and nephropathy. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy in the lowest versus the highest delta C-peptide quartile were 6.45 (95% confidence interval 3.41–12.22), 3.01 (2.16–4.19), and 2.65 (1.71–4.12), respectively. After further adjustment for the duration of diabetes, type of antidiabetic therapy, mean hemoglobin A1c, body mass index, and blood pressure, the ORs were reduced to 2.83 (1.32–6.08), 1.68 (1.12–2.53), and 1.61 (1.05–2.47), respectively, but remained significant. No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of macrovascular complications with respect to fasting or delta C-peptide quartiles. These results suggest that low C-peptide level is associated with diabetic microvascular, but not macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.