Autonomic Dysfunction in Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Fibrocalculous Pancreatic Diabetes in South India

The prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in non-insulin-dependent (Type 2) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) was assessed by a standard battery of autonomic dysfunction tests involving heart rate responses and blood pressure responses. Three hundred and thirty-six patients with NIDDM and 40 patients with FCPD were studied. Logistic regression analysis was done to look for risk factors associated with autonomic dysfunction. Abnormalities of autonomic function tests were detected in 120 NIDDM patients (35.7 %) and 9 FCPD patients (22.5 %). There was no significant difference in severity of autonomic dysfunction between NIDDM and FCPD groups. There was an increase in prevalence of autonomic dysfunction with age and duration of diabetes both in NIDDM and FCPD. In the 0–5 years duration group, 28.2 % of NIDDM and 16.6 % of FCPD had evidence of disordered autonomic function and these figures increased to 56.2 % and 60 % respectively, after 16–20 years duration of diabetes. Logistic regression analysis showed that only peripheral dysfunction was associated with autonomic dysfunction in NIDDM patients (r = 0.66, p = 0.02).     

Diabetes Mellitus but not Impaired Glucose Tolerance is Associated with Dysfunction in Peripheral Nerves

To clarify whether long-term impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is associated with dysfunction of peripheral and autonomic nerves, age-matched men with IGT and diabetes mellitus were followed prospectively for 12–15 years, when peripheral and autonomic nerve function was assessed. The patients comprised four subgroups: (1) 51 IGT subjects (duration of IGT at least 12–15 years); (2) 35 diabetic patients, with IGT 12–15 years ago, who later developed diabetes; (3) 34 diabetic patients, duration of diabetes at least 12–15 years; and (4) 62 age-matched non-diabetic control subjects. Mean age of the whole study population was 61±2 years (mean ±SD), not different in the four groups. Peripheral nerve function tests included nerve conduction velocities, amplitudes, distal latencies, F-reflexes, and sensory perception thresholds for heat, cold, and vibration. Autonomic nerve function tests included the heart rate reaction during deep breathing (expiration to inspiration ratio) and to tilt (acceleration and brake indices). Despite 12–15 years of IGT, peripheral nerve function did not differ between IGT and control subjects, whereas autonomic nerve function deviated; an abnormal expiration to inspiration ratio (a sign of vagal nerve dysfunction) was significantly more common (15/51 versus 5/62;p<0.01) in IGT than in control subjects. Diabetic patients (groups 2 and 3) showed lower conduction velocities (in general 2–4 m s^?1 lower) than IGT and control subjects in all tested nerves. In conclusion, diabetes but not IGT, is associated with peripheral nerve dysfunction.     

Physical Work Capacity in Diabetic Children and Adolescents with and without Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of autonomic nervous system dysfunction on work capacity in children and adolescents with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Fifteen patients with autonomic dysfunction (abnormal autonomic tests, age: 14.9±2.3 years), 35 patients without autonomic dysfunction (normal autonomic tests, age: 15.2±2.5 years), and 25 non-diabetic subjects (age: 15.0±2.3 years) were investigated. Resting heart rate, deep breathing heart rate variation, standing/lying heart rate ratio, decrease in blood pressure during orthostasis, and increase in blood pressure during sustained handgrip were used to assess cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Physical work capacity at heart rate of 170 min⁻¹ was determined by bicycle ergometry. Glycated haemoglobin level was higher in patients with than without autonomic dysfunction (12.3±3.1 vs 9.4±2.9%, p = 0.04). Patients with autonomic dysfunction had significantlylower physical work capacity at heart rate of 170 min⁻¹ than those with normal autonomic function or non-diabetic subjects (0.81 ± 0.12 vs 1.49 ± 0.16 and 1.54 ± 0.20 W kg⁻¹ p = 0.01). Physical work capacity at heart rate of 170 min⁻¹ was related to glycated haemoglobin level (r = −0.55, p = 0.01), to resting heart rate (r = 0.57, p =0.01), and to deep breathing heart rate variation (r = 0.51, p = 0.02). In conclusion, impaired work capacity is associated with poor blood glucose control and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic tests can help to identify those patients who may need special consideration during exercise.     

Abnormal Response to Exercise in Middle-aged NIDDM Patients with and without Autonomic Neuropathy

The cardiovascular response to exercise in middle-aged non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and the potential role of clinical characteristics and autonomic function were evaluated. One hundred and eight NIDDM patients, aged 40–65 years, were compared with a control group of 112 subjects, matched by age, sex, physical fitness, and presence of hypertension. All subjects performed a maximal exercise test. The diabetic patients completed cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) tests: deep breathing, postural hypotension and lying to standing. There were no significant differences in total work capacity, heart rate, and blood pressure, either at rest or at peak exercise between the two groups. Diabetic patients showed significantly lower values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure during exercise, significantly slower recovery of heart rate (at 5th minute the average values were 102.7 ± 14.1 beats min⁻¹ vs 91.9 ± 11.1, p < 0.001); and significantly higher proportion of blunted increase of heart rate (9.2 % vs 0.9 %, p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (9.2 % vs 0.7 %, p < 0.001) during exercise. No correlation between the exercise results and the main clinical characteristic (presence of hypertension, BMI, duration of diabetes, treatment, microalbuminuria, total score of CAN) was observed. These findings suggest that the cardiovascular response to exercise could be impaired also in the absence of signs of CAN. This impairment was higher in patients showing a dysfunction of orthosympathetic activity.     

Gustatory Sweating in Diabetes Mellitus

Gustatory sweating has been only rarely reported in diabetes mellitus and is thought to be due to axonal regeneration within the autonomic nervous system. We investigated the relationship of gustatory sweating to other diabetic complications. 196 patients in four groups (diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic controls, and non-diabetic renal failure) were questioned about gustatory sweating. Somatic and autonomic neuropathy were assessed by clinical signs, vibration perception threshold, and heart rate variability. Sixty-nine percent of patients with nephropathy and 36% of those with neuropathy reported gustatory sweating, whereas less than 5% reported it in the other two groups. Five subjects reported that gustatory sweating either disappeared or significantly improved immediately after renal transplantation. Analysis of the nephropathy and neuropathy groups separately showed a strong correlation between gustatory sweating and degree of neuropathy (p < 0.01). This study shows that gustatory sweating is much more common than previously believed and demonstrates that it is often very closely linked with diabetic nephropathy.     

Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background

Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction, which can result in cardiogenic shock. Data on the relation of diabetes and the occurrence and prognosis of cardiogenic shock postacute myocardial infarction are scant.

常规心电图ST段压低对老年2型糖尿病患者发生冠心病的预测价值

目的探讨常规心电图ST段压低对老年2型糖尿病患者发生冠心病的预测价值。方法选择我院2011年1月—2013年3月收治的老年2型糖尿病患者72例,均完善常规心电图检查,并行冠状动脉造影明确诊断。结果常规心电图ST段压低诊断冠心病的敏感度为84.2%(48/57),特异度为66.7%(10/15),准确度为80.6%(58/72)。结论常规心电图ST段压低对老年2型糖尿病患者冠心病诊断的敏感度和特异度较高,有较好的临床预测价值。     

Autonomic neuropathy and diabetic foot ulceration

Autonomic function was studied in three groups of insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Heart rate changes during deep breathing and on standing were significantly less in 28 patients with a recent history of foot ulceration compared with 40 patients with peripheral neuropathy but without ulceration (p less than 0.001) and 54 patients without neuropathy (p less than 0.001). Sympathetic function was assessed in 36 of these patients from peripheral arterial diastolic flow patterns obtained by Doppler ultrasound measurements and expressed as the pulsatility index (PI). Patients with a history of ulceration (n = 10) showed considerably increased diastolic flow (PI = 4.28 +/- 0.53, mean +/- S.E.M.) compared with 12 neuropathic patients with no history of ulceration (PI = 7.80 +/- 0.68, p less than 0.002) and 14 patients without neuropathy (PI = 9.55 +/- 0.89, p less than 0.002). Severely abnormal autonomic function occurs in association with neuropathic foot ulceration, but patients without ulcers have lesser degrees of autonomic neuropathy, thus a causal relationship has not been established.     

Diabetes Mellitus in Egypt: Risk Factors and Prevalence

Major sociodemographic changes have occurred in Egypt to promote the development of noncommunicable diseases. We have performed a cross-sectional, population-based survey of persons ≥ 20 years of age in Cairo and surrounding rural villages to describe the prevalence of diabetes risk factors, diagnosed diabetes, previously undiagnosed diabetes, and impaired glucose tolerance by age, sex, rural and urban residence, and socioeconomic status (SES). In the survey, we identified 6052 eligible households: 76% of household respondents completed a household examination and 72% of selected household respondents subsequently completed a medical examination. Exercise was assessed by questionnaire; adiposity by measurement of height, weight, and girths; and diabetes by history and 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. In rural areas, 52% of persons ≥ 20 years of age were sedentary, 16% were obese, and 4.9% had diabetes. In lower SES urban areas, 73% were sedentary, 37% were obese, and 13.5% had diabetes. In higher SES urban areas, 89% were sedentary, 49% were obese, and 20% had diabetes. The combined prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in the Egyptian population ≥ 20 years of age was estimated to be 9.3%. Approximately half the diabetes was diagnosed and the other half was previously undiagnosed. The prevalence of diabetes in Egypt is high, and the gradient in risk factors and disease from rural to urban areas and in urban areas from lower to higher SES suggest that diabetes is a major, emerging clinical and public health problem in Egypt.     

Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus

In a series of 6,500 patients with diabetes mellitus there were 37 cases of primary carcinoma of the pancreas which significantly exceeded the expected number for the patient years at risk in both males and females (p<0.01). There was no evidence that pancreatic cancer was more common in patients with long-standing diabetes. The increased incidence of pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients is probably the result of patients presenting with the symptoms of diabetes as long as four years before the cancer becomes manifest. An underlying pancreatic tumour should be suspected when an elderly diabetic proves difficult to control and loses weight despite adequate treatment.     

Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus of Short Duration

To determine whether abnormal left ventricular diastolic function is present at an early stage of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), left ventricular diastolic filling was evaluated by pulsed doppler echocardiography in 16 normotensive patients with NIDDM of short duration (1.8 ± 1 years, mean ± SD) and no evidence of microangiopathy, and in 16 healthy volunteers comparable for age, body mass index, and sex distribution. All patients showed normal systolic function. The interventricular septum thickness, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular mass index were increased in the diabetic as compared with the control group (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p < 0.02, respectively). Isovolumic relaxation time and atrial peak filling velocity were greater in diabetic patients (p < 0.001, and p < 0.01, respectively), whereas early to atrial peak filling velocity ratio was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that an impairment of left ventricular diastolic function occurs early in the natural history of NIDDM, and that this abnormality is unlikely to be related to clinical evidence of microangiopathic complications.     

Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Function in Adolescents With and Without Diabetes

In this study reference ranges were established for autonomic and peripheral nerve tests in 122 non-diabetic adolescents. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of age and gender on neurological function. Increasing age was associated with: less heart rate variability during deep breathing (p = 0.03), higher thermal threshold for cold at the wrist (p = 0.009), and higher vibration threshold at the toe (p = 0.001) and medial malleolus (p = 0.01). Male gender was associated with higher Valsalva ratio (p = 0.0004), higher thermal threshold for hot at the foot (p = 0.002), and higher vibration threshold at the malleolus (p = 0.03). The REFVAL programme was used to determine parametric or non-parametric reference limits: the 5% limits for autonomic and 95% limits for peripheral tests. One hundred and eighty-one adolescents with diabetes were studied under identical conditions and similar effects of age and gender were found. Twenty-eight percent of the group with diabetes had at least one abnormal autonomic test result out of four (expected 18.5%); 24% had at least one abnormal peripheral test result out of six (expected 26.5%). Glycaemic control was associated with autonomic (p = 0.04) but not peripheral abnormalities. Using multiple regression analysis and adjusting for age and gender, there was no effect of diabetes duration or glycaemic control on neurological function.     

空腹血糖水平影响2型糖尿病患者心肌梗死的发生及其严重程度

目的:探讨2型糖尿病患者空腹血糖水平与心肌梗死发生及严重程度的关系。方法:经冠状动脉造影证实有冠心病的161例2型糖尿病患者(合并心肌梗死61例),根据其空腹血糖水平分为4组:≤6.1、6.2~7.6、7.7~10.0和>10.0mmol/L,观察心肌梗死的患病率和心肌酶谱的水平。结果:随着空腹血糖水平升高,心肌梗死患病率增加(P<0.05),心肌酶水平明显升高,空腹血糖水平与心肌酶水平呈显著正相关,Logistic回归分析显示心肌梗死与空腹血糖水平密切相关。结论:空腹血糖水平明显地影响2型糖尿病患者心肌梗死的发生及其严重程度。     

2型糖尿病患者合并勃起功能障碍对心血管病风险预测的研究

目的:了解2型糖尿病患者合并勃起功能障碍(ED)时是否有心血管病的风险. 方法:对2型糖尿病合并勃起功能障碍组(ED组)71例,2型糖尿病无勃起功能障碍组(非ED组)45例,测量其颈内动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT),同时测量身高、体重、血压、血脂、血糖、C肽等.比较两组间平均颈内动脉IMT及血糖、血脂等代谢指标. 结果:平均颈内动脉IMT比较:ED组明显厚于非ED组(P<0.05);血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇:ED组明显高于非ED组(p<0.05);在2型糖尿病患者中,ED评分与颈内动脉IMT呈负相关(r=-0.321,P=0.000). 结论:2型糖尿病患者合并ED时其患动脉粥样硬化的危险性要高于不合并ED者,2型糖尿病合并ED可能是心血管病的一个早期预警信号.     

Prospective Study of Autonomic Nerve Function in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Patients: 24 Hour Heart Rate Variation and Plasma Motilin Levels Disturbed in Parasympathetic Neuropathy

To clarify the impact of autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients, we have conducted a prospective study of 58 Type 1 and 51 Type 2 diabetic patients (investigated at baseline, after 4, and after 7 years). In Type 1 diabetic patients, the sympathetic nerve function (orthostatic acceleration and brake indices) and in Type 2 patients, parasympathetic nerve function (R-R interval variation; E/I ratio) deteriorated during 7 years of prospective observation. Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy were associated with signs of autonomic neuropathy (low brake indices) in Type 1 but not in Type 2 diabetic patients. In the latest assessment 24 h ECG recording was performed and blood samples assayed for neuropeptide Y (NPY) and motilin were obtained. Type 1 diabetic patients with parasympathetic neuropathy (abnormal E/I ratio) showed significantly lower SD value (less variation in the R-R intervals; 29 [17] vs 50 [16], [mean {interquartile range}]; p = 0.001) and higher postprandial plasma motilin values (70 [20] pmol I^?1 vs 50 [15] pmol I^?1; p< 0.01) than patients with normal parasympathetic nerve function. In Type 2 diabetic patients, sympathetic neuropathy (low brake indices) was associated with an increased frequency of ventricular extra systolic beats during 24 h ECG recording (r_s = 0.65; p<0.01). Postprandial plasma NPY levels were not associated with disturbed autonomic nerve function.     

298例2型糖尿病对肺功能的影响

目的 分析糖尿病患者的肺功能,研究肺是否为糖尿病损害的靶器官.方法 回顾性298名糖尿病患者肺功能(包括通气功能和弥散功能),以一氧化碳弥散量(DLCO)作为肺弥散功能的指标.对照组为年龄性别匹配的300名健康志愿者.分析糖尿病病程及合并高血压对肺功能的影响.结果 糖尿病组患者中所有肺通气功能指标均低于对照组,但两组之间的差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).糖尿病患者DLCO平均值为91.4±16.7％,明显低于对照组(104.1±7.9％)(P＜0.001).结论 糖尿病患者肺弥散功能受损,提示肺脏是糖尿病慢性病变的靶器官之一.     

The Gulf War and Diabetes Mellitus

The Gulf war was a traumatic and stressful event for the inhabitants of Tel-Aviv and vicinity. The entire population changed its way-of-life. In order to evaluate the influence of the war stress on glucose control, we reviewed the charts of all diabetic patients attending the outpatient clinics at the Tel-Aviv Medical Centre, whose weight and glycated haemoglobin was determined between 15.1.91 and 2.5.91 (the war period), with comparative measurements within 4 ½ months both before and after these dates. Sixty-six patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 16 with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were examined. During the war, their glycated haemoglobin increased by 10.1 to 10.9% and from 9.6 to 10.2%, respectively. Weight increased from 76.1 to 77.5 kg in the NIDDM and from 63.2 to 64.7 kg in the IDDM patients. Both measurements returned to baseline after the war. No correlation was found between the changes in glycated haemoglobin and weight.