Continuous glucose monitoring in elderly type 2 diabetic patients / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the characteristics of the blood glucose fluctuation in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The 92 elderly patients with T2DM (the elderly group) and 58 young and middle-aged patients with T2DM (the non-elderly group) were monitored using the continuous glucose monitoring system(CGMS). The characteristics of glucose profiles of the two different age groups, and of the different glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level groups in the elderly were comparatively analyzed. Results (1)There was no significant difference in HbA1c level between the elderly group and the non-elderly group. Compared with the non-elderly group, the elderly group showed the increases in blood glucose fluctuant coefficient [BGFC, (2.68±1.00) mmol/L vs. (2.12±0.74) mmol/L, t=-3.691, P＜0.001], in postprandial glucose excursion (PPGE) of breakfast and supper [(5.96±2.47) mmol/L vs. (5.11±2.44) mmol/L, t=-2.058, P＜0.05; (5.17±2.15) mmol/L vs. (4.16±2.28) mmol/L, t=-2.730, P＜0.01], in the time to postprandial glucose peak of breakfast and lunch [(112.5±29.7) min vs. (97.0±27.2) min, t=-3.225, P＜0.01; (140.0±39.7) min vs. (118.1±42.6) min, t=-3.195, P＜0.01], in the frequency of hypoglycemia (26.3% vs. 5.5%, P＜0.05), and showed the largest amplitude of glycemic excursions [LAGE, (9.66±2.48) mmol/L vs.(8.40±3.13) mmol/L, t=-2.720, P＜0.01]. (2)In the elderly, along with decreased HbA1c, the incidence of hypoglycaemia increased (P＜0.05); And along with increased HbA1c, the amplitude of blood glucose fluctuation increased. There were significant differences in BGFC, PPGE of breakfast and lunch, and LAGE among different HbA1c level groups (P＜0.01, P＜0.05, P＜0.05, P＜0.001). (3)HbA1c was positively correlated with FBG, mean blood glucose (MBG), percentage of time at glycemia (PT7.8, PT11.1), the lowest blood glucose (LBG), the highest blood glucose (HBG), BGFC, PPGE and LAGE (r=0.899-0.289, all P＜0.001). Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that MBG, FBG and PT7.8 was the independent influential factor of HbA1c (adjusted R2=0.807, P＜0.05). Conclusions The elderly patients with T2DM are at a particularly high risk for postprandial hyperglycemia and nocturnal hypoglycemic episodes, CGMS could show glucose fluctuation characters of T2DM patients diurnally, and provide a clinical basis for reasonable therapy.