Metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetes and its association with diabetes complications.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetes, and its age-related association with diabetes complications. METHODS: Australian National Diabetes Information Audit and Benchmarking (ANDIAB) was a well-established quality audit programme. It provided cross-sectional data on people attending specialist diabetes services across Australia. We determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (WHO criteria) in adults with type 1 diabetes and its associations with diabetes complications across age groups. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 30% in 2120 adults with type 1 diabetes. Prevalence increased with age: 21% in those aged <40 years, 35% in those aged 40-60 years, and 44% in those aged >60 years (P<0.001), which was driven by an increase in hypertension rate. Metabolic syndrome was associated with a higher prevalence of microvascular, macrovascular and foot complications, with the greatest impact at a younger age. The odds ratio for macrovascular complications with metabolic syndrome, compared with without, was 5.9 (95% CI 2.1-16.4) in people aged <40 years, 2.7 (95% CI 1.7-4.2) in those aged 40-60 years, and 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.7) in those aged >60 years (all P < 0.05). Metformin use was higher in those with metabolic syndrome (16% vs 4%; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this large Australian cohort, metabolic syndrome was common in type 1 diabetes and identified people at increased risk of the spectrum of diabetes complications, particularly in young to middle-aged adults. Potential clinical implications are that therapies targeting insulin resistance in this high-risk group may reduce diabetes complications and should be explored.

Successful implementation of diabetes audits in Australia: the Australian National Diabetes Information Audit and Benchmarking (ANDIAB) initiative.

AIM: We developed and implemented a national audit and benchmarking programme to describe the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services in Australia. METHODS: The Australian National Diabetes Information Audit and Benchmarking (ANDIAB) initiative was established as a quality audit activity. De-identified data on demographic, clinical, biochemical and outcome items were collected from specialist diabetes services across Australia to provide cross-sectional data on people with diabetes attending specialist centres at least biennially during the years 1998 to 2011. RESULTS: In total, 38 155 sets of data were collected over the eight ANDIAB audits. Each ANDIAB audit achieved its primary objective to collect, collate, analyse, audit and report clinical diabetes data in Australia. Each audit resulted in the production of a pooled data report, as well as individual site reports allowing comparison and benchmarking against other participating sites. CONCLUSIONS: The ANDIAB initiative resulted in the largest cross-sectional national de-identified dataset describing the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services in Australia. ANDIAB showed that people treated by specialist services had a high burden of diabetes complications. This quality audit activity provided a framework to guide planning of healthcare services.

GCK monogenic diabetes and gestational diabetes: possible diagnosis on clinical grounds.

AIM: To determine if the previously published clinical criteria for identifying glucokinase monogenic diabetes [GCK gene mutation in maturity-onset diabetes of the young (GCK-MODY)], an elevated antenatal fasting blood glucose of 5.5-8.0 mmol/l, an increment of < 4.6 mmol/l at 2 h in an oral glucose tolerance test and slim are applicable in a large multi-ethnic cohort of women with gestational diabetes. METHODS: We analysed de-identified data from all women with gestational diabetes, diagnosed using the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (1998) Australian criteria at our institution between 1993 and 2013, making comparisons among those with complete antenatal data including: diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test results meeting the above criteria; pregestational BMI; birth outcomes; and postpartum oral glucose tolerance test data. We categorized these women into two groups: Group A1 had a BMI ≤ 21 kg/m(2) and Group A2 had a BMI > 21 kg/m(2) and < 25 kg/m(2). RESULTS: Of the 302 women meeting the study entry criteria, we had complete data including a postpartum oral glucose tolerance test result for 171 women: 54 in Group A1 and 117 in Group A2. Ethnicity was significantly different between the groups. The oral glucose tolerance test and postpartum HbA1c results identified few women ( < 14%) in Group A1 and Group A2 who still had 'possible GCK-MODY'. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that previously recommended clinical criteria for the identification of women likely to have GCK-MODY lack specificity in a cohort of women with multi-ethnic backgrounds. Using these criteria to select women for testing for GCK-MODY in pregnancy would therefore be costly and is likely to yield few women positive for this condition.

Effects of type 1 diabetes, sprint training and sex on skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-ATPase activity.

Calcium cycling is integral to muscle performance during the rapid muscle contraction and relaxation of high-intensity exercise. Ca(2+) handling is altered by diabetes mellitus, but has not previously been investigated in human skeletal muscle. We investigated effects of high-intensity exercise and sprint training on skeletal muscle Ca(2+) regulation among men and women with type 1 diabetes (T1D, n = 8, 3F, 5M) and matched non-diabetic controls (CON, n = 8, 3F, 5M). Secondarily, we examined sex differences in Ca(2+) regulation. Subjects undertook 7 weeks of three times-weekly cycle sprint training. Before and after training, performance was measured, and blood and muscle were sampled at rest and after high-intensity exercise. In T1D, higher Ca(2+)-ATPase activity (+28%) and Ca(2+) uptake (+21%) than in CON were evident across both times and days (P < 0.05), but performance was similar. In T1D, resting Ca(2+)-ATPase activity correlated with work performed until exhaustion (r = 0.7, P < 0.01). Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, but not Ca(2+) uptake, was lower (-24%, P < 0.05) among the women across both times and days. Intense exercise did not alter Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in T1D or CON. However, sex differences were evident: Ca(2+)-ATPase was reduced with exercise among men but increased among women across both days (time × sex interaction, P < 0.05). Sprint training reduced Ca(2+)-ATPase (-8%, P < 0.05), but not Ca(2+) uptake, in T1D and CON. In summary, skeletal muscle Ca(2+) resequestration capacity was increased in T1D, but performance was not greater than CON. Sprint training reduced Ca(2+)-ATPase in T1D and CON. Sex differences in Ca(2+)-ATPase activity were evident and may be linked with fibre type proportion differences.

Predictors of large and small for gestational age birthweight in offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To identify predictors of large and small for gestational age in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A retrospective audit of clinical data analysed for singleton births in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes by Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society guidelines from 1994 to 2009. Exclusions were: incomplete data, delivered at < 36 weeks gestation and/or last recorded weight > 4 weeks pre-delivery. We assessed: pre-pregnancy BMI, ethnicity, total maternal weight gain, weight gain before and after treatment initiation for gestational diabetes, HbA(1c) at gestational diabetes presentation and treatment modality (diet or insulin) and smoking. Birthweight was assessed using customized percentile charts (large for gestational age > 90th; small for gestational age < 10th percentile). Multiple regression analyses were undertaken; statistical significance was p < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 1695 women first seen at (mean ± sd) 28.1 ± 5.3 weeks gestation (range 6-39). Ethnic mix was South-East Asian 36.7%, Middle Eastern 27.6%, European 22.4%, Indian/Pakistani 8.6%, Samoan 1.9%, African 1.5% and Maori 1.1%. Therapy was diet 69.1% and insulin 30.9%. Mean total weight gain was 12.3 ± 6.1 kg, the majority (10.6 ± 6.0 kg), gained before dietary intervention. There were 7.9% small for gestational age and 15.2% large for gestational age births. Significant independent large for gestational age predictors were: weight gain before intervention, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain after intervention and treatment type, but not HbA1c or smoking. Significant small for gestational age predictors were: weight gain before intervention, weight gain after intervention, but not pre-pregnancy BMI, HbA(1c) or smoking. CONCLUSION: Conventional treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus concentrates on management of blood glucose levels. The trends identified here emphasize the need to also address pregnancy weight gain stratified by pre-pregnancy BMI.

The clinical significance of overt diabetes in pregnancy.

AIM: To explore clinical implications of overt diabetes in pregnancy on antenatal characteristics, adverse neonatal outcome and diabetes risk post-partum. METHODS: Retrospective audit of prospectively collected data for all patients with gestational diabetes mellitus from 1993 to 2010. We defined overt diabetes in pregnancy as an HbA(1c) ≥ 8 mmol/mol (6.5%) or a fasting plasma glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l, or a 2-h glucose level ≥ 11.1 mmo/L on a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test as a surrogate for a random glucose ≥ 11.1 mmo/l. RESULTS: Our audit identified 1579 women with gestational diabetes and 254 with overt diabetes in pregnancy. Women with overt diabetes in pregnancy were diagnosed earlier in pregnancy, had a higher number of risk factors for gestational diabetes, higher antenatal HbA(1c), fasting and 2-h glucose levels, higher pre-pregnancy BMI and higher insulin use and dosage requirements than those with gestational diabetes. Overt diabetes in pregnancy was associated with an increased rate of large-for-gestational-age infant, neonatal hypoglycaemia and shoulder dystocia. Of the 133 patients with overt diabetes in pregnancy who attended a follow-up oral glucose tolerance test at 6-8 weeks post-partum, 21% had diabetes, 37.6% had impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, whilst 41.4% returned to normal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSION: In this patient cohort, overt diabetes in pregnancy significantly increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and post-partum impaired glucose regulation, but should not be regarded as synonymous with underlying diabetes. Two-hour glucose following a 75-g glucose load is a poor predictor of post-partum diabetes.

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis following treatment with exenatide.

BACKGROUND: Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, a cause of acute kidney injury, is seen occasionally following treatment with medications such as antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To date, the development of biopsy-proven acute tubulointerstitial nephritis after treatment with exenatide has not been reported. CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old man was prescribed exenatide for poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus. He subsequently developed deterioration in kidney function, with the estimated glomerular filtration rate declining from 59 to 39 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2) over 2 months. Despite cessation of exenatide, there was continued deterioration in estimated glomerular filtration rate to 16 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2). He underwent renal biopsy and the sections showed active diffuse tubulointerstitial nephritis with infiltration of eosinophils. He was treated with prednisolone over several months with incomplete recovery in kidney function. CONCLUSION: Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis should be suspected if there is deterioration in kidney function in a patient treated with exenatide in the absence of other causes of acute kidney injury such as dehydration or hypotension.

A comparison of diabetes clinics with different emphasis on routine care, complications assessment and shared care.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical outcomes of patients attending diabetes clinics with different models of care. METHODS: Diabetes centres which participated in the Australian National Diabetes Information Audit and Benchmarking (ANDIAB) data collection were invited to nominate whether they provided (i) routine diabetes care only (model A), (ii) routine care and structured annual complications screening (model B) or (iii) annual review and complications screening in a system of shared care with general practitioners (model C). De-identified case data were extracted from ANDIAB and outcomes according to the three clinic models were compared. RESULTS: Data on 3052 patients from 18 diabetes centres were analysed. Centres which practised annual complications screening (models B and C) had higher rates of nephropathy and lipid screening and a higher rate of attainment of recommended blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) targets. The implementation of appropriate treatment for patients who had not attained the targets was similar for all three clinic models. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, clinic models which incorporate a system of structured complications screening were more likely to have met screening guidelines. Patients in a shared-care model were at least as likely to have met management targets as those attending diabetes clinics for their routine care. Therefore, a system of shared care by general practitioners supported by annual review at a diabetes clinic may be an acceptable model which improves the capacity to manage large numbers of people with diabetes, without loss of quality of care.

Seven years experience with a computerized diabetes clinic database.

With the emergence of information technology applications in medicine, a computerized medical record system that could be used to : (1) maintain patients' clinical records over time, (2) communicate with referring practitioners, and (3) form the basis of a potential research database of information, was sought. In 1987, we developed such a clinical database to register patients attending our busy Diabetes Clinic, now seeing in excess of 300 new referrals and, on average, 3,000 clinic visits per year. Baseline demographic data, clinical history, and examination and investigation results are recorded. We also record diabetes therapy and other medication dosage and changes, monitor follow-up, assess health outcome information (such as stroke or amputation), and generate results, summaries, and reports to referring practitioners and other health professionals. We now have almost seven years of experience using the system. Initially established on a single PC with paper-based data collection and subsequent data entry (running as a DOS application), it is now established on a PC Local Area Network [LAN] with terminals in the clinic consultation rooms enabling direct data entry and allowing patients to view their results in graphic form on screen. From its inception, the Diabetes Clinic Database System has maintained patient demographic and clinical data (which facilitates efficient clinic management) with patient clinic lists and adhesive address labels generated from appropriate menus. Batch mode processing produces daily work sheets which facilitate the running of clinics as well as ad hoc, daily, and weekly reports for all patients (as required). This expedites correspondence with referring doctors. A quality assurance report to the clinic doctor highlights missing clinical information which must be obtained in order to ensure data completeness. The initial system was relatively inefficient in that it required data entry following patient consultation and provided no immediate feedback to patients themselves. In January 1994, to address these deficiencies, the system was established on a PC LAN (running under Novell); it provided on-line data entry within the clinic setting and enabled patients to participate in the recording of their information, observe their own progress by way of on-screen graphs (e.g., blood sugar control, weight, cholesterol), and receive hand-held summaries generated immediately following the clinic visit. Batch programs generate hard copies of this data to be filed in medical records. Two major assessments of the system have been undertaken. In February 1990, we undertook a survey of Local Doctors with 5 or more patient referrals on the system; this resulted in a pleasing 66% response rate. There was an almost universal acceptance and indeed a significant preference for this system over 'traditional' letters. In January 1994, following the introduction of the system onto the PC LAN for direct data entry in the clinic setting, we assessed (by anonymous questionnaire at the end of the consultation) patient attitudes towards these changes. The development of the CRS Diabetes Clinic Database System has improved our approach to diabetes outpatient care and our communication with other health professionals. It has the added benefit of providing a database of information that is suitable to address critical clinical research issues in diabetes management. This system provides an acceptable blend of information technology and clinical medicine, redesigning and enhancing the way we deliver medical care to patients with diabetes. Involving the patient in the collection and interpretation of their clinical data via a computer system (as utilized within our clinical unit), is both acceptable to the patient and her referring doctor. Ongoing system refinement and assessment remains integral to our use of information technology.

An approach to the use of the DO IT Study Group guidelines for supporting the optimal implementation of information systems in diabetes care.

The usefulness of the 1992 DO IT Study Group guidelines for diabetes data information systems was assessed using two established diabetes databases designed for different purposes. The recommendations detailed in the guidelines, written in four separate but overlapping modules, were applied individually to each database in turn. Percentage compliance with the recommendation to collect the DIABCARE dataset was high, after discounting specialist areas. While on the whole the information systems complied with the guidelines within the purposes for which they were designed, areas highlighted as demanding further action in at least one of the two systems included password protection, data validation checks, screen design, and communication with those whose records were held on the systems. Application of the guidelines is already stimulating attention to some of these areas. Some of the guidelines proved rather vague in construction to be applied in any formal sense, while others (for example in relation to international accreditation of datasets) were not applicable to individual systems. The results suggest the importance of a structured approach to the design, development, and ongoing assessment of information systems in diabetes, but require the present guidelines to develop a more formal structure to be fully effective. The widespread adoption and further testing and refinement of these guidelines (both within and outside Europe) should promote the ultimate goal of improved diabetes care.

Regression of microalbuminuria: results of a controlled study, indapamide versus captopril.

Our aim was to assess the effect of blood pressure treatment on albumin excretion rate (AER) in diabetic patients using two antihypertensive agents with different modes of action: indapamide and captopril. Patients with persistent microalbuminuria on two occasions (AER 20-200 micrograms/min) entered a randomized crossover study of 12 weeks of therapy with a constant dose of either indapamide 2.5 mg daily or captopril 12.5 mg three times daily, with a 4-week washout between therapy periods. Blood pressure was measured using a random-zero sphygmomanometer and AER by radioimmunoassay on a timed urine collection. Results (mean +/- standard deviation) were analyzed by repeated measures of analysis of variance after log transformation of AER data. Twelve patients [nine men; mean age 58 +/- 7.5 years (range 49-73 years), all with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)] were studied. Both blood pressure [initial mean systolic 144 +/- 14 mm Hg (range 124-166)/initial mean diastolic 85 +/- 6 mm Hg (range 75-96)] and AER [initial 92 +/- 36 micrograms/min (range 36-161)] were significantly reduced below basal levels (at the 0.05 level) at all study intervals by both antihypertensive agents. The results show the importance of blood pressure and its treatment on AER in patients with NIDDM. In this study, indapamide was as effective as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in reducing both blood pressure and microalbuminuria.

Diabetes education: whose priorities are met?

Two hundred Type 2 diabetic patients newly referred to the diabetes centre at a large university teaching hospital were studied over an 8-month period. Patients completed a diabetes knowledge questionnaire, and specified their educational priorities by selecting six diabetes-related topics from a list of 14. After giving 1 h of individual education and using the same list, the educators selected six topics which they considered to be most important for that particular patient to know. Choice of educational priorities differed between the patients and the corresponding educator (p less than 0.001). In only 38% of cases did the educators' first three priorities coincide with those of the patients. The major discrepancies were in the selection of 'sick day management' and 'complications', especially favoured by patients, as against 'oral hypoglycaemic agents' and other therapy-related topics, especially favoured by educators. Diabetes knowledge was a determinant of educational priority for patients (p less than 0.001) but not educators. In contrast, only the educators' overall choices were affected by duration of diabetes (p less than 0.001). Diabetes treatment type influenced both patients' and educators' selection of priorities (p less than 0.001). We conclude that an educational strategy which relies on health professionals' perceptions to determine what diabetic patients need to know may be inadequate.

Interaction between diabetic patients, their general practitioners and a hospital diabetic clinic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the sociodemographic data of diabetic patients referred to our clinic and to correlate these with characteristics of their individual general practitioners. How these factors affect the interaction between patients, general practitioners and a hospital diabetic clinic was evaluated. DESIGN: Prospective recruitment of consecutive referrals. SETTING: The diabetic clinic of a teaching hospital located in the inner city suburbs of Sydney. PATIENTS: Two hundred and forty-six patients with diabetes (10% insulin dependent), aged 20-86 years, participating in our Shared Care Project, a randomised controlled study on various methods of following up diabetic patients. INTERVENTIONS: Data for the study were gathered by interview and questionnaire during first assessment at the clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients; the location of general practitioners, their diagnostic equipment and type of practice; and the level of detail recorded in referral letters from general practitioners. RESULTS: Diabetic patients of migrant background who cannot speak English are older and have less formal education. They see their doctors more often and seek out general practitioners who speak their language, even if it means travelling longer distances. Patients referred from 24 hour medical centres are younger, more educated and have less contact with their doctors both in duration and frequency of visits when compared with patients whose general practitioners operate in conventional sole or partnership practices. Many patients have more than one general practitioner, making communication with hospitals difficult. In their referral letters, general practitioners usually concentrate on hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and metabolic aspects of diabetes, but under-emphasise diabetic complications; they make insufficient use of measurement of the glycosylated haemoglobin level to assess diabetic control while over-using glucose tolerance testing in making the diagnosis. The referral letter often does not contain enough information to help clinical decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Demography of patients and characteristics of general practitioners are important factors which can affect their interaction with public hospitals. Bearing in mind the work load of general practitioners and the diverse nature of patients, hospitals must implement systems which make it easier for general practitioners and patients to interact with them.