Functional insulin therapy in type 1 diabetics: Short-term effects on weight and nutritional intake.

INTRODUCTION-AIM: Flexible insulin therapy is currently considered the gold standard therapy of type 1 diabetes. We aimed to study the evolution of glycemic control, weight and nutritional intake of a group of patients with type 1 diabetes, three months after the initiation of functional insulin therapy (FIT). METHODS: This was a prospective longitudinal study having included 30 type 1 diabetic patients hospitalized for education to FIT. Each patient underwent an assessment of glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and number of hypoglycemia), weight and nutritional intake before FIT and 3 months after the initiation of this educative approach. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 21,8 ± 7,9 years and the sex ratio was 0,5. The mean duration of diabetes was 7,2 ± 6 years. Three months after initiation of FIT, we observed a significant lowering of A1C, which went from 9,2 ± 1,6% to 8,3 ± 1,4% (p<0,001) of the number of minor hypoglycemia (p=0,001) and that of severe hypoglycemia (p= 0,021). the average weight went from 64,6 ± 13,1 kg to 65,5 ± 13,5 kg (p = 0,040) with a significant increase in BMI (p = 0,041). Weight gain was observed in 67% of patients. This weight gain contrasted with a significant decrease in caloric (p = 0,040) and in carbohydrates intakes (p = 0,027). CONCLUSION: Weight gain, associated with better glycemic control, should encourage the healthcare team to strengthen therapeutic education of patients undergoing FIT in order to limit weight gain.

Nephropathy in type 2 diabetics : predictive factors and evolving aspects.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. AIM: To study the evolution of nephropathy in a group of type 2 diabetics in order to determine the predictive factors of progression. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal retrospective, descriptive study witch involved 100 type 2 diabetics patients with confirmed DN for at least 10 years. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the evolution of their DN: stable DN (group 1) and progressive DN (group 2). RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis of DN, the majority (82%) of the patients were in the stage of incipient DN while 18% were in the stage of established DN. Univariate regression analysis showed that higher baseline values of albuminuria (p=0.038), creatinine (p=0.001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.009), uricemia (p=0.01) as well as a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (p<0.001), and smoking (p=0.023) were significantly associated with an unfavorable evolution of DN.A high mean value during monitoring in albuminuria (p<0.001), creatinine (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p<0.001), uric acid (p<0.001) as well as a lower GFR (p<0.001), and a higher frequency of hypertriglyceridemia (p=0.004) were considered to be risk factors for an unfavorable development of DN detectable during follow-up. CONCLUSION: We have found several predictors of the progression of DN in our work whose multifactorial approach could improve the outcome of our patients as well as their quality of life.

Influence of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetics.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have suggested a benefic impact of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control and insulin resistance among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aims of our study were to assess vitamin D status in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic measures in patients having vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: We conducted a comparative prospective study involved 100 Tunisian patients with type 2 diabetes followed at the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology of Tunis. Glycemic control and insulin resistance were evaluated in the beginning of the study and three months after supplementation. RESULTS: Baseline mean 25-Hydroxy vitamin D  (25(OH)D) level was 17.5±9.8 ng/ml. Vitamin D status was deficient in 60%, insufficient in 26% and sufficient in 14% patients. After vitamin D supplementation, mean serum 25(OH)D concentration increased significantly (p˂10-3). We observed a negative correlation between the variation of plasma 25(OH)D level and the waist circumference's variation (r=-0.266 and p=0.018). This correlation persisted after adjustment for therapeutic management. Vitamin D supplementation did significantly improve neither glycemic control nor insulin resistance parameters. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The metabolic effects of supplementation are controversial, hence the need of expanding studies to better demonstrate these effects.