Arterial Stiffness and HbA1c: Association Mediated by Insulin Resistance in Hispanic Adults.

Arterial stiffness may be associated with glucose metabolism parameters, such as HbA1c, mainly via insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the association between arterial stiffness and HbA1c and explore the mediator effect of insulin resistance. In this cross-sectional study, arterial stiffness (pulse-wave velocity; PWV), HbA1c, and insulin resistance (METS-IR) were determined in Hispanic adults. In addition to sex and age, various biochemical measurements (glucose, lipid profile, etc.) and adipose tissue (fat mass and visceral fat mass) were considered as potential confounding variables. A multivariate regression analysis shows that HbA1c is associated with PWV, even after adjusting for several confounding variables. Importantly, the results show that insulin resistance mediated 17.9% of the effect of HbA1c over PWV. In conclusion, HbA1c may be a potential resource for predicting arterial stiffness due to the influence of insulin resistance in Hispanic subjects.

Primary Barriers of Adherence to a Structured Nutritional Intervention in Patients with Dyslipidemia.

PURPOSE: To describe the primary barriers to adequately adhering to a structured nutritional intervention. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 106 participants diagnosed with dyslipidemia and without a medical nutrition therapeutic plan were included in this two-year study conducted at the INCMNSZ dyslipidemia clinic in Mexico City. All patients were treated with the same structured strategies, including three face-to-face visits and two telephone follow-up visits. Diet plan adherence was evaluated at each site visit through a 3-day or 24-h food recall. RESULTS: Barriers to adhere to the nutritional intervention were: lack of time to prepare their meals (23%), eating outside the home (19%), unwillingness to change dietary patterns (14%), and lack of information about a correct diet for dyslipidemias (14%). All barriers decreased significantly at the end of the intervention. Female gender, current smoking, and following a plan of more than 1500 kcal (R2 = 0.18 and p-value = 0.004) were associated with good diet adherence. Participants showed good levels of adherence to total caloric intake at visit 2 and 3, reporting 104.7% and 95.4%, respectively. Adherence to macronutrient intake varied from 65.1% to 126%, with difficulties in adhering to recommended carbohydrate and fat consumption being more notable. CONCLUSION: The study findings confirm that a structured nutritional intervention is effective in reducing barriers and improving dietary adherence and metabolic control in patients with dyslipidemias. Health providers must identify barriers to adherence early on to design interventions that reduce these barriers and improve adherence.

A High Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome Traits in Mexicans Points at Obesity-Related Metabolic Dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a construct relating to a series of metabolic dysfunctions attributable to insulin resistance and obesity. Here, we estimate the incidence of MS according to their individual components using a Mexican open-population cohort. METHODS: We evaluated data of 6144 Mexicans amongst whom 3340 did not have MS either by IDF or ATP-III definitions using data from an open-population cohort. We estimated the incidence of MS and each of its traits after a median follow-up of 2.24 (IQR 2.05-2.58) years and evaluated risk factors for MS incidence and each of its traits. We also explored individuals without any MS trait to evaluate trait and MS incidence after follow-up. RESULTS: We observed a high incidence of MS-IDF (115.11 cases per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 107.76-122.47), followed by MS-ATP-III (75.77 cases per 1000 person-years, 95% CI). The MS traits with the highest incidence were low HDL-C and abdominal obesity, which was consistent for subjects without MS and those without any MS trait. When assessing predictors of MS incidence, obesity, insulin resistance, and increased apolipoprotein B levels predicted MS incidence. Weight loss >5% of body weight and physical activity were the main protective factors. Obesity was a main determinant for incident MS traits in our population, with weight loss being also a protective factor for most MS traits. CONCLUSION: We observed a high incidence of MS in apparently healthy Mexican adults. Low HDL-C and abdominal obesity were the most frequent incident MS traits, with obesity being the main determinant of its incidence.

Clinician prescription of lipid-lowering drugs and achievement of treatment goals in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Lipid control is essential in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study is to investigate factors associated with lipid therapy adherence and achievement of goals in real-life setting among patients with recently diagnosed T2DM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a longitudinal analysis in a center of comprehensive care for patients with diabetes. We include patients with T2DM, <5 years of diagnosis, without disabling complications (eg, amputation, myocardial infarct, stroke, proliferative retinopathy, glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/m2) and completed 2-year follow-up. The comprehensive diabetes care model includes 9 interventions in 4 initial visits and annual evaluations. Endocrinologists follow the clinic's guideline and adapt therapy to reach risk-based treatment goal. The main outcome measures were the proportion of patients meeting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (c-LDL) (<100 mg/dL) and triglycerides (<150 mg/dL) and proportion of patients taking statin, fibrate or combination at baseline, 3 months and annual evaluations. RESULTS: We included 288 consecutive patients (54±9 years, 53.8% women), time since T2DM diagnosis 1 (0-5) year. Baseline, 10.8% patients were receiving statin therapy (46.5% moderate-intensity therapy and 4.6% high-intensity therapy), 8.3% fibrates and 4.2% combined treatment. The proportion of patients with combined treatment increased to 41.6% at 3 months, decreased to 20.8% at 1 year and increased to 38.9% at 2 years of evaluation. Patients receiving treatment met LDL and triglycerides goals at 3 months (17% vs 59.7%, relative ratio (RR)=0.89, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.12), at 1 year (17% vs 26.7%, RR=0.62, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.95) and at 2 years (17% vs 29.9%, RR=0.63, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.93). Main reasons for medication suspension: patient considered treatment was not important (37.5%) and other physician suspended treatment (31.3%). CONCLUSION: 88.2% of patients with T2DM required lipid-lowering drugs. Education for patients and physicians is critical to achieve and maintain diabetes goals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02836808.

Development and validation of a tool for predicting type 2 diabetes in Mexican women of reproductive age.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a worldwide problem with a greater impact in developing countries, where many people are unaware of their risk. In Mexico, women show the greatest risk for T2D. Current risk scores have been developed and validated in predominantly older European cohorts. They are not the best option in Mexican women. The development of a risk model/score in this population would be useful. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a risk model and score that incorporates the most relevant risk factors for T2D in Mexican women of reproductive age. METHODS: The study was carried out in two phases, with the first phase being the development of the predictive model and the second phase the validation of the model in a separate independent population. A cohort of Mexican patients of reproductive age ("Derivation Cohort") was used to create the predictive model. It included data on 3161 women. Risk factors for identification were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Finally a score with a range of 0 to 19 points was developed to identify the 2.4 year probability of developing DM2 in Mexican women of reproductive age. RESULTS: 147 new cases of T2D (4.6%) were identified in the Derivation Cohort model, 97 of 925 participants (10.48%) in the validation cohort. The risk factor predictors of T2D were: history of gestational diabetes (HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.10-6.58), BMI (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06), hypertriglyceridemia (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.11-2.14) and fasting blood glucose (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.05-1.08), with an AUC of 0.75. The AUC in the validation cohort was 0.91 (95% CI 0.87-0.94). The score had a sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 67% at a cutoff of ≥15. CONCLUSIONS: A predictive model and risk score was developed to detect cases at risk for incident T2D. It was generated using the characteristics of Mexican women of reproductive age. This risk score is a step forward in attempting to address the generational legacy that diabetes in pregnancy could have on women and their children.

Barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan and strategies to overcome them in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; results after two years of follow-up / Barreras para la adherencia a un plan nutricional y estrategias para solventarlas en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2; resultados tras 2 años de seguimiento

Introduction: Lifestyle changes in medical nutrition therapy (MNT) are associated to HbA1c decreases ranging from 0.3 to 2%. Evidence shows that people with barriers are less likely to adhere to a long-term nutritional plan. Little information is available on the barriers that prevent the implementation of a healthy nutritional plan, and the strategies used to overcome them. Objective: To report the longitudinal changes in perceptions of barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan in T2DM. Methods: A prospective cohort study with intervention. Follow-up was assessed at two years, and all patients received comprehensive care according to the CAIPaDi model. A questionnaire was used to detect the most common barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan at baseline and at 3 months and 1 and 2 years of follow-up. The analysis included data from 320 patients with complete evaluations from baseline to 2 years. Patients with T2DM aged 53.8 ± 9.1 years (55.9% women), BMI 29.2 ± 4.4 kg/m2, and time since the diagnosis 1 (0-5) years were included in the study. Results: At baseline, 78.4% of patients reported any barrier that limited adherence to a nutritional plan. The most common were "Lack of information on an adequate diet" (24.7%), "I eat away from home most of the time" (19.7%), and “Denial or refusal to make changes in my diet” (14.4%). After a structured nutritional intervention including strategies to eliminate each barrier, a 37% reduction (p < 0.001) was seen in barriers at 2 years of follow-up. Patients with persistent barriers at two years had a greater proportion of HbA1c values >7% (24.7%) and triglyceride levels >150 mg/dL (27.5%) out of the control range as compared to those with no barriers (11.6% and 14.4% respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Identification of barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan may allow healthcare professionals design interventions with the specific behavioral components needed to overcome such barrier, thus improving adherence to the nutritional plan with the resultant long-term changes

Introducción: Los cambios en el estilo de vida en la terapia médica nutricional (TMN), se asocian con una disminución en la hemoglobina glucosilada A1c (HbA1c) del 0,3–2%. La evidencia muestra que las personas con barreras tienen menos probabilidades de adherirse a un plan nutricional a largo plazo. Hay información limitada sobre las barreras que impiden la implementación de un plan nutricional saludable y sobre las estrategias utilizadas para superarlas. Objetivo: Describir los cambios longitudinales en las percepciones de las barreras para la adherencia a un plan nutricional con diabetes tipo 2 (T2D). Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de cohorte con intervención, se evaluó el seguimiento a 2 años, todos los pacientes recibieron atención integral de acuerdo con el estudio CAIPaDi. Se utilizó un cuestionario para detectar las barreras más comunes para realizar un plan nutricional al inicio del estudio a los 3 meses, uno y 2 años de seguimiento. El análisis incluyó datos de 320 pacientes que tenían evaluaciones completas desde el basal hasta 2 años. Se incluyeron pacientes con T2D de 53,8 ± 9,1 años, 55,9% mujeres, IMC 29,2 ± 4,4 kg/m2 y tiempo desde el diagnóstico de 1 (0-5) año. Resultados: Al inicio del estudio, el 78,4% de los pacientes refirieron alguna barrera que limita la adherencia a un plan nutricional. Las barreras más frecuentes fueron «Falta de información sobre una dieta correcta» (24,7%), «Como fuera de casa la mayor parte del tiempo» (19,7%) y «Negación o rechazo a hacer cambios en mi dieta» (14,4%). Después de una intervención nutricional estructurada, que incluyó estrategias para reducir cada barrera, observamos un porcentaje de reducción del 37% (p < 0,001). Los sujetos que presentaban barreras persistentes a los 2 años de seguimiento, muestran una mayor proporción fuera del rango de control para la HbA1c el 24,7% (>7%) y triglicéridos el 27,5% (>150 mg/dl) en comparación con aquellos sin barreras (11,6 y 14,4%, respectivamente) p < 0,05. Conclusiones: La identificación de las barreras para la adherencia a un plan de alimentación puede permitir a los profesionales de la salud diseñar intervenciones con los componentes de comportamiento específicos necesarios para superar dicha barrera, mejorando la adherencia al plan de alimentación con cambios sostenidos a largo plazo

Barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan and strategies to overcome them in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; results after two years of follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Lifestyle changes in medical nutrition therapy (MNT) are associated to HbA1c decreases ranging from 0.3 to 2%. Evidence shows that people with barriers are less likely to adhere to a long-term nutritional plan. Little information is available on the barriers that prevent the implementation of a healthy nutritional plan, and the strategies used to overcome them. OBJECTIVE: To report the longitudinal changes in perceptions of barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan in T2DM. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with intervention. Follow-up was assessed at two years, and all patients received comprehensive care according to the CAIPaDi model. A questionnaire was used to detect the most common barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan at baseline and at 3 months and 1 and 2 years of follow-up. The analysis included data from 320 patients with complete evaluations from baseline to 2 years. Patients with T2DM aged 53.8±9.1 years (55.9% women), BMI 29.2±4.4kg/m2, and time since the diagnosis 1 (0-5) years were included in the study. RESULTS: At baseline, 78.4% of patients reported any barrier that limited adherence to a nutritional plan. The most common were "Lack of information on an adequate diet" (24.7%), "I eat away from home most of the time" (19.7%), and "Denial or refusal to make changes in my diet" (14.4%). After a structured nutritional intervention including strategies to eliminate each barrier, a 37% reduction (p<0.001) was seen in barriers at 2 years of follow-up. Patients with persistent barriers at two years had a greater proportion of HbA1c values >7% (24.7%) and triglyceride levels >150mg/dL (27.5%) out of the control range as compared to those with no barriers (11.6% and 14.4% respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Identification of barriers to adherence to a nutritional plan may allow healthcare professionals design interventions with the specific behavioral components needed to overcome such barrier, thus improving adherence to the nutritional plan with the resultant long-term changes.