Impact of kidney transplantation on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in insulin-treated diabetic patients receiving cyclosporine: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: In insulin-treated patients with diabetes, kidney transplantation (KTP) may influence glycemic control, insulin requirements, as well as vascular risk profiles, but the data are controversial. In 10 selected insulin-treated diabetic patients with normally functioning kidney transplants, receiving cyclosporine for immunosuppression, we evaluated the fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid levels, blood pressure, and insulin-requirement from 1 year before to 1 year after KTP. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the mean HbA1c levels 6 and 3 months before transplantation (8.3 +/- 1.7 and 8.0 +/- 1.4%, respectively) and 3 and 12 months after transplantation (8.2 +/- 1.6 and 7.9 +/- 1.5%, respectively). The mean fasting blood glucose levels increased only transiently by 7% during the first week after transplantation (not significant). The insulin requirement was approximately the same at 3 and 6 months before (42 +/- 14 and 42 +/- 13 IU/d, respectively) and at 3 and 12 months after transplantation (44 +/- 13 and 41 +/- 13 IU/mL, respectively). Only 1 week after transplantation did the insulin requirement increase transiently by 14% to 48 +/- 14 IU/d (P < .05). The mean levels of cholesterol and triglycerides as well as mean blood pressure were not significantly different before and after transplantation. CONCLUSION: Only immediately after KTP did mean blood glucose and insulin requirement increase. At least 3 months after transplantation, glycemic control and insulin requirements as well as the vascular risk factors were approximately the same as before the procedure.

Decreased insulin requirement in relation to GFR in nephropathic Type 1 and insulin-treated Type 2 diabetic patients.

AIMS: In the presence of impaired renal function, patients require less insulin mainly because insulin clearance is prolonged. The aim of this study was to evaluate the insulin requirement related to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in nephropathic Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: In a retrospective study we compared insulin requirement in 20 nephropathic Type 1 diabetic patients and 20 insulin-treated Type 2 diabetic patients from the onset of overt nephropathy until the final stage of renal disease. All patients had proteinuria > 0.5 g/24 h and creatinine clearance >/= 80 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at baseline. Creatinine clearance, urinary protein excretion, glycated haemoglobin and the required insulin doses were determined 3- to 6-monthly, basal C-peptide was measured at the beginning and the end of the observation period. The required insulin doses were evaluated at creatinine clearance rates of 80, 60, 40, 20 and 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (or at the initiation of dialysis treatment). RESULTS: The insulin requirement of patients with Type 1 diabetes was reduced from 0.72 +/- 0.16 IU/kg per day at a creatinine clearance rate of 80 ml/min, to 0.45 +/- 0.13 IU/kg per day at a creatinine clearance rate of 10 ml/min (decrement of 38%, P < 0.001). The insulin dose required by Type 2 diabetic patients was reduced from 0.68 +/- 0.28 IU/kg per day at a creatinine clearance rate of 80 ml/min to 0.33 +/- 0.19 IU/kg per day at a clearance rate of 10 ml/min (decrement 51%, P < 0.001). The fall in GFR, urinary protein excretion and glycated haemoglobin levels was similar in the two groups. In patients with Type 2 diabetes, C-peptide levels at the beginning and the end of renal function impairment were 2.2 (0.4-7.3) vs. 2.7 (0.1-4.9) ng/ml (NS). The reduction in insulin requirement was approximately the same in patients with an initial C-peptide level < 1.0 and in those >/= 1.0 ng/ml (decrement 57% vs. 46%). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in insulin requirement in renal insufficiency is similar in Type 1 and insulin-treated Type 2 diabetic patients. In subjects with Type 2 diabetes, the residual insulin secretion has no impact on the reduction in insulin requirement dependent on the GFR.

[Risk for hyperkalemia during long-term treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in insulin-dependent type 2 diabetics in relation to the glomerular filtration rate]. / Hyperkaliämierisiko unter Langzeittherapie mit ACE-Hemmern bei insulinpflichtigen Typ-2-Diabetikern in Abhängigkeit von der GFR.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The risk for hyperkalaemia during therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors is especially increased in the elderly diabetic because of a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as well as the occurrence of hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism. We evaluated the risk for hyperkalaemia under long-term angiotensin-converting enyzme inhibition in 86 insulin-dependent type 2 diabetic patients in relation to their GFR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared the influence of a 3 to 6 months long treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on the serum potassium levels, the creatinine clearance and the urinary albumin excretion in insulin-dependent type 2 diabetic patients with an initial creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min/1.73m(2) (n = 15, age 66 +/- 6 years) and >/= 50 ml/min/1.73m(2) respectively (n = 71, age 61 +/- 10 years). In addition, we also investigated the influence on the metabolic control and the blood pressure values in both groups of patients. RESULTS: In the patients with creatinine clearance >/= 50 ml/min/1,73m(2) the mean potassium level increased from 4.3 +/- 0.2 to 4.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (P < 0,01), while the incidence of a potassium level > 5 mmol/l was 17 %. In the group with a creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min/1.73m(2) the potassium level rose from 4.5 +/- 0.2 to 5.0 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (P < 0.01). The incidence of potassium levels > 5 mmol/l was 66 % (P < 0,01). In both patient groups the creatinine clearances did not change significantly during angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and the urinary albumin excretion as well as the HbA(1c) values and blood pressure showed only a tendency towards a decrease. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in insulin-dependent type 2 diabetic patients leads to a significant increase in serum potassium. The incidence of hyperkalaemia with potassium levels > 5 mmol/l is significantly higher in the patients with initial creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min/1.73m(2). Severe hyperkalaemia with potassium levels > 6 mmol/l was not observed.