re Treatment Approach to Patients With Severe Insulin Resistance By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2016-04-01 Timothy J. ChurchApr 1, 2016; 34:97-104Feature Articles Full Article
re Case Study: New-Onset Diabetes: How to Tell the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2012-01-01 Joseph LargayJan 1, 2012; 30:25-26Case Studies Full Article
re Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes--2018 Abridged for Primary Care Providers By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2018-01-01 American Diabetes AssociationJan 1, 2018; 36:14-37Position Statements Full Article
re Case Study: Treating Hypertension in Patients With Diabetes By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2004-07-01 Evan M. BenjaminJul 1, 2004; 22:137-138Case Studies Full Article
re Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2001-01-01 Neelima V. ChuJan 1, 2001; 19:Practical Pointers Full Article
re Evaluation and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2006-04-01 Ingrid KruseApr 1, 2006; 24:91-93Practical Pointers Full Article
re Your A1C Results: What Do They Mean? By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2006-01-01 Jan 1, 2006; 24:9-9Patient Information Full Article
re Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes--2019 Abridged for Primary Care Providers By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2019-01-01 American Diabetes AssociationJan 1, 2019; 37:11-34Position Statements Full Article
re Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes--2020 Abridged for Primary Care Providers By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-01 American Diabetes AssociationJan 1, 2020; 38:10-38Standards of Care Full Article
re Mortality Implications of Prediabetes and Diabetes in Older Adults By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE Diabetes in older age is heterogeneous, and the treatment approach varies by patient characteristics. We characterized the short-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk associated with hyperglycemia in older age. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We included 5,791 older adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who attended visit 5 (2011–2013; ages 66–90 years). We compared prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7% to <6.5%), newly diagnosed diabetes (HbA1c ≥6.5%, prior diagnosis <1 year, or taking antihyperglycemic medications <1 year), short-duration diabetes (duration ≥1 year but <10 years [median]), and long-standing diabetes (duration ≥10 years). Outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (median follow-up of 5.6 years). RESULTS Participants were 58% female, and 24% had prevalent cardiovascular disease. All-cause mortality rates, per 1,000 person-years, were 21.2 (95% CI 18.7, 24.1) among those without diabetes, 23.7 (95% CI 20.8, 27.1) for those with prediabetes, 33.8 (95% CI 25.2, 45.5) among those with recently diagnosed diabetes, 29.6 (95% CI 25.0, 35.1) for those with diabetes of short duration, and 48.6 (95% CI 42.4, 55.7) for those with long-standing diabetes. Cardiovascular mortality rates, per 1,000 person-years, were 5.8 (95% CI 4.6, 7.4) among those without diabetes, 6.6 (95% CI 5.2, 8.5) for those with prediabetes, 11.5 (95% CI 7.0, 19.1) among those with recently diagnosed diabetes, 8.2 (95% CI 5.9, 11.3) for those with diabetes of short duration, and 17.3 (95% CI 13.8, 21.7) for those with long-standing diabetes. After adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors, prediabetes and newly diagnosed diabetes were not significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03 [95% CI 0.85, 1.23] and HR 1.31 [95% CI 0.94, 1.82], respectively) or cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.00 [95% CI 0.70, 1.43] and HR 1.35 [95% CI 0.74, 2.49], respectively). Excess mortality risk was primarily concentrated among those with long-standing diabetes (all-cause: HR 1.71 [95% CI 1.40, 2.10]; cardiovascular: HR 1.72 [95% CI 1.18, 2.51]). CONCLUSIONS In older adults, long-standing diabetes has a substantial and independent effect on short-term mortality. Older individuals with prediabetes remained at low mortality risk over a median 5.6 years of follow-up. Full Article
re Within-Trial Evaluation of Medical Resources, Costs, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Participating in the Exenatide Study of Cardiovascular Event Lowering (EXSCEL) By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE To compare medical resource use, costs, and health utilities for 14,752 patients with type 2 diabetes who were randomized to once-weekly exenatide (EQW) or placebo in addition to usual diabetes care in the Exenatide Study of Cardiovascular Event Lowering (EXSCEL). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Medical resource use data and responses to the EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) instrument were collected at baseline and throughout the trial. Medical resources and medications were assigned values by using U.S. Medicare payments and wholesale acquisition costs, respectively. Secondary analyses used English costs. RESULTS Patients were followed for an average of 3.3 years, during which time those randomized to EQW experienced 0.41 fewer inpatient days (7.05 vs. 7.46 days; relative rate ratio 0.91; P = 0.05). Rates of outpatient medical visits were similar, as were total inpatient and outpatient costs. Mean costs for nonstudy diabetes medications over the study period were ~$1,600 lower with EQW than with placebo (P = 0.01). Total within-study costs, excluding study medication, were lower in the EQW arm than in the placebo arm ($28,907 vs. $30,914; P ≤ 0.01). When including the estimated cost of EQW, total mean costs were significantly higher in the EQW group than in the placebo group ($42,697 vs. $30,914; P < 0.01). With English costs applied, mean total costs, including exenatide costs, were £1,670 higher in the EQW group than the placebo group (£10,874 vs. £9,204; P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in EQ-5D health utilities between arms over time. CONCLUSIONS Medical costs were lower in the EQW arm than the placebo arm, but total costs were significantly higher once the cost of branded exenatide was incorporated. Full Article
re Plasma Lipidome and Prediction of Type 2 Diabetes in the Population-Based Malmö Diet and Cancer Cohort By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with dyslipidemia, but the detailed alterations in lipid species preceding the disease are largely unknown. We aimed to identify plasma lipids associated with development of T2DM and investigate their associations with lifestyle. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS At baseline, 178 lipids were measured by mass spectrometry in 3,668 participants without diabetes from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. The population was randomly split into discovery (n = 1,868, including 257 incident cases) and replication (n = 1,800, including 249 incident cases) sets. We used orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analyses, extracted a predictive component for T2DM incidence (lipid-PCDM), and assessed its association with T2DM incidence using Cox regression and lifestyle factors using general linear models. RESULTS A T2DM-predictive lipid-PCDM derived from the discovery set was independently associated with T2DM incidence in the replication set, with hazard ratio (HR) among subjects in the fifth versus first quintile of lipid-PCDM of 3.7 (95% CI 2.2–6.5). In comparison, the HR of T2DM among obese versus normal weight subjects was 1.8 (95% CI 1.2–2.6). Clinical lipids did not improve T2DM risk prediction, but adding the lipid-PCDM to all conventional T2DM risk factors increased the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve by 3%. The lipid-PCDM was also associated with a dietary risk score for T2DM incidence and lower level of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS A lifestyle-related lipidomic profile strongly predicts T2DM development beyond current risk factors. Further studies are warranted to test if lifestyle interventions modifying this lipidomic profile can prevent T2DM. Full Article
re Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Isolated or Combined Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State: A Retrospective, Hospital-Based Cohort Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE Many patients with hyperglycemic crises present with combined features of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS). The implications of concomitant acidosis and hyperosmolality are not well known. We investigated hospital outcomes in patients with isolated or combined hyperglycemic crises. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed admissions data listing DKA or HHS at two academic hospitals. We determined 1) the frequency distributions of HHS, DKA, and combined DKA-HHS (DKA criteria plus elevated effective osmolality); 2) the relationship of markers of severity of illness and clinical comorbidities with 30-day all-cause mortality; and 3) the relationship of hospital complications associated with insulin therapy (hypoglycemia and hypokalemia) with mortality. RESULTS There were 1,211 patients who had a first admission with confirmed hyperglycemic crises criteria, 465 (38%) who had isolated DKA, 421 (35%) who had isolated HHS, and 325 (27%) who had combined features of DKA-HHS. After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, race, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score, subjects with combined DKA-HHS had higher in-hospital mortality compared with subjects with isolated hyperglycemic crises (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.7; 95% CI 1.4, 4.9; P = 0.0019). In all groups, hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL) during treatment was associated with a 4.8-fold increase in mortality (aOR 4.8; 95% CI 1.4, 16.8). Hypokalemia ≤3.5 mEq/L was frequent (55%). Severe hypokalemia (≤2.5 mEq/L) was associated with increased inpatient mortality (aOR 4.9; 95% CI 1.3, 18.8; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Combined DKA-HHS is associated with higher mortality compared with isolated DKA or HHS. Severe hypokalemia and severe hypoglycemia are associated with higher hospital mortality in patients with hyperglycemic crises. Full Article
re Excess BMI Accelerates Islet Autoimmunity in Older Children and Adolescents By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-20T11:55:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE Sustained excess BMI increases the risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in autoantibody-positive relatives without diabetes of patients. We tested whether elevated BMI also accelerates the progression of islet autoimmunity before T1D diagnosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied 706 single autoantibody–positive pediatric TrialNet participants (ages 1.6–18.6 years at baseline). Cumulative excess BMI (ceBMI) was calculated for each participant based on longitudinally accumulated BMI ≥85th age- and sex-adjusted percentile. Recursive partitioning analysis and multivariable modeling defined the age cut point differentiating the risk for progression to multiple positive autoantibodies. RESULTS At baseline, 175 children (25%) had a BMI ≥85th percentile. ceBMI range was –9.2 to 15.6 kg/m2 (median –1.91), with ceBMI ≥0 kg/m2 corresponding to persistently elevated BMI ≥85th percentile. Younger age increased the progression to multiple autoantibodies, with age cutoff of 9 years defined by recursive partitioning analysis. Although ceBMI was not significantly associated with progression from single to multiple autoantibodies overall, there was an interaction with ceBMI ≥0 kg/m2, age, and HLA (P = 0.009). Among children ≥9 years old without HLA DR3-DQ2 and DR4-DQ8, ceBMI ≥0 kg/m2 increased the rate of progression from single to multiple positive autoantibodies (hazard ratio 7.32, P = 0.004) and conferred a risk similar to that in those with T1D-associated HLA haplotypes. In participants <9 years old, the effect of ceBMI on progression to multiple autoantibodies was not significant regardless of HLA type. CONCLUSIONS These data support that elevated BMI may exacerbate islet autoimmunity prior to clinical T1D, particularly in children with lower risk based on age and HLA. Interventions to maintain normal BMI may prevent or delay the progression of islet autoimmunity. Full Article
re Health Care Expenditures Among Adults With Diabetes After Oregons Medicaid Expansion By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-20T11:55:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE To compare trends in Medicaid expenditures among adults with diabetes who were newly eligible due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion to trends among those previously eligible. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using Oregon Medicaid administrative data from 1 January 2014 to 30 September 2016, a retrospective cohort study was conducted with propensity score–matched Medicaid eligibility groups (newly and previously eligible). Outcome measures included total per-member per-month (PMPM) Medicaid expenditures and PMPM expenditures in the following 12 categories: inpatient visits, emergency department visits, primary care physician visits, specialist visits, prescription drugs, transportation services, tests, imaging and echography, procedures, durable medical equipment, evaluation and management, and other or unknown services. RESULTS Total PMPM Medicaid expenditures for newly eligible enrollees with diabetes were initially considerably lower compared with PMPM expenditures for matched previously eligible enrollees during the first postexpansion quarter (mean values $561 vs. $793 PMPM, P = 0.018). Within the first three postexpansion quarters, PMPM expenditures of the newly eligible increased to a similar but slightly lower level. Afterward, PMPM expenditures of both groups continued to increase steadily. Most of the overall PMPM expenditure increase among the newly eligible was due to rapidly increasing prescription drug expenditures. CONCLUSIONS Newly eligible Medicaid enrollees with diabetes had slightly lower PMPM expenditures than previously eligible Medicaid enrollees. The increase in PMPM prescription drug expenditures suggests greater access to treatment over time. Full Article
re Impact of Treating Oral Disease on Preventing Vascular Diseases: A Model-Based Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Periodontal Treatment Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-20T11:55:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE Previous randomized trials found that treating periodontitis improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), thus lowering the risks of developing T2D-related microvascular diseases and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some payers in the U.S. have started covering nonsurgical periodontal treatment for those with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. We sought to identify the cost-effectiveness of expanding periodontal treatment coverage among patients with T2D. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to estimate lifetime costs and health gains using a stochastic microsimulation model of oral health conditions, T2D, T2D-related microvascular diseases, and CVD of the U.S. population. Model parameters were obtained from the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2009–2014) and randomized trials of periodontal treatment among patients with T2D. RESULTS Expanding periodontal treatment coverage among patients with T2D and periodontitis would be expected to avert tooth loss by 34.1% (95% CI –39.9, –26.5) and microvascular diseases by 20.5% (95% CI –31.2, –9.1), 17.7% (95% CI –32.7, –4.7), and 18.4% (95% CI –34.5, –3.5) for nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy, respectively. Providing periodontal treatment to the target population would be cost saving from a health care perspective at a total net savings of $5,904 (95% CI –6,039, –5,769) with an estimated gain of 0.6 quality-adjusted life years per capita (95% CI 0.5, 0.6). CONCLUSIONS Providing nonsurgical periodontal treatment to patients with T2D and periodontitis would be expected to significantly reduce tooth loss and T2D-related microvascular diseases via improved glycemic control. Encouraging patients with T2D and poor oral health conditions to receive periodontal treatment would improve health outcomes and still be cost saving or cost-effective. Full Article
re Redesigning Primary Care to Improve Diabetes Outcomes (the UNITED Study) By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-20T11:55:29-08:00 OBJECTIVE The effective redesign of primary care delivery systems to improve diabetes care requires an understanding of which particular components of delivery consistently lead to better clinical outcomes. We identified associations between common systems of care management (SysCMs) and the frequency of meeting standardized performance targets for Optimal Diabetes Care (NQF#0729) in primary care practices. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A validated survey of 585 eligible family or general internal medicine practices seeing ≥30 adult patients with diabetes in or near Minnesota during 2017 evaluated the presence of 62 SysCMs. From 419 (72%) practices completing the survey, NQF#0729 was determined in 396 (95%) from electronic health records, including 215,842 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. RESULTS Three SysCMs were associated with higher rates of meeting performance targets across all practices: 1) a systematic process for shared decision making with patients (P = 0.001), 2) checklists of tests or interventions needed for prevention or monitoring of diabetes (P = 0.002), and 3) physician reminders of guideline-based age-appropriate risk assessments due at the patient visit (P = 0.002). When all three were in place, an additional 10.8% of the population achieved recommended performance measures. In subgroup analysis, 15 additional SysCMs were associated with better care in particular types of practices. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes care outcomes are better in primary care settings that use a patient-centered approach to systematically engage patients in decision making, remind physicians of age-appropriate risk assessments, and provide checklists for recommended diabetes interventions. Practice size and location are important considerations when redesigning delivery systems to improve performance. Full Article
re Severe Hypoglycemia and Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: The Study of Longevity in Diabetes (SOLID) By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-20T11:55:29-08:00 OBJECTIVE In children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), severe hypoglycemia (SH) is associated with poorer cognition, but the association of SH with cognitive function in late life is unknown. Given the increasing life expectancy in people with T1D, understanding the role of SH in brain health is crucial. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined the association between SH and cognitive function in 718 older adults with T1D from the Study of Longevity in Diabetes (SOLID). Subjects self-reported recent SH (previous 12 months) and lifetime history of SH resulting in inpatient/emergency department utilization. Global and domain-specific cognition (language, executive function, episodic memory, and simple attention) were assessed. The associations of SH with cognitive function and impaired cognition were evaluated via linear and logistic regression models, respectively. RESULTS Thirty-two percent of participants (mean age 67.2 years) reported recent SH and 50% reported lifetime SH. Compared with those with no SH, subjects with a recent SH history had significantly lower global cognition scores. Domain-specific analyses revealed significantly lower scores on language, executive function, and episodic memory with recent SH exposure and significantly lower executive function with lifetime SH exposure. Recent SH was associated with impaired global cognition (odds ratio [OR] 3.22, 95% CI 1.30, 7.94) and cognitive impairment on the language domain (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.19, 8.29). CONCLUSIONS Among older adults with T1D, recent SH and lifetime SH were associated with worse cognition. Recent SH was associated with impaired global cognition. These findings suggest a deleterious role of SH on the brain health of older patients with T1D and highlight the importance of SH prevention. Full Article
re Similar Breast Cancer Risk in Women Older Than 65 Years Initiating Glargine, Detemir, and NPH Insulins By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE To assess whether initiation of insulin glargine (glargine), compared with initiation of NPH or insulin detemir (detemir), was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a retrospective new-user cohort study of female Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years initiating glargine (203,159), detemir (67,012), or NPH (47,388) from September 2006 to September 2015, with follow-up through May 2017. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for incidence of breast cancer according to ever use, cumulative duration of use, cumulative dose of insulin, length of follow-up time, and a combination of dose and length of follow-up time. RESULTS Ever use of glargine was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer compared with NPH (HR 0.97; 95% CI 0.88–1.06) or detemir (HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.92–1.05). No increased risk was seen with glargine use compared with either NPH or detemir by duration of insulin use, length of follow-up, or cumulative dose of insulin. No increased risk of breast cancer was observed in medium- or high-dose glargine users compared with low-dose users. CONCLUSIONS Overall, glargine use was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer compared with NPH or detemir in female Medicare beneficiaries. Full Article
re Dietary Nonheme, Heme, and Total Iron Intake and the Risk of Diabetes in Adults: Results From the China Health and Nutrition Survey By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE Excessive iron intake has been linked to diabetes risk. However, the evidence is inconsistent. This study examined the association between dietary heme and nonheme iron intake and diabetes risk in the Chinese population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We included 17,026 adults (8,346 men and 8,680 women) who were part of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991–2015) prospective cohort. Dietary intake was measured by three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls combined with a household food inventory. Diabetes cases were identified through a questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS A total of 547 men and 577 women developed diabetes during 202,138 person-years of follow-up. For men, the adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for quintiles of nonheme iron intake were 1.00, 0.77 (0.58–1.02), 0.72 (0.54–0.97), 0.63 (0.46–0.85), and 0.87 (0.64–1.19) (P-nonlinearity = 0.0015). The corresponding HRs (95% CIs) for women were 1.00, 0.63 (0.48–0.84), 0.57 (0.43–0.76), 0.58 (0.43–0.77), and 0.67 (0.49–0.91) (P-nonlinearity < 0.0001). The dose-response curves for the association between nonheme iron and total iron intake and diabetes followed a reverse J shape in men and an L shape in women. No significant associations were observed between heme iron intake and diabetes risk. CONCLUSIONS Total iron and nonheme iron intake was associated with diabetes risk, following a reverse J-shaped curve in men and an L-shaped curve in women. Sufficient intake of nonheme or total iron might be protective against diabetes, while excessive iron intake might increase the risk of diabetes among men. Full Article
re Diabetes Prevalence and Its Relationship With Education, Wealth, and BMI in 29 Low- and Middle-Income Countries By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE Diabetes is a rapidly growing health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but empirical data on its prevalence and relationship to socioeconomic status are scarce. We estimated diabetes prevalence and the subset with undiagnosed diabetes in 29 LMICs and evaluated the relationship of education, household wealth, and BMI with diabetes risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We pooled individual-level data from 29 nationally representative surveys conducted between 2008 and 2016, totaling 588,574 participants aged ≥25 years. Diabetes prevalence and the subset with undiagnosed diabetes was calculated overall and by country, World Bank income group (WBIG), and geographic region. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risk (RR). RESULTS Overall, prevalence of diabetes in 29 LMICs was 7.5% (95% CI 7.1–8.0) and of undiagnosed diabetes 4.9% (4.6–5.3). Diabetes prevalence increased with increasing WBIG: countries with low-income economies (LICs) 6.7% (5.5–8.1), lower-middle-income economies (LMIs) 7.1% (6.6–7.6), and upper-middle-income economies (UMIs) 8.2% (7.5–9.0). Compared with no formal education, greater educational attainment was associated with an increased risk of diabetes across WBIGs, after adjusting for BMI (LICs RR 1.47 [95% CI 1.22–1.78], LMIs 1.14 [1.06–1.23], and UMIs 1.28 [1.02–1.61]). CONCLUSIONS Among 29 LMICs, diabetes prevalence was substantial and increased with increasing WBIG. In contrast to the association seen in high-income countries, diabetes risk was highest among those with greater educational attainment, independent of BMI. LMICs included in this analysis may be at an advanced stage in the nutrition transition but with no reversal in the socioeconomic gradient of diabetes risk. Full Article
re The Association Between Poor Glycemic Control and Health Care Costs in People With Diabetes: A Population-Based Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE To analyze the differences in health care costs according to glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data on health care resource utilization from 100,391 people with type 2 diabetes were extracted from the electronic database used at the Catalan Health Institute. Multivariate regression models were carried out to test the impact of glycemic control (HbA1c) on total health care, hospital admission, and medication costs; model 1 adjusted for a variety of covariates, and model 2 also included micro- and macrovascular complications. Glycemic control was classified as good for HbA1c <7%, fair for ≥7% to <8%, poor for ≥8% to <10%, and very poor for ≥10%. RESULTS Mean per patient annual direct medical costs were 3,039 ± SD 6,581. Worse glycemic control was associated with higher total health care costs: compared with good glycemic control, health care costs increased by 18% (509.82) and 23% (661.35) in patients with very poor and poor glycemic control, respectively, when unadjusted and by 428.3 and 395.1, respectively, in model 2. Medication costs increased by 12% in patients with fair control and by 28% in those with very poor control (model 2). Patients with poor control had a higher probability of hospitalization than those with good control (5% in model 2) and a greater average cost when hospitalization occurred (811). CONCLUSIONS Poor glycemic control was directly related to higher total health care, hospitalization, and medication costs. Preventive strategies and good glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes could reduce the economic impact associated with this disease. Full Article
re Impact of a Telephonic Intervention to Improve Diabetes Control on Health Care Utilization and Cost for Adults in South Bronx, New York By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE Self-management education and support are essential for improved diabetes control. A 1-year randomized telephonic diabetes self-management intervention (Bronx A1C) among a predominantly Latino and African American population in New York City was found effective in improving blood glucose control. To further those findings, this current study assessed the intervention’s impact in reducing health care utilization and costs over 4 years. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We measured inpatient (n = 816) health care utilization for Bronx A1C participants using an administrative data set containing all hospital discharges for New York State from 2006 to 2014. Multilevel mixed modeling was used to assess changes in health care utilization and costs between the telephonic diabetes intervention (Tele/Pr) arm and print-only (PrO) control arm. RESULTS During follow-up, excess relative reductions in all-cause hospitalizations for the Tele/Pr arm compared with PrO arm were statistically significant for odds of hospital use (odds ratio [OR] 0.89; 95% CI 0.82, 0.97; P < 0.01), number of hospital stays (rate ratio [RR] 0.90; 95% CI 0.81, 0.99; P = 0.04), and hospital costs (RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.84, 0.98; P = 0.01). Reductions in hospital use and costs were even stronger for diabetes-related hospitalizations. These outcomes were not significantly related to changes observed in hemoglobin A1c during individuals’ participation in the 1-year intervention. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the impact of the Bronx A1C intervention was not just on short-term improvements in glycemic control but also on long-term health care utilization. This finding is important because it suggests the benefits of the intervention were long-lasting with the potential to not only reduce hospitalizations but also to lower hospital-associated costs. Full Article
re Diabetic Neuropathy Is a Substantial Burden in People With Type 1 Diabetes and Is Strongly Associated With Socioeconomic Disadvantage: A Population-Representative Study From Scotland By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE To assess the contemporaneous prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Scotland and study its cross-sectional association with risk factors and other diabetic complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed data from a large representative sample of adults with T1D (N = 5,558). We assessed the presence of symptomatic neuropathy using the dichotomized (≥4) Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Patient Questionnaire score. Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between DPN and risk factors, as well as with other complications. RESULTS The burden of DPN is substantial with 13% prevalence overall. Adjusting for attained age, diabetes duration, and sex, the odds of DPN increased mainly with waist-to-hip ratio, lipids, poor glycemic control (odds ratio 1.51 [95% CI 1.21–1.89] for levels of 75 vs. 53 mmol/mol), ever versus never smoking (1.67 [1.37–2.03]), and worse renal function (1.96 [1.03–3.74] for estimated glomerular filtration rate levels <30 vs. ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2). The odds significantly decreased with higher HDL cholesterol (0.77 [0.66–0.89] per mmol/L). Living in more deprived areas was associated with DPN (2.17 [1.78–2.65]) for more versus less deprived areas adjusted for other risk factors. Finally, individuals with prevalent DPN were much more likely than others to have other diabetes complications. CONCLUSIONS Diabetic neuropathy remains substantial, particularly affecting those in the most socioeconomically deprived groups. Those with clinically manifest neuropathy also have a higher burden of other complications and elevated levels of modifiable risk factors. These data suggest that there is considerable scope to reduce neuropathy rates and narrow the socioeconomic differential by better risk factor control. Full Article
re Watch: Driver accidentally reverses onto two parked cars outside Florida bank By www.upi.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 10:31:58 -0400 A Florida sheriff's office said a driver reversing out of a bank parking lot accidentally ended up backing up onto two other cars. Full Article
re Peacock protecting duck nest in patio area of Oregon bar By www.upi.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 15:00:37 -0400 Employees at an Oregon restaurant said a peacock has taken on the role of protector for a mother duck and the eggs she laid in the closed patio area. Full Article
re Former pet snake mistakenly released into the wild in Ontario By www.upi.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 15:51:17 -0400 Conservation officials in Ontario are asking members of the public to be on the lookout for a former pet snake that was mistakenly released into the wild near a conservation area. Full Article
re Watch: Monkey enters bank kiosk in India, removes front panel of ATM By www.upi.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 11:18:09 -0400 Police in India said officers suspecting thieves were behind the damage to an ATM in a bank kiosk reviewed security camera footage and discovered the machine had been partially disassembled by a curious monkey. Full Article
re Watch: Rapper attempting to freestyle for more than 33 consecutive hours By www.upi.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 12:07:53 -0400 A San Francisco rapper is attempting to break a Guinness World Record with a live-streamed performance featuring 33 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds of freestyle rapping. Full Article
re Look: Police, firefighters fish baby geese out of highway storm sewer By www.upi.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:08:39 -0400 Police and firefighters in Michigan came to the rescue of a family of baby geese that wandered out onto a busy highway and fell into a storm sewer. Full Article
re Iowa man receives postcard mailed 33 years earlier By www.upi.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:35:11 -0400 An Iowa man who received a postcard from his sister said he was surprised to note the card had been mailed in 1987. Full Article
re Arizona firefighters rescue puppy from deep hole at construction site By www.upi.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:09:49 -0400 Firefighters in Arizona came to the rescue of a puppy that plunged into a 15-foot-deep hole at a construction site. Full Article
re Watch: Utah man reunited with class ring 38 years after it was lost in Germany By www.upi.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 15:42:56 -0400 A Utah man who lost his high school class ring in Germany in 1982 was reunited with the ring thanks to a man who found it on a beach in the United States. Full Article
re Look: Police investigating loose camel report find escaped emu instead By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:11:01 -0400 Police in the Netherlands said officers responding to reports of a loose camel ended up capturing an emu running wild through the city of Rotterdam. Full Article
re Men take Guinness record for ping pong ball catches in shaving cream By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 11:21:28 -0400 A pair of Idaho men tackled an unusual Guinness World Record by most table tennis balls caught in shaving foam on the head in 30 seconds (team of 2). Full Article
re Police, public works employees rescue deer from soccer net By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 14:24:42 -0400 Police and public works employees in Wisconsin came to the rescue of a deer that found itself struggling to escape a soccer net. Full Article
re Look: Dangling raccoon rescued from under California highway on-ramp By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 15:08:05 -0400 Animal rescuers in California said they reached over the side of a freeway on-ramp to rescue a raccoon seen dangling from a metal beam under the ramp. Full Article
re Look: Fox rescued from between walls of home, garage By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 15:12:34 -0400 Animal rescuers in Britain said a fox was rescued from the narrow gap between the external walls of a house and its garage. Full Article
re After Deportation, Some Congolese Returnees Face Detention and Extortion By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Wed, 22 May 2019 17:22:03 -0400 This article explores post-deportation dynamics and challenges returnees face in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Even as European countries focus on increasing returns of migrants deemed not to have a right to stay, little attention has been given to conditions at return—even to a country such as the DRC where allegations of serious human-rights violations against returned migrants have been reported for years. Full Article
re 16th Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 28 May 2019 12:18:53 -0400 The 16th annual conference features thoughtful policy and legal analysis and discussion of the most important immigration topics from leading government officials, attorneys, researchers, advocates, and others. Full Article
re Democrats Under Pressure: Political Calendar Exposes Ideological Differences on Immigration By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:39:12 -0400 Ideological differences in the Democratic Party over immigration that were once masked by unity against President Trump’s border wall and immigration agenda are now being exposed as Democratic presidential candidates seek to stand out in a crowded field and amid controversy over an emergency border spending bill. As the 2020 electoral calendar accelerates, how the party navigates the gulf between its most liberal and conservative wings will become a greater challenge for its leaders. Full Article
re From Control to Crisis: Changing Trends and Policies Reshaping U.S.-Mexico Border Enforcement By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Fri, 02 Aug 2019 12:09:41 -0400 How did the U.S. border enforcement picture go in the span of two years from the lowest levels of illegal immigration since 1971 to a spiraling border security and humanitarian crisis? This report draws on enforcement and other data as well as analysis of changing migration trends and policies to tell this story. The authors outline key elements for a new strategy that can succeed over the long term. Full Article
re Crisis in the Courts: Is the Backlogged U.S. Immigration Court System at Its Breaking Point? By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:31:23 -0400 With a backlog of more than 1 million removal cases, the U.S. immigration court system is in crisis. Pressure from external forces, internal challenges, and lagging resources for the courts at a time of massive increases in spending on immigration enforcement have contributed to the backlog. This article explores how the system got to the breaking point, and what opportunities for reform exist. Full Article
re Colts QB Philip Rivers to coach at Alabama high school once NFL career ends By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 21:04:31 -0400 Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers will become the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School, the school announced Friday. Full Article
re Planet already seeing temps beyond human tolerability By www.upi.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 04:42:06 -0400 Researchers have predicted that if climate change goes unabated, the planet will experience intolerable heat in several decades. But a new study has found that in certain global hot spots, it's already happening. Full Article
re Evidence-Informed Clinical Practice Recommendations for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Complicated by Problematic Hypoglycemia By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2015-06-01 Pratik ChoudharyJun 1, 2015; 38:1016-1029Type 1 Diabetes at a Crossroads Full Article
re Endothelial Dysfunction in Diabetes: The role of reparatory mechanisms By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2011-05-01 Angelo AvogaroMay 1, 2011; 34:S285-S290Hypertension Full Article
re Loss of Incretin Effect Is a Specific, Important, and Early Characteristic of Type 2 Diabetes By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2011-05-01 Jens J. HolstMay 1, 2011; 34:S251-S257Diabetes Treatments Full Article
re The Reality of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-04-01 Richard KahnApr 1, 2014; 37:943-949Current Concepts of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Full Article
re Kidney Disease and Related Findings in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2014-01-01 Ian H. de BoerJan 1, 2014; 37:24-30DCCT/EDIC 30th Anniversary Summary Findings Full Article