The aim of the study was to assess the amount of orally administered carbohydrates needed to maintain euglycemia during moderate-intensity exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Nine participants with type 1 diabetes (four women, age 32.1 ± 9.0 years, BMI 25.5 ± 3.9 kg/m2, HbA1c 55 ± 7 mmol/mol (7.2 ± 0.6%)) on insulin Degludec were randomized to cycle for 55 min at moderate intensity (63 ± 7% VO2peak) for five consecutive days on either 75% or 100% of their regular basal insulin dose. The impact of pre-exercise blood glucose concentration on the carbohydrate requirement was analyzed by one-way ANOVA stratified for pre-exercise blood glucose quartiles. The effect of the basal insulin dose on the amount of orally administered carbohydrates was evaluated by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. The amount of orally administered carbohydrates during the continuous exercise sessions was similar for both trial arms (75% or 100% basal insulin) with median [IQR] of 36 g (9–62 g) and 36 g (9–66 g) (p = 0.78). The amount of orally administered carbohydrates was determined by pre-exercise blood glucose concentration for both trial arms (p = 0.03). Our study elucidated the importance of pre-exercise glucose concentration related orally administered carbohydrates to maintain euglycemia during exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Metabolic regulation of glucose can be altered by fasting periods. We examined glucose metabolism and metabolomics profiles after 12 h and 36 h fasting in non-obese and obese participants and people with type 2 diabetes using oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) and intravenous glucose tolerance testing (IVGTT). Insulin sensitivity was estimated by established indices and mass spectrometric metabolomics was performed on fasting serum samples. Participants had a mean age of 43 ± 16 years (62% women). Fasting levels of glucose, insulin and C-peptide were significantly lower in all cohorts after 36 h compared to 12 h fasting (p < 0.05). In non-obese participants, glucose levels were significantly higher after 36 h compared to 12 h fasting at 120 min of OGTT (109 ± 31 mg/dL vs. 79 ± 18 mg/dL; p = 0.001) but insulin levels were lower after 36 h of fasting at 30 min of OGTT (41.2 ± 34.1 mU/L after 36 h vs. 56.1 ± 29.7 mU/L; p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in obese participants or people with diabetes. Insulin sensitivity improved in all cohorts after 36 h fasting. In line, metabolomics revealed subtle baseline differences and an attenuated metabolic response to fasting in obese participants and people with diabetes. Our data demonstrate an improved insulin sensitivity after 36 h of fasting with higher glucose variations and reduced early insulin response in non-obese people only.
Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The plasma concentration of Lp(a) is largely genetically determined but varies over a wide range within the population. This study investigated changes in Lp(a) levels after an acute myocardial infarction. Patients who underwent coronary angiography due to an ST elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled (n = 86), and Lp(a) levels were measured immediately after the intervention, one day, two days, and at a post-discharge follow-up visit at 3 to 6 months after the acute myocardial infarction. Median Lp(a) levels increased from a median of 7.9 mg/dL (3.8–37.1) at hospital admission to 8.4 mg/dL (3.9–35.4) on the following day, then to 9.3 mg/dL (3.7–39.1) on day two (p < 0.001), and to 11.2 mg/dL (4.4–59.6) at the post-discharge follow-up (p < 0.001). Lp(a) levels were the lowest during the acute myocardial infarction and started to increase significantly immediately thereafter, with the highest levels at the post-discharge follow-up. The moderate but significant increase in Lp(a) in people with acute myocardial infarction appears to be clinically relevant on an individual basis, especially when specific Lp(a) cut-off levels are supposed to determine the initiation of future treatment. Hence, a repeated measurement of Lp(a) after myocardial infarction should be performed.
The EndoBarrier™ medical device is a duodenal-jejunal bypass liner designed to mimic the effects of gastric bypass surgery to induce weight loss and glycaemic improvement. In this study, 10 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a mean body mass index (BMI) of 43.3 ± 5.0 (kg/m2) and a mean glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 60.6 ± 8.6 mmol/mol were examined at baseline (before implantation of EndoBarrier™), 4 weeks after implantation, at 36 weeks (right before explantation) and 24 weeks after the removal of the device to explore the short and long-term effects on glucose metabolism. Besides a significant reduction in body weight and fat mass, EndoBarrier™ treatment significantly improved insulin sensitivity during Botnia clamp investigations after four weeks of implantation. The beneficial effects decreased over time but remained significant 24 weeks after removal of the device.
To assess intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) performance for different rates of change in plasma glucose (RCPG) during glycemic challenges in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Nineteen people with T1D (7 females; age 35 ± 11 years; HbA1c 7.3 ± 0.6% (56 ± 7 mmol/mol)) performing two glycemic challenges (OGTT) were included. During OGTTs, plasma glucose was compared against sensor glucose for timepoints 0 min (pre-OGTT), +15 min, +30 min, +60 min, +120 min, +180 min, and +240 min by means of median absolute (relative) difference (MARD and MAD) and Clarke Error Grid (CEG), then was stratified for RCPG and glycemic ranges. Overall, MARD was 8.3% (4.0–14.8) during hypoglycemia level 1 18.8% (15.8–22.0), euglycemia 9.5% (4.3–15.1), hyperglycemia level 1 9.4% (4.0–17.2), and hyperglycemia level 2 7.1% (3.3–11.9). The MARD was associated with the RCPG (p < 0.0001), detailing significant differences in comparison of low, moderate, high, and very high RCPG (p = 0.014). Overall, CEG resulted in 88% (212 values) of comparison points in zone A, 12% (29 values) in zone B, and 0.4% (1 value) in zone D. The isCGM system was accurate during OGTTs. Its performance was dependent on the RCPG and showed an overestimation of the actual reference glucose during hypoglycemia.
Oxidative stress is involved in the development, progression, and complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Oxidative modification of human serum albumin’s cysteine-34 is a marker for oxidative stress-related pathological conditions. We aimed to evaluate the redox state of albumin in patients with DM to investigate possible correlations with age, diabetes duration, and disease control status. Plasma aliquots were collected from 52 participants (26 type 1 and 26 type 2 DM). Patients were divided into two groups according to their glycated hemoglobin levels less than or equal to and greater than 58 mmol/L. Albumin redox state was assessed with high-performance liquid chromatography by fractionating it into human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and human nonmercaptalbumin 1 and 2 (HNA1 and HNA2). Albumin redox fractions were differently related to the age of study participants. In age-matched T1DM and T2DM groups, the albumin redox state was essentially the same. Irreversibly oxidized HNA2 was positively correlated with diabetes duration, especially in the T1DM group. HNA was increased in people with an increased HbA1c (>58 mmol/mol). Our results support the hypothesis that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in DM pathogenesis and emphasize the importance of diabetes control on systemic oxidative burden.