NTDP Cohort 7
Journal Critique
Title: “Three-Year Efficacy of Complex Insulin Regimens in Type 2 Diabetes”
Journal: The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 361, no. 18, pages 1736-1747
Purpose: How do complex insulin regimens affect glycated hemoglobin, rate of hypoglycemia and weight gain in type 2 diabetic patients?
Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus is often treated with metformin and an oral hypoglycemic agent (e.g. sulfonylurea); however, if this combination is not effective, insulin is often added to replace the oral hypoglycemic agent for better blood sugar control. In type 1 diabetes, intensive insulin therapy is designed to mimic normal insulin secretion as closely as possible.1 While the
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The rates of grade 2 or 3 hypoglycemia were low overall among the different groups; however, the prandial group experienced the most hypoglycemic episodes. Weight gain was more prominent in the biphasic and prandial groups, and the prandial group had the greatest reduction in the postprandial glucometer readings. While the percentage of patients in the biphasic group that replaced the sulfonylurea with a second type of insulin was 67.7%, the percentage in the prandial and basal group was 73.6% and 81.6%, respectively. The majority of patients from all three groups eventually required a basal-bolus (complex) regimen. The results of the trial support that the basal-bolus insulin regimen may be beneficial for better blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
The first phase of the 4-T study had several strong points. The major strengths of this study were the randomized design and the long duration. The patients were recruited in 58 clinical centers, and to account for center-level clustering, the study center was included as a random effect in all regression models. There was equal distribution between the biphasic (235 patients), prandial (239 patients), and basal (234 patients) groups. There was not a statistical significant difference in the baseline variables of the patients between the three groups. The study had several weaknesses and limitations. It only included patients from the United
You will be given oral medications to reduce the glucose level in the body. Insulin will be needed for type 1 diabetes and this will be taken for life. Insulin is also used in type 2 diabetes along with oral medicines.
Answer: The combination of Insulin as well as oral hyperglycaemic drugs may be prescribed for Diabetes because they help in lowering the blood glucose levels. However the primary treatment doesn’t consist of these drugs. The primary treatment comprises of Diet control, Physical activity and Weight control. If after following the primary treatment strictly, no improvement in the blood glucose level is achieved then medication is suggested for the same. Insulin helps in maintaining the blood sugar levels. Note that insulin is not to be taken orally because the acids and digestive juices in the stomach destroy it. It has to be injected under the skin only. Taking insulin leads patient to experience Hyperglycaemic condition. The Hyperglycaemic drugs helps our body to react appropriately with the insulin so that the insulin hormone is able to help transfer glucose from blood to the cells successfully.
Diabetes is a growing concern and health challenge for the American people (b). Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot react to insulin appropriately or either cannot produce insulin efficiently (w). “Without a properly functioning insulin signaling system, blood glucose levels become elevated and other metabolic abnormalities occur, leading to the development of serious, disabling complications” (w). There are numerous forms of diabetes amongst the nation, however, there are three main forms of diabetes. Most people have heard of type one diabetes, type two diabetes, and gestational diabetes because they are common. Type two diabetes deals with a resistance to insulin, while
Cynthia is a 65 year old African American female diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, kidney disease, hyperlipidemia and hypothyroidism. She is on glipizide 5 mg po daily to treat her type 2 diabetes. Cynthia revisited the clinic soon after the initiation of the treatment with symptoms of shakiness, sweating, chills, clamminess, lightheadedness and moderately severe headache. In this case study, Cynthia is exhibiting the symptoms of hypoglycemia as she is on sulfonylurea therapy. Sulfonylureas, such as glipizide commonly used as a second-line of therapy in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), promote insulin release independent of prevailing glucose value and as a result,
All patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and many patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) require insulin therapy at some point to adequately manage their disease state.5 Traditional treatment of DM therapy, which ultimately includes subcutaneous injection of insulin, is often met with apprehension among diabetic patients due to the inconvenience and discomfort of injecting oneself. Administration of insulin by methods other than injection has been investigated since the discovery of insulin in the 1920s.6One such
Treatment of diabetes is important to minimize the harm that is done to the body by diabetes. In addition to exercise and a special diet, type 1 diabetes patients need regular insulin injections to lower the blood sugar levels, while people with type 2 diabetes usually don’t need insulin shots, most of them require insulin tablets in addition to healthy diets and regular exercise and a few don’t even need the insulin tablets. (2, 7)
Insulin is a crucial thing in a Type One Diabetics life. It is the only treatment for them. Not to confuse you, but insulin is no cure by any means. Their pancreas has stopped making insulin, so they must inject themselves with insulin several times each day in order to stay alive. They also must check their blood glucose levels at least every five hours throughout the daytime to make sure it does not go to high or low and before each meal. The only real treatment for Type Two Diabetics is eating healthy foods and exercising daily. They also must check their blood glucose levels regularly, but not near as often. Some people do take insulin for their Diabetes to help their pancreas produce a little more insulin, but it is only required if food, exercise and medicine (pills) are not working.
Insulin resistance is the first physiological change occurring in type two diabetes. In these type two diabetic patients, insulin is unable to move glucose into liver, kidney and muscle cells although insulin is able to attach properly to the cell surface receptors. In order to rectify this, most patients with type two diabetes start secreting normal to very high levels of insulin, which can initially overcome this resistance. After a while, the pancreas cannot keep up with this high insulin production and the cells become resistant to glucose intake. Persistent hyperglycemia or high blood glucose levels are not desirable since this causes damage to the beta cells of the pancreas that produces the insulin hormone. This damage to beta cells further hampers insulin synthesis and patients at this stage are categorized as full-blown diabetic. Such patients consistently show a hyperglycemia state even after hours of fasting ( Hinkle & Cheever,
The mainstay of type 2 diabetes medication is Metformin due to the cost, safety of the medication and limitied side effects. Metformin reduces glucose levels through two pathways; it reduces hepatic glucose production and increases the insulin tissue sensitivity. Monotherapy is normal for this medication; however, it can be utilized in combination with other medications. Metformin used in conjunction with Sodium glucose cotransporter provides a greater control over the level of glucose in the body due to the reduction of glucose production, increase in sensitivity, reduction of reabsorption of glucose and the excretion of glucose through the kidneys, basically the glucose control is through 4 different pathways making it a synergetic effect on diabetes type 2. According to Inzucchi et al.(2016), the combination of these medications helped patients reduce their overall A1c (0.5-1.0), lose weight (2kg) and a reduction in their blood
Type 1 diabetes is a serious chronic condition that tends to arise prior to adulthood. The disease requires substantial lifestyle changes in order to cope, and can lead to several debilitating outcomes if left unchecked. According to the American Diabetes Association ([ADA], 2017), Type 1 diabetes is defined as a chronic condition where the body no longer produces the insulin hormone, and is therefore unable to utilize and store glucose. As a result, individuals with Type 1 diabetes may experience excessively high or low blood glucose levels: hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia respectively (ADA, 2017). Both sides of the spectrum can have devastating effects on the body’s cardiovascular and renal activities, in addition to deteriorating the peripheral
One popular medication is metformin. This medication is usually the first to be prescribed to patients with type two diabetes. It does have some side effects, some of them includes weakness, muscle pains and cramps, trouble breathing, and vomiting (CDC). Many of the side effects tend to go away once the body becomes accustomed to the new medication. Another medication that may be prescribed is Sulfonylureas. This medication helps the body secrete more insulin. The side effects are not life threatening, but include, but are not limited to; low blood sugar, hunger, weight gain, and having an unsettled stomach (CDC). One last medication that works like Sulfonylureas is Meglitinides. These medications stimulate the pancreas to secrete more insulin, but they act faster and the duration of their effect is shorter. Meglitinides side effect is less severe than the other two drugs, but are still able to affect an individual in many ways. Some of the side effects are low blood sugar, and weight gain (CDC). With the known side effect, there are many more side effects that can occur according to the individual’s body. Many factors can all be altered into consideration and discussed with an individual’s primary care
In a 52 week randomized clinical study, patients with either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes were treated using insulin glargine or insulin degludec. The study focus was on the effectiveness, safety and how well the patients tolerated the insulin degludec. One area of the study that was of particular interest was the occurrence of hypoglycemic events and mainly nocturnal hypoglycemia. The results of this study were then analyzed and the findings interpreted to compare insulin glargine and insulin degludec.
Insulin is a hormone made naturally in the body by the pancreas. This hormone controls the level of sugar in the blood. People who have type 1 diabetes need to have regular insulin injections. In type 1 diabetes, the body stops making insulin and the blood glucose level goes very high. Some people who have type 2 diabetes may also need to have insulin injections to help control blood sugar
Patients may benefit from early treatment with basal insulin added to oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) through early glycemic
Diabetes is a systemic disease caused by a decrease in the secretion of insulin or reduced sensitivity or responsiveness to insulin by target tissue. (Beale, et al., 2011) The incidence of diabetes is growing rapidly in the United States and worldwide. An estimated 347 million people around the world are afflicted with diabetes. (Whalen, et al., 2012) According to World Health Organization (WHO), Diabetes prevalence among adults over 18 years of age has risen from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014. It is the major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and limbic amputation. World Health Organization (WHO) projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. It is a complex and costly disease that can affect nearly every organ in the body and result in devastating consequences. The leading cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations, renal failure, and blindness in working-age adults, diabetes is also a major cause of premature mortality, stroke, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, congenital malformations, perinatal mortality, and disability. (Cefalu, 2000) Insulin therapy and oral hypoglycemic agents have demonstrated improvement in glycaemic control. However, Insulin therapy has some disadvantages such as ineffectiveness following oral administration, short shelf life, of the need for constant refrigeration, and fatal hypoglycaemia, in the event of excess dosage.