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Objective: To evaluate, characterize and search for trends in the underreporting of diabetes mellitus (DM) as the cause of death in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, over 40 years., Subjects and Methods: This was a documental study. Clinical and mortality data were collected from individuals known to have type 1 (DM1) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), residing in Bauru, State of São Paulo, followed at a local endocrinology clinic from 1982 to 2021, who deceased during this period., Results: A significant underreporting of DM as the cause of death (64.41%) was found, mostly associated with male gender (OR = 1.59 [95% CI: 1.18; 2.15]; p < 0.01), DM2 (OR = 2.64 [95% CI: 1.32; 5.26]; p < 0.01), dying in the first decade of the study (OR = 4.07 [95% CI: 1.54; 10.71]; p < 0.001) and shorter DM duration (OR = 1.02 [95% CI: 1.01; 1.04]; p < 0.01). Age, type of treatment, body mass index, marital status and ethnicity, did not show a significant association with DM underreporting. There was a decreasing trend in DM1 underreporting (Decade Percentual Change = -7.10 [95% CI: -11.35; -3.40]), but a stationary trend for DM and DM2. The main primary cause of death was cardiovascular-related complications., Conclusion: The underreporting of DM as the cause of death was very frequently found, and was associated with male gender, decade of death, shorter DM duration and DM2. If our data could be applied to the whole country, DM would possibly emerge as a more prominent cause of death in Brazil. Future studies in other cities and geographic regions are warranted to confirm our findings., Competing Interests: Disclosure: no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Congenital malformations are more frequently found among children born to mothers with diabetes than in the background population. There are several complex mechanisms involved in the development of congenital malformations in the offspring of mothers with hyperglycemia, such as the overexpression of glucose transporters (GLUTs) 1 and 2, the increased activity of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway and the reduced expression of the PAX3 gene with a consequent increase in p53 protein expression. These alterations can lead to increased glucose and free radical concentrations in the embryo, thus promoting the process of apoptosis and causing malformation. The most frequent malformations found in the offspring of mothers with diabetes are heart and neural tube defects, urinary tract and kidney malformations, and cleft lip with or without cleft palate. Strict glycemic control should be obtained before and during pregnancy, aiming to avoid or minimize the risk of congenital malformations in the offspring. Beyond hyperglycemia, several factors may also be associated with increased risks of malformations in the offspring of these women, such as obesity, multiple pregnancies, advanced maternal age, folic acid deficiency, use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, assisted reproduction techniques, and exposure to different types of environmental pollutants.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia (SH) in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) in Brazil., Materials and Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2011 and August 2014 across 10 Brazilian cities. The data were obtained from 1,760 individuals with T1D. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics related to hypoglycemic events in the previous 4 weeks were evaluated., Results: Of 1,760 individuals evaluated, 1,319 (74.9%) reported at least one episode of hypoglycemia in the previous 4 weeks. The main factors associated with hypoglycemia were lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, better adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and higher education level. Episodes of SH were reported by 251 (19%) individuals who, compared with subjects with nonsevere hypoglycemia, received lower doses of prandial insulin and higher doses of basal insulin, in addition to reporting less frequent use of long-acting basal insulin analogs. The percentage of SH episodes was evenly distributed across all ranges of HbA1c levels, and there were no correlations between the mean number of nonsevere or severe hypoglycemic events and HbA1c values. Higher alcohol consumption and more frequent hospitalizations were independently associated with SH., Conclusion: Although individuals presenting with hypoglycemia had lower HbA1c values than those not presenting hypoglycemia, there were no correlations between the number of nonsevere hypoglycemia or SH and HbA1c values. Also, the frequency of SH was evenly distributed across all ranges of HbA1c values. Better adherence to SMBG and higher education level were associated with hypoglycemia, while alcohol consumption, higher doses of basal insulin, and more frequent hospitalizations in the previous year were associated with SH.

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) causes maternal and infant morbidity. Periodontitis is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate periodontal status, prematurity and associated factors in pregnant women with and without GDM., Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 80 pregnant women with GDM (G1 = 40) and without GDM (G2 = 40). Demographic and socioeconomic status, systemic and periodontal health condition, prematurity and newborns' birth weight were analyzed. For bivariate analysis, Mann-Whitney U-test, t test and Chi-squared test were used. Binary logistic regression analyzed independent variables for periodontitis and prematurity (p < 0.05)., Results: Patients from G1 presented lower socioeconomic status, higher weight and body mass index (BMI). Prematurity (G1 = 27.5%; G2 = 2.5%; p < 0.05) and severe periodontitis percentages (G1 = 22.5%; G2 = 0; p = 0.001) were higher in G1 than in G2. Logistic regression analysis showed that household monthly income (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.48-0.86; p = 0.003) and maternal BMI (adjusted OR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.25; p = 0.028) were significant predictors of periodontitis during the third trimester of pregnancy. Presence of GDM remained in the final logistic model related to prematurity (adjusted OR = 14.79; 95% CI 1.80-121.13; p = 0.012)., Conclusion: Pregnant women with GDM presented higher severity of periodontitis, lower socioeconomic status, higher overweight/obesity and a 10-fold higher risk of prematurity. Socioeconomic-cultural status and BMI were significant predictors for periodontitis, and GDM was a predictor to prematurity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between inflammatory cytokines, placental weight, glycated hemoglobin and adverse perinatal outcomes (APOs) in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)., Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal and observational study conducted from April 2004 to November 2005 in Bauru, Brazil. Included patients had singleton pregnancies and performed a 100 g OGTT and had the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, TNF alfa and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) determined at 24-28th gestation weeks., Results: A total of 176 patients were included, of whom 78 had the diagnosis of GDM (44.3%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that HbA1c, age, body mass index (BMI) and previous history of GDM were independent predictors for GDM diagnosis. ROC curve indicated that HbA1C levels ≥ 5.1% at 24-28 weeks gestation were associated with GDM. No difference was found in IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and CRP serum levels in women with and without GDM. Multivariate analysis showed that placental weight was significantly associated with APOs (p < 0.005), with a cut-off value of 610 grams as demonstrated by the ROC curve., Conclusion: Placental weight ≥ 610 grams and HbA1C ≥ 5.1% were found to be associated with APOs and GDM, respectively, and their evaluation should be part of prenatal care routine.