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Background and aims To investigate diabetes treatment initiation and continuation in the next sixth months in newly diagnosed Italian subjects. Methods and results We analyzed administrative claims of 11,300,750 Italian residents. Subjects with incident diabetes were identified by glucose lowering drug prescriptions, disease-specific co-payment exemptions and hospital discharge codes occurring in 2018 but not in 2017. Incident cases were 65,932 of whom 91.4% received the prescription of a glucose lowering drug. Among the latter, those receiving a prescription of a noninsulin medication but no insulin were 84.8%, those receiving a prescription of insulin only were 9.4%, and those receiving prescriptions of both insulin and noninsulin drugs were 5.8%. Metformin was the most frequently drug initially prescribed in noninsulin treated subjects (~85%) and sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) agonists collectively ranked as second (~13%). Lispro (35%) and glargine (34%) were the most frequently prescribed molecules in subjects who were insulin treated. Differences in prescriptions were found in age categories, with increased use of SUR agonists across decades. In the first six months, as many as 50% of noninsulin treated patients continued with the initial drug, ~15% added a second agent, ~5% switched to another medication, and ~30% discontinued any glucose lowering treatment. Conclusions These data document that current guidelines are often neglected because prescriptions of SUR agonists as first agent are still quite common and insulin is prescribed more than expected. They point out the urgent need to improve the dissemination and implementations of guidelines in diabetes care.

Abstract. Background: Contrast–induced nephropathy (CIN) is a relevant cause of acute renal dysfunction and is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Purpose: Verify the effect of α-tocopherol pre-treatment on CIN prevention in subjects with chronic kidney disease. Methods: A Medline/Embase and clinicaltrials.gov were searched up to May 1st, 2017. Randomized controlled trials recruiting patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic radiocontrast infusion comparing the effect of either oral or i.v. multiple administration of pharmacological dose of α-tocopherol in preventing CIN versus placebo were included. A random-effects model, calculating Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, was applied to study the effect of α-tocopherol on CIN occurrence. Funnel plot analysis was used to assess publication bias, while agreement within studies was measured by the I2 index and tested with the Q-Cochran test. Results: Out of 242 studies, 4 trials were selected. CIN incidence resulted significantly lower in α-tocopherol compared to placebo group (5.8% vs. 15.4%, MH-OR [95% C.I.] 0.34 [0.19 – 0.59]). Alpha-tocopherol treatment was associated with both a tendential higher eGFR (mean difference 2.19 [95% C.I. -0.41; 4.79] mL/min) and lower creatinine level (mean difference −0.06 [95% C.I. −0.21; 0.09] mg/dl) compared to placebo. No relevant publication bias (p = 0.48) and heterogeneity (I2 = 0%; χ2 = 1.01, df = 3 [p = 0.80], I2 = 0%) were evident. Conclusions: Alpha-tocopherol pre-treatment is associated with reduction of incidence of CIN. Its administration deserves to be further explored as a simple and inexpensive tool for CIN prevention.

In spite of being at target for glucose (1) or traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (2), individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) still have an excess of CV mortality and morbidity implying a role for other mechanisms including insulin resistance (IR). Impaired insulin action in T1D was established by clamp technique long ago (3). Estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) correlates well with the clamp technique (4) and is a risk marker for microangiopathy (5,6), diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (6), CV risk, and mortality (5,7). In this observational single-center study, we investigated to what extent eGDR is a predictor of CV events, coronary artery disease (CAD), and all-cause mortality irrespective of CV risk factors and DKD in 774 subjects with T1D over a 10-year follow-up, as previously described (8). eGDR (mg/kg/min) was calculated at baseline as follows (4): eGDR = 21.158 − (0.09 × WC) − (3.407 × HTN) − (0.551 × HbA1c), where WC is waist circumference (cm), HTN is hypertension (yes = 1, no = 0), and HbA1c is in %. Follow-up data were retrieved from the national and regional health care registers (ICD-9, Clinical Modification, codes) by searching for CV outcomes (primary outcome) up to 31 December 2017 and for all-cause death up to 31 October 2018. Incidence of CV outcomes was available for 736 participants (95.1%), and vital status was available for all individuals (8). We used univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to …

Non-albuminuric diabetic kidney disease (Alb-DKD) has been associated with a raised risk of CV outcomes and all-cause mortality in T1D. We report about the association between DKD phenotypes and CV outcomes in a single-centre, prospective, 10.4±2.9 years observation of 774 T1D. Rates of outcomes and vital status were censored on December 2017. Out of 774 T1D, 692 (89.4%) had no-DKD, 53 DKD 1-2 (6.8%), 17 (2.2%) Alb-DKD and 12 (1.6%) Alb+DKD. Incidences of CV outcomes, coronary events and ESRD were available for 736 subjects (95.1%). A CV event occurred in 49 T1D (6.7%; 6.42 events x 1000 PYs), rising from no-DKD (4.2%) to DKD 1-2 (28.6%) and Alb-DKD (35.3%). In Alb+DKD, due to competition with all-cause death, only 1 event occurred. Compared to no-DKD, the adjusted HRs were 4.43 (95%CI 2.27-8.61, p Disclosure M. Garofolo: None. E. Gualdani: None. F. Campi: None. M. Aragona: None. D. Lucchesi: None. C. Bianchi: None. R. Miccoli: None. P. Francesconi: None. G. Penno: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Microvascular complications (MC) affect CV risk and mortality in T2D. We explored the association of cumulative burden of retinopathy, nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy with mortality, CV events and ESRD in a single-centre, observational study involving 986 T2D over a 12.9±2.7 yrs follow-up. Vital status and rates of outcomes were censored on December 2017. The cohort included 491 (49.8%), 318 (32.3%), 135 (13.7%) and 42 (4.3%) people with no, 1, 2 or 3 MC. All-cause mortality (23.3%) increased from no-MC (15.3%) to 1 MC (23.3%, HR 1.60; 95%CI 1.16-2.20), 2 MC (41.5%, 3.19; 2.25-4.51) and 3 MC (59.5%, 5.32; 3.38-8.36; p Disclosure M. Garofolo: None. E. Gualdani: None. R. Giannarelli: None. D. Lucchesi: None. R. Miccoli: None. P. Francesconi: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. G. Penno: None.

Background: Nesidioblastosis and insulinoma are disorders of the endocrine pancreas causing endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Their coexistence is very unusual and treatment represents a still unresolved dilemma.Case Description: The patient was a 43-year-old Caucasian woman, with a 2-year history of repeated severe hypoglycemic events. The diagnostic work-up was strongly suggestive of insulinoma and the patient was submitted to surgical treatment carried out laparoscopically under robotic assistance. However, surgical exploration and intraoperative ultrasonography failed to detect a pancreatic tumor. Resection was therefore carried out based on the results of selective intra-arterial calcium stimulation test, following a step-up approach, eventually leading to a pancreatoduodenectomy at the splenic artery. The histopathology examination and the immunohistochemical staining were consistent with adult-onset nesidioblastosis. After surgery, the patient continued to experience hypoglycemia with futile response to medical treatments (octreotide, calcium antagonists, diazoxide, and prednisone). Following multidisciplinary evaluation and critical review of a repeat abdominal computed tomography scan, a small nodular lesion was identified in the tail of the pancreas. The nodule was enucleated laparoscopically and the pathological examination revealed an insulinoma. In spite of the insulinoma resection, glycemic values were only partially restored, with residual nocturnal hypoglycemia. Administration of uncooked cornstarch (1.25 g/kg body weight) at bedtime was associated with significant improvement of interstitial glucose levels (p < 0.0001) and reduction of nocturnal hypoglycemia episodes (p = 0.0002).Conclusions: This report describes a rare coexistence of adult-onset nesidioblastosis and insulinoma, suggesting the existence of a wide and continuous spectrum of proliferative β-cell changes. Moreover, we propose that uncooked cornstarch may offer an additional approach to alleviate the hypoglycemic episodes when surgery is impracticable/unaccepted.

Backgrounds and aims To investigate relevant indicators of quality of care in a large population-based sample of people with diabetes representative of clinical practice in Italy in 2018. Methods and results We analyzed data from 11,300,750 subjects. All administrative healthcare claims collected in 2018 were scrutinized to identify subjects with diabetes and investigate several indicators of quality of care. Subjects with diabetes were identified by anti-hyperglycemic drug prescriptions, disease-specific co-payment exemption and hospital discharge codes. Indicators of quality of care pertained to monitoring (HbA1c, creatinine, lipid profile, microalbuminuria, eye examination, ECG, ultrasonography of carotid and lower limb arteries) and diabetes treatment (anti-hyperglycemic agents in subjects with cardiovascular disease, CVD). Subjects attending and nonattending Diabetes Clinics were compared. We identified 697,208 individuals with diabetes. HbA1c was assessed at least once in the year in 62.7%, creatinine in 62.3%, total cholesterol in 59.6%, microalbuminuria in 34.3%. Frequency of eye examination was 8.2%, ECG 23.5%, carotid ultrasonography 14.3%, lower limb ultrasonography 7.6%. Among anti-hyperglycemic drugs, SGLT-2 inhibitors were prescribed to ~5% and GLP-1 receptor agonists to ~5% although the proportion of subjects with CVD was ~45%. Subjects attending Diabetes Clinics had higher figures for all these monitoring and treatment indicators. Conclusions The implementation of national and international guidelines regarding disease monitoring and treatment is far from being satisfactory, especially among subjects nonattending Diabetes Clinics. Further efforts and investments are needed for better disseminating guidelines, more efficaciously engaging healthcare professionals and more strongly empowering the healthcare system to improve diabetes care.

Large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have lent support to a cardiovascular protection with the use of SGLT2-inhibitors (SGLT2is) and GLP1-Receptor Agonists (GLP1-RAs) in subjects with type 2 diabetes. These two classes of novel glucose lowering agents have been shown to have a similar effect on the risk reduction of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE: nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, cardiovascular mortality). Nonetheless, they may not be simply interchangeable. Rather, careful evaluation of all the results of CVOTs leads identification of different effects that may allow profiling of the ideal individuals with T2DM who may benefit most from the use of one or the other class of agents. These differences include effect on heart failure, stroke and diabetic kidney disease that have prompt recent guidelines and recommendation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes to suggest the preferential use of SGLT2is in those with evidence of heart failure and impaired kidney function, while both SGLT2i and GLP1-RAs with proven effect could be use in those with prevalent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This review discusses all these elements of differentiation along with others that in the future may help establishing the best cardiorenal benefit for individuals with T2DM.

IntroductionDiabetes is a highly prevalent disease worldwide and represents a challenge for patients and healthcare systems. This population-based study evaluated diabetes burden in Italy in 2018 by assessing all aspects of outpatient and hospital care.Research design and methodsWe investigated data of 11 300 750 residents in local health districts contributing to ARNO Diabetes Observatory (~20% of Italian inhabitants). All administrative healthcare claims were analyzed to gather information on access to medical resources. Subjects with diabetes, identified by antihyperglycemic drug prescriptions, disease-specific copayment exemption and hospital discharge codes, were compared with age, sex and residency-matched non-diabetic individuals.ResultsWe identified 697 208 subjects with ascertained diabetes, yielding a prevalence of 6.2% (6.5% in men vs 5.9% in women, p2-fold higher in subjects with diabetes, mainly driven by hospitalizations and outpatient care related to chronic complications rather than to glucose-lowering drugs, diabetes-specific devices, or metabolic monitoring.ConclusionsThe burden of diabetes in Italy is particularly heavy and, as a systemic disease, it includes all aspects of clinical medicine, with consequent high expenses in all areas of healthcare.

Aims Albuminuric and non-albuminuric phenotypes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may have different cardiovascular risk and survival in type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Herein we estimated risk of major vascular outcomes by the EURODIAB PCS score and determined all-cause mortality rate in 774 T1DM according to CKD phenotypes. Methods We evaluated the distribution of CKD phenotypes [no CKD, stages 1–2, non-albuminuric stage ≥3 (Alb−CKD), albuminuric stage ≥3 (Alb+CKD)], the EURODIAB risk score for major vascular outcomes [low- (LS), intermediate- (IS), and high- (HS) risk] and all-cause mortality over a follow-up of 8.25 ± 2.34 years. Results Out of 774 subjects, 692 (89.4%) had no CKD, 53 (6.8%) CKD stages 1–2, 17 (2.2%) Alb−CKD and 12 (1.6%) Alb+CKD; 466 (60.2%) had LS, 205 (26.5%) IS and 103 (13.3%) HS. Distribution of HS was: no CKD, 9.1%; CKD stages 1–2, 34.0%; Alb−CKD, 64.7%; Alb+CKD, 91.7% (P Conclusions In our T1DM cohort, one fifth of those with CKDs were non-albuminuric. This phenotype was associated with higher risk of major outcomes and similar rate of mortality as compared to CKD stages 1–2. The greatest risk and highest mortality occur in patients with Alb+CKD.

In a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional, single-centre study, we assessed the prevalence and correlates of different CKD phenotypes (with and without albuminuria) in a large cohort of patients of white ethnicity with type 1 diabetes. From 2001 to 2009, 408 men and 369 women with type 1 diabetes (age 40.2 ± 11.7 years, diabetes duration 19.4 ± 12.2 years, HbA1c 7.83 ± 1.17% [62.0 ± 12.9 mmol/mol]) were recruited consecutively. Albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and eGFR (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) were obtained for all individuals, together with CKD stage. Diabetic retinopathy and peripheral polyneuropathy were detected in 41.5% and 8.1%, respectively, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurred in 8.5%. Adjudications of CKD phenotype were made by blinded investigators. Normo- (ACR

La diminuzione del glucosio nelle provette e tempo-dipendente dopo il prelievo e puo causare artificialmente bassi valori di glicemia se la glicolisi non e appropriatamente inibita dall’ uso corretto dell’anticoagulante. In questo lavoro abbiamo fatto una accurata revisione della letteratura sul possibile uso del citrato assieme al sodio EDTA e al sodio fluoruro. Noi concludiamo che, per lo screening e la diagnosi del diabete mellito, incluso il diabete gestazionale, il glucosio dovrebbe essere determinato nel plasma usando la sopra menzionata mistura sia allo stato solido che allo stato liquido (in questo caso deve essere applicato il corretto fattore di conversione numerico). Per la misura del glucosio in pazienti con diabete gia diagnosticato per il monitoraggio in follow up, provette con litio eparina possono essere usate ma la separazione del plasma delle essere rapidamente condotta. In alternativa possono essere usate provette per siero con acceleratore della coagulazione e gel separatore.

Estimated Glucose Disposal Rate (eGDR), a validated tool to estimate insulin sensitivity (IS) in T1DM [eGDR = 21.158 - (0.09 x WC, cm) - (3.47 x hypertension, yes = 1) - (0.551 x HbA1c, %)], has been associated to all-cause death. The relationship between eGDR and major vascular (CV) events was evaluated in 736 T1DM enrolled in an observational, single-centre study over a 10-year follow-up. Incidence of CV and coronary events were obtained by interrogating hospital discharge registers. Mean eGDR was 7.51±2.26 (M±SD) mg/kg/min (median 8.26; IQR 5.53-9.29). According to the “Swedish National Diabetes Register,” eGDR was stratified in: C1: ≥8.0 (N. 399, 54.2%, ref); C2: 6.0-7.99 (N. 121, 16.4%); C3: 4.0-5.99 (N. 144, 19.6%) and C4: Disclosure M. Garofolo: None. E. Gualdani: None. R. Giannarelli: None. M. Aragona: None. F. Campi: None. D. Lucchesi: None. G. Daniele: None. R. Miccoli: None. P. Francesconi: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Servier, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Board Member; Self; AstraZeneca. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. G. Penno: None.

We report results from the clinical use of IDegLira compared to basal-bolus (BB) insulin regimen in T2DM patients admitted to our department because of DFU and CLI. We retrospectively identified 44 consecutive T2DM patients admitted to our diabetes ward because of DFU (M/F: 24/20; age: 67.3±9.5 years; BMI: 30.6±5.2 Kg/m2; diabetes duration (DD): 23.5±9.9 years; HbA1c 71.7±24.5 mmol/mol). During hospitalization, 28 patients (Group A: M/F: 15/13; age: 65.7±8.9 years; BMI: 32.6±4.8 Kg/m2; DD: 21.1±9.9 years; HbA1c 76.1±25.2 mmol/mol) previously on BB (63.7±33.9 U/day), were started on IDegLira (IDeg 22.8±7.8 U/day, liraglutide 0.82±0.3 mg/day) while the remaining 16 (Group B; M/F: 9/7; age: 70.4±10.1 years; BMI: 30.3±2.2 Kg/m2; DD: 27±9.2 years; HbA1c 63.9±22.0 mmol/mol; all p=NS vs. Group A) continued BB (43±18 U/day), allowing comparison over a mean follow-up period of 3 months. Patients were comparable with respect to distal lesions, pain-relieving, antibiotic therapies, revascularization procedures and surgical treatments performed. In Group A, BMI, HbA1c and LDL-C improved significantly (26.4±10.1 Kg/m2; 54±11 mmol/mol; 61.5±32 mg/dl; p Disclosure P. Falcetta: None. F.S. Indovina: None. R. Giannarelli: None. A. Piaggesi: None. G. Penno: None. R. Miccoli: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Servier, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Board Member; Self; AstraZeneca. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. A. Coppelli: None.

Gestational diabetes (GDM) enhances the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) with 20-50% of women progressing to T2D within 10-years after pregnancy. Preventative strategies, including use of pharmacologic agents, are worth considering. We assessed, in a randomized double-blind study, the effect of 16-week therapy with sitagliptin (SITA, 100 mg qd), metformin (MET, 850 mg bid), and SITA+MET (50+850 mg bid) on beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity in women (n=40, age 30-49 y) with recent GDM and impaired glucose regulation (IGR: IFG and/or IGT). A 75gr OGTT and +125 mg/dl hyperglycemic clamp followed by 5 gr i.v. L-arginine were performed at baseline and study-end. Baseline characteristics were comparable in the 3 groups. At week 16, BMI declined in all groups (-1.2±0.2 Kg/m2; p Disclosure S. Barone: None. A. Dardano: None. A. Tura: None. J.J. Kurumthodathu: None. A. Bertolotto: Speaker's Bureau; Self; Abbott, Lilly Diabetes. C. Bianchi: None. L. Giusti: None. E. Lacaria: None. M. Romano: None. R. Miccoli: None. G. Penno: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Servier, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Board Member; Self; AstraZeneca. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. G. Daniele: None.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is associated with CV events in T2DM. We assessed over a 13-years follow-up the association between a “MetS severity score”, derived from WC, sBP, HDL and triglycerides (courtesy Dr. Mark DeBoer) and both all-cause death and incident CV events in 986 T2DM. Compared to lowest quartile, Q2-4 showed a steeply worsening CV risk profile. A total of 230 deaths occurred over 12.9±2.7 years (23.3%; 18.0 x 1000 PYs). Death rate was J-shaped: Q1 22.4%; Q2 18.2%; Q3 25.9% and Q4 26.8% (p=0.090). Electing arbitrarily Q2 as reference, and after adjustment for confounders and, finally, for parameters of MetS score, HRs (95% CI) vs. Q2 for death were: Q1 1.46 (0.97-2.19; p=0.070), Q3 1.61 (1.09-2.38; p=0.016) and Q4 1.82 (1.20-2.75, p=0.005). Over 11.3±4.4 years, 276 major CV events occurred in 972 T2DM (28.4%; 25.2 x 1000 PYs); adjusted HRs vs. Q1 were: Q2 1.34 (0.93-1.93; p=0.117), Q3 1.99 (1.40-2.82, p Disclosure M. Garofolo: None. E. Gualdani: None. D. Lucchesi: None. L. Giusti: None. V. Sancho-Bornez: None. G. Daniele: None. R. Miccoli: None. P. Francesconi: None. G. Penno: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Servier, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Board Member; Self; AstraZeneca. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

BackgroundMicrovascular complications (MC) have been claimed to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease in diabetic subjects. However, the effect of MC burden on the risk of major vascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in type 1 diabetes is still poorly explored. We evaluated the relationship between microvascular complications burden and incidence of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in subjects with type 1 diabetes.MethodsWe recruited 774 participants with type 1 diabetes in a single-center observational study over a follow-up of 10.8 ± 2.5 years. Hazard ratios (HR) for cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause death associated with microvascular complications were determined by unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression analysis.ResultsOut of 774 individuals, 54.9% had no-MC, 32.3% 1 MC, 9.7% 2 MC and 3.1% 3 MC. A total of 54 deaths (7.0%) occurred. Death rate increased from no-MC 2.1% (Ref) to 1 MC 7.2% (HR 3.54 [95% CI 1.59–7.87]), 2 MC 14.7% (HR 6.41 [95% CI 2.65–15.49]) and 3 MC 66.7% (HR 41.73 [95% CI 18.42–94.57], p ConclusionsIn type 1 diabetes, microvascular complications burden increases in an independent dose-dependent manner the risk of major cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality. The presence and number of microvascular complications should be considered in stratifying overall cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetes.

Background: To which extent the presence of one or more microvascular complication (MC) affects cardiovascular (CV) outcomes and mortality in diabetes is still debated. We evaluated the relationship between MC and incidence of major CV events and all-cause mortality in type 1 diabetes. Methods: We recruited 774 participants with type 1 diabetes in a single-center observational study over a follow-up of 10*8±2*5 years. Hazard Ratios (HR) for outcomes were determined by unadjusted and adjusted Cox regressions. Findings: Out of 774 individuals, 54·9% had no-MC, 32·3% 1 MC, 9·7% 2 MC and 3·1% 3 MC. A total of 54 deaths occurred. Death rate increased from no-MC 2·1% (Ref) to 1-MC 7·2% (HR 3·54 [95% CI 1·59–7·87]), 2-MC 14·7% (6·41 [2·65–15·49]) and 3-MC 66·7% (41·73 [18·42–94·57]; p

Gonzalez-Clemente et al. (1) claim that a simpler though efficient assessment of cardiovascular risk in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is much needed. Since we showed that the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) was an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in people with T1D, they evaluated whether cutoff eGDR values could be calculated to be used in clinical practice to stratify CVD risk. They used the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine (ST1RE) (2) in 179 T1D subjects without CVD to identify 10-year risk level for a first CVD event: low (

Large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have lent support to a cardiovascular protection with the use of SGLT2-inhibitors (SGLT2is) and GLP1-Receptor Agonists (GLP1-RAs) in subjects with type 2 diabetes. These two classes of novel glucose lowering agents have been shown to have a similar effect on the risk reduction of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE: nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, cardiovascular mortality). Nonetheless, they may not be simply interchangeable. Rather, careful evaluation of all the results of CVOTs leads identification of different effects that may allow profiling of the ideal individuals with T2DM who may benefit most from the use of one or the other class of agents. These differences include effect on heart failure, stroke and diabetic kidney disease that have prompt recent guidelines and recommendation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes to suggest the preferential use of SGLT2is in those with evidence of heart failure and impaired kidney function, while both SGLT2i and GLP1-RAs with proven effect could be use in those with prevalent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This review discusses all these elements of differentiation along with others that in the future may help establishing the best cardiorenal benefit for individuals with T2DM.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is identified by dichotomous criteria thus masking MetS-related risk exists as a continuum. We assessed the association of a “MetS severity score” (MSs; courtesy Dr. M. DeBoer) with all-cause death in 774 T1D (age 40.2±11.7; DD 19.4±12.2 years; HbA1c 7.8±1.2%) over a 10.6±2.5 year follow-up. MSs was derived from WC, sBP, HDL and triglycerides (no glucose). Mean MSs was -0.5046±0.6717 (median -0.5820; IQR -0.9556 to -0.1529). MSs was stratified by quartiles. Compared to Q1, Q2-4 had a worse CV risk profile with increasing age, BMI, dBP, fasting glucose, HbA1c, total-, LDL- and nonHDL-Ch, uric acid and fibrinogen (p Disclosure G. Penno: None. M. Garofolo: None. R. Giannarelli: None. F. Campi: None. D. Lucchesi: None. L. Giusti: None. V. Sancho-Bornez: None. A. Dardano: None. G. Daniele: None. R. Miccoli: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Servier, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Research Support; Self; Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Advisory Panel; Self; Janssen Biotech, Inc., Abbott.

Insulin resistance (IR) was described in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and is related to higher risk of complications. The association of estimated Glucose Disposal Rate (eGDR), a proxy of IR, to all-cause mortality was assessed in 774 T1D (age 40.2±11.7; DD 19.4±12.2 years; HbA1c 7.8±1.2%) in a follow-up of 10.6±2.5 years. Mean eGDR was 7.52±2.28 mg/kg/min (median 8.29; IQR 5.54-9.31). In agreement with the “Swedish National Diabetes Register” eGDR was stratified in 4 categories: C1: ≥8.0 (n. 424, 54.8%); C2: 6.0-7.99 (n. 125, 16.1%); C3: 4.0-5.99 (n. 149, 19.3%) and C4: Disclosure M. Garofolo: None. A. Bertolotto: None. F. Campi: None. D. Lucchesi: None. L. Giusti: None. V. Sancho-Bornez: None. A. Dardano: None. R. Miccoli: None. G. Penno: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Servier, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Research Support; Self; Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Advisory Panel; Self; Janssen Biotech, Inc., Abbott.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with a sustantially increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and premature death. The effect of the microvascular disease (MD) burden, i.e., the cumulative burden of retinopathy, nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy on all-cause mortality was evaluated in 774 T1D (age 40.2±11.7; DD 19.4±12.2 years; HbA1c 7.8±1.2%) in a mean follow-up of 10.6±2.5 years. Distribution of MD was: no-MD: n. 425 (54.9%); MD1: 250 (32.3%); MD2: 75 (9.7%); MD3: 24 (3.1%). Distribution was unchanged after esclusion of 41 T1D (5.3%) with previous CV events (CV+; 57.0%, 32.2%, 8.5% and 2.3%, respectively). Compared to no-MD, MD1-3 groups showed an adverse CV risk profile with steeply increase in age, DD, BMI, WHR, BP, HbA1c, uric acid and EURODIAB PCS risk score for major vascular outcomes (p Disclosure M. Garofolo: None. R. Giannarelli: None. M. Aragona: None. D. Lucchesi: None. L. Giusti: None. V. Sancho-Bornez: None. G. Daniele: None. R. Miccoli: None. G. Penno: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Servier, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Research Support; Self; Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Advisory Panel; Self; Janssen Biotech, Inc., Abbott.

Background and Aim: Obesity adversely affects brain function, but the effect of bariatric surgery on cognitive function is still poorly evaluated. We assessed metabolic parameters and cognitive function in obese patients before and after bariatric surgery (RYGB). Methods: A 75g OGTT was performed in 10 nondiabetic obese patients (BMI 46.0±5.4 kg/m2; age 43.6±10.5 years; HbA1c 43.3±4.6 mmol/mol) before and 6-months after RYGB for measurements of metabolic parameters. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were administered; neuronal plasticity (NP) of the visual cortex was measured as change in ocular dominance after 120 min monocular deprivation. No subject with drugs or alcohol abuse, psychiatric illness, head injury, brain tumor, dementia, epilepsy, learning disorder, developmental disability, and impaired sensory function were included. Results: At baseline median MMSE score was 28.5 (range 25-30) and median MoCA score 26.5 (range 21-30), indicating early cognitive abnormalities (MoCA Conclusion: Morbid obese subjects have subclinical cognitive impairments and brain plasticity alterations that significantly improve after RYGB. While no correlation was found between metabolic and hormonal changes, NP was positively associated with MoCA score. Disclosure A. Dardano: None. G. Daniele: None. C. Lunghi: None. A. Ciccarone: None. F. Santini: None. G. Ceccarini: None. C. Moretto: None. G. Penno: None. R. Miccoli: None. M. Morrone: None. S. Del Prato: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Servier, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Research Support; Self; Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.. Advisory Panel; Self; Janssen Biotech, Inc., Abbott.

L’ipoglicemia iperinsulinemica (HH) è una rara condizione caratterizzata da inappropriata secrezione di insulina rispetto ai valori di glicemia. In condizioni fisiologiche, le cellule beta secernono insulina per mantenere la glicemia nel range di 3,3-5,6 mmol/l (1). Nell’ipoglicemia iper-insulinemica, la fine regolazione della secrezione di insulina è perturbata e l’insulina continua a essere secreta in presenza di ipoglicemia (2). L’HH può riconoscere cause genetiche (congenite) o non genetiche. Tra le prime, sono stati descritti difetti in diversi geni tra cui ABCC8, KCN11, GCK, SCHAD, GLUD1, SLC16A1, HNF1A, HNF4A e UCP2. In questo case report, verrà descritto un raro e insolito caso di ipoglicemia iperinsulinemica in età adulta dovuto a nesidioblastosi e insulinoma.

Background High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) can exert anti-atherogenic effects. On top of removing excess cholesterol through reverse cholesterol transport, HDLs play beneficial actions on endothelial function and integrity. In particular, HDLs are strong determinant of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) number and function. To gain further insights into such an effect we characterized in vitro functionality of circulating “early” EPCs obtained from 60 type 2 diabetes individuals with low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and 59 with high HDL-C levels. Methods After an overnight fast, venous blood was drawn in EDTA tubes and processed within 2-h from sampling. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and plated on fibronectin coated culture dishes; after 3 days culture, adherent cells positive for Dil-ac-LDL/Lectin dual fluorescent staining were identified as monocytic angiogenic cells (MACs). After 5–7 days culture in EBM-2 medium, adherent cells were evaluated for viability/proliferation (MTT assay), senescence (beta-galactosidase activity detection), migration (modified Boyden chamber using VEGF as chemoattractant), adhesion capacity (on fibronectin-coated culture dishes) and ROS production (ROS-sensitive fluorescent probe CM-H2DCFDA). Results MACs obtained from diabetic individuals with high HDL-C had 23% higher viability compared to low HDL-C (111.6 ± 32.7% vs. 90.5 ± 28.6% optical density; p = 0.002). H2O2 exposure impaired MACs viability to a similar extent in both groups (109.2 ± 31.7% vs. 74.5 ± 40.8% in high HDL-C, p

The mechanisms responsible for contribution of variants in the gene TFC7L2 to the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains far from being completely understood, and available studies have generated nonunivocal results.We investigated the postprandial glucose metabolism in subjects at risk for T2DM carrying the TCF7L2 risk allele.Twenty-three subjects carrying the risk-conferring TCF7L2 genotypes (11 TT and 12 CT at rs7901346) and 13 subjects with wild-type genotype (CC) underwent a standard mixed-meal test (MMT) in combination with stable isotope tracers.We evaluated endogenous and exogenous glucose fluxes and hormonal responses.Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, endogenous glucose production, and plasma glucose clearance were similar in the three groups, whereas plasma glucagon levels were lower in both CT and TT than in CC (64 ± 20, 63 ± 18 and 90 ± 29 pg/mL, respectively; both P = .01). In response to the MMT, TT subjects had lower plasma glucose levels than CC subjects [mean area under the time-concentration curve (AUC) 6.1 ± 3.9 vs 7.1 ± 12.0 mmol/L, P = .04] and lower insulin secretion rate (mean AUC 385 ± 95 vs 530 ± 159 pmol/m(2) · min, P = .02). Initial (0-60 min) rate of appearance (Ra) of oral glucose was lower in TT compared with CT/CC (AUC 2.7 ± 1.1 vs 3.8 ± 1.2 μmol/kg · min, P = .02) with no difference among the three groups in endogenous glucose production. The AUC0-60min for Ra of exogenous glucose (Raex) was positively correlated with the plasma glucose AUC0-60min. Total Raex AUC0-120min was correlated with total AUC0-120min of plasma glucose (r = 0.45, P.01). Plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide levels in response to the MMT were not affected by genotype.In subjects at risk for T2DM, the TCF7L2 polymorphisms were associated with reduced Raex into systemic circulation, causing reduced postprandial blood glucose increase and, in turn, lower insulin secretion rate with no impairment in β-cell function. The reduced Raex is likely due to greater glucose retention in the splanchnic area.

Background Hypoglycaemia is a major burden of the pharmacological therapy of diabetes and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and treatment costs. Methods We screened all admissions to the emergency room of the Pisa University Hospital from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013, selecting individuals with a discharge diagnosis of hypoglycaemia. We retrieved 500 admissions involving adult diabetic patients: age 71 ± 16 years; M/F 50.2/49.8%; 70.2% type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Results Among T2DM, 42.2% were on insulin, 10.8% on insulin plus oral anti-diabetes drugs and 38.2% on oral anti-diabetes drugs alone (92% sulphonylureas/glinides ± insulin-sensitizers). Glibenclamide was the most frequently used sulphonylurea (69%). Individuals treated with oral anti-diabetes drugs were older than those on insulin (79 ± 11 versus 74 ± 12 years; p

Background and aims: In the present population-based study, we aimed to describe the per patient annual healthcare cost of people with diabetes in 2007-2012, to assess the relative burden of diabetes complications and other potential determinants on healthcare costs in the 2012 cohort, and to describe and analyse the determinants of the cost of incident cases diagnosed in 2012. Methods and results: We analysed data from a retrospective cohort of residents in four Italian areas that were served by Local Health Units participating in the ARNO Observatory. Per patient annual healthcare costs (Euros) were estimated as the sum of all the resources supplied during that year (drugs, outpatient care, and hospitalisations). The mean per patient annual healthcare cost increased from €2752 in 2007 to €3191 in 2010, before decreasing to €2791 in 2012. The largest component of these costs was represented by hospitalisations (around €1550, on average; 51.7% of total cost), followed by outpatient care (€422; 14.6%) and drugs (€973; 33.7%). In 2012, the most relevant cost determinants were chronic diabetes complications, with an additional cost due to nephropathy/end stage renal disease (€4683), amputations (€5042), lower extremity revascularization (€4808), and cerebrovascular diseases (€3861). Costs associated with incidence cases were higher than those associated with prevalent. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence on the excess of healthcare costs due to diabetes complications in both prevalent and incident cases.

Despite the considerable burden of disease associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), most patients are not at, or are unable to achieve, recommended glycemic targets. This is partly because of the relentless progressive nature of the disease, but it may also be attributable to the current diabetes treatment paradigm. The recommended stepwise approach may lead to frequent early treatment failure with prolonged periods of elevated glucose as a consequence of clinical inertia and delays in achieving optimal glycemic control. Thus, it is most appropriate to consider the current treatment paradigm for T2DM in the context of a more aggressive initial therapy with early combination therapy. Current guidelines advise that initial combination therapy should be used for patients presenting with elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). However, several studies and recent meta-analyses suggest a potential benefit from initial combination therapy on glycemic outcomes in diabetes compared with metformin monotherapy across a wide range of baseline HbA1c levels. Indeed, combination therapy can increase the number of patients achieving glycemic goals, and the newer glucose-lowering agents may reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and body weight gain. Moreover, our improving understanding of the complex pathophysiology of T2DM and the availability of treatments tackling specific mechanisms contributing to hyperglycemia should lead to more pathophysiologically sound combination therapy. We discuss the rationale behind and evidence for early combination therapy as well as what is needed in the future to better understand its potential.

Exercise has been proved to be safe during pregnancy and to offer benefits for both mother and fetus; moreover, physical activity may represent a useful tool for gestational diabetes prevention and treatment. Therefore, all women in uncomplicated pregnancy should be encouraged to engage in physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. However, exercise in pregnancy needs a careful medical evaluation to exclude medical or obstetric contraindications to exercise, and an appropriate prescription considering frequency, intensity, type and duration of exercise, to carefully balance between potential benefits and potential harmful effects. Moreover, some precautions related to anatomical and functional adaptations observed during pregnancy should be taken into consideration. This review summarized the suggested recommendations for physical activity among pregnant women with focus on gestational diabetes.

Background and aims An intra-islet incretin system has been recently suggested to operate through modulation of the expression and activity of proconvertase 1/3 and 2 (PC1/3, PC2) in pancreatic alpha-cell accounting for local release of GLP-1. Little is known, whether this alpha-cell activity can be affected by the metabolic alterations occurring in type 2 diabetes, such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia or hyperglucagonemia. Materials and methods AlphaTC1/6 cells from a mice pancreatic cell line were incubated in the presence of two glucose (G) concentration (5.5 and 16.7 mM) for 16 h with or without free fatty acid, IL6 or glucagon. GLP-1 secretion was measured by ELISA and expression of PC1/3 and PC2 by RT-PCR and western blot; cell viability was determined by MTT method, Reactive Oxygen Species generation (ROS) by H2DCFDA fluorescence and apoptosis by Annexin staining and Propidium Iodine (PI) fluorescence. Results Upon 16.7G incubation, GLP-1 secretion (total and active) was significantly increased in parallel with a significant increment in PC1/3 expression, a slight increase in cell viability and ROS generation and by a decrement in PC2 expression with no change in cell apoptosis. When cells were incubated at 5.5mM glucose with FFA, also an increment in GLP-1 secretion and PC1/3 expression was observed together an increment in ROS generation, a decrement in cell viability, and a modest increment in apoptosis. When incubated with 16.7mM glucose with FFA, the increment in GLP-1 secretion was reduced to basal, accompanied by an increment in apoptosis and ROS generation. This was also observed with IL-6, but in this case, no modification in ROS generation or apoptosis was observed when compared to 16.7mM glucose. The presence of glucagon did not modify any of the parameters studied. Conclusion These data suggest that under hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemia or inflammatory conditions, alpha cells can increase expression PC1/3 and activate GLP-1 secretion, which may contribute protecting both alpha and beta-cells from glucose and lipotoxicity, while this effect seems to be lost in the presence of both pathophysiological conditions.

Aims: To assess whereas prevalence, treatment and direct costs of drug-treated dia-betes were similar in migrants and in people of Italian citizenship under the universalistic Italian health care system. Methods and results: Drug-treated diabetic individuals were identified in the population-based multiregional ARNO Observatory on the basis of 2010 prescriptions. Migrants were identified by the country-of-birth code on the fiscal identification code. Diabetes prevalence was calculated for Italians (n Z 7,328,383) and migrants (n Z 527,965). To assess the odds of migrants of having diabetes compared to Italians, we individually matched all migrants to Italians for major con-founders (age, sex and place of residence). Finally, all migrants with diabetes were individually matched for confounders to Italians with diabetes to compare prescriptions, hospitalization rates, services use and direct costs for the National Health System. We identified 368,797 sub-jects with diabetes among Italians and 10,336 among migrants, giving prevalence of 5.03% and 1.96%, respectively. Migrants with diabetes were younger than Italians (52 13 years vs. 68 14 years, P < 0.001); after matching, their risk of disease was higher (odds ratio, 1.55, 95% confidence interval, 1.50e1.60). The total cost was 27% lower in migrants, due to lower cost of drugs (29%), hospital admission (27%) and health services (22%). The number of packages/treated person-year of all glucose-lowering drugs was also lower in migrants (15%) (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared to subjects of Italian ancestry, migrants to Italy show a higher risk of diabetes but less intense treatment. Inequalities in health care use are likely and are maintained also in a universalistic system.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an intensive, multifactorial cardiovascular risk reduction intervention in a clinic-based setting. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study was a pragmatic, cluster randomized trial, with the diabetes clinic as the unit of randomization. Clinics were randomly assigned to either continue their usual care (n = 5) or to apply an intensive intervention aimed at the optimal control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and hyperglycemia (n = 4). To account for clustering, mixed model regression techniques were used to compare differences in CVD risk factors and HbA1c. Analyses were performed both by intent to treat and as treated per protocol. RESULTS Nine clinics completed the study; 1,461 patients with type 2 diabetes and no previous cardiovascular events were enrolled. After 2 years, participants in the interventional group had significantly lower BMI, HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and significantly higher HDL cholesterol level than did the usual care group. The proportion of patients reaching the treatment goals was systematically higher in the interventional clinics (35% vs. 24% for LDL cholesterol, P = 0.1299; 93% vs. 82% for HDL cholesterol, P = 0.0005; 80% vs. 64% for triglycerides, P = 0.0002; 39% vs. 22% for HbA1c, P = 0.0259; 13% vs. 5% for blood pressure, P = 0.1638). The analysis as treated per protocol confirmed these findings, showing larger and always significant differences between the study arms for all targets. CONCLUSIONS A multifactorial intensive intervention in type 2 diabetes is feasible and effective in clinical practice and it is associated with significant and durable improvement in HbA1c and CVD risk profile.

The study explores the degree of control of hyperglycaemia and cardiovascular (CV) disease risk factors in men and women with type 2 diabetes and the impact thereon of obesity, central adiposity, age and use of medications.A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 10 hospital-based outpatients diabetes clinics. 1297 men and 1168 women with no previous CV events were studied. Women were slightly (only one year) older and more obese than men: average BMI was respectively 30.7 ± 5.7 vs 28.6 ± 4.1 kg/m(2) (p0.001), and prevalence of abdominal obesity was 86% vs 44% (p0.001). Women smoked less, but had higher HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and serum fibrinogen than men. Accordingly optimal targets for HbA1c (7%), LDL cholesterol (100 mg/dL), HDL cholesterol (40 for men,50 for women, mg/dL), and systolic blood pressure (130 mmHg) were less frequently achieved by women than men (respectively 33.8% vs 40.2%; 14.6% vs 19.2%; 34.1% vs 44.5%; 68.8% vs 72%; p0.05 for all). Findings were confirmed after stratification for waist circumference (or ≥ 88 cm for women;or ≥ 102 cm for men), BMI (or ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) or age (or ≥ 65 years). As for treatment, women were more likely than men to take insulin, alone or in combination with oral hypoglycaemic drugs, to be under anti-hypertensive treatment, whereas the use of lipid lowering drugs was similar in men and women.Control of hyperglycaemia and major CVD risk factors is less satisfactory in women than men. The gender disparities are not fully explained by the higher prevalence of total and central obesity in women; or by a less intensive medical management in women.

The paper presents a post-hoc analysis of the intensity of dyslipidaemia care operated in the first 2 years of Multiple-Intervention-in-type-2-Diabetes.ITaly (MIND.IT) study.MIND.IT is a multicentric, randomized, two-parallel arm trial involving 1461 type 2 diabetic patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. The study compares the usual care (UC) of CV prevention with a multifactorial intensive care (IC) approach aiming at achieving target values for the main CV risk factors according to a step-wise treat-to-target approach.Proportion of patients on target for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was about 10% at baseline and increased significantly more with IC than UC (43 vs. 27%; p 0.001). However, the majority (57%) of patients, in this intended intensively treated cohort, failed to achieve the proposed target. Average LDL-C decreased from 144 ± 35 to 108 ± 31 mg/dl with IC and from 142 ± 28 to 118 ± 32 with UC (p-for-interaction0.0001). IC was associated with a significantly greater increase in statin prescription and lower withdrawal from treatment than UC (43 vs. 11% and 28 vs. 61%, respectively; both p 0.001). However, the new treatments were characterized in both groups by the use of low starting doses (≤ 10 mg of atorvastatin, equivalent dose in more than 90% of patients) without increase in case of missed target.The application of a multifactorial treat-to-target intervention is associated with a significant improvement in LDL-C beyond usual practice. However, the change in LDL-C appears to be more related to an increased number of treated patients and a decreased treatment withdrawal than to a true treat-to-target approach.

OBJECTIVE To ascertain to which extent the use of HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diagnosis of glucose tolerance could identify individuals with different pathogenetic mechanisms and cardiovascular risk profile. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 844 subjects (44% men; age 49.5 ± 11 years; BMI 29 ± 5 kg/m2) participated in this study. Parameters of β-cell function were derived from deconvolution of the plasma C-peptide concentration after a 75-g OGTT and insulin sensitivity assessed by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (IR). Cardiovascular risk profile was based on determination of plasma lipids and measurements of body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Glucose regulation categories by OGTT and HbA1c were compared with respect to insulin action, insulin secretion, and cardiovascular risk profile. RESULTS OGTT results showed 42% of the subjects had prediabetes and 15% had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), whereas the corresponding figures based on HbA1c were 38 and 11%, with a respective concordance rate of 54 and 44%. Subjects meeting both diagnostic criteria for prediabetes presented greater IR and impairment of insulin secretion and had a worse cardiovascular risk profile than those with normal glucose tolerance at both diagnostic methods. In a logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and BMI, prediabetic subjects, and even more T2DM subjects by OGTT, had greater chance to have IR and impaired insulin secretion. CONCLUSIONS HbA1c identifies a smaller proportion of prediabetic individuals and even a smaller proportion of T2DM individuals than OGTT, with no difference in IR, insulin secretion, and cardiovascular risk profile. Subjects fulfilling both diagnostic methods for prediabetes or T2DM are characterized by a worse metabolic profile.

To assess temporal trend in incidence (2003-12) and prevalence (2002-12) of type 1 diabetes in children and young adults, direct costs and selected indicators of quality of care under the coverage of the universalistic Italian National Health System (NHS).The ARNO Observatory, a healthcare monitoring system based on administrative data, identified a population-based multiregional cohort of subjects aged 0-29 years. Type 1 diabetes was defined by at least two prescriptions of insulin over 12 months and continuous insulin-treatment in the following year. Indicators of quality of care and directs costs were assessed in persons with diabetes and in people without diabetes, individually matched for age, gender and health unit (1:4 ratio). We identified 2357 incident cases of type 1 diabetes aged 0-29 years (completeness of ascertainment, 99%). Incidence rates were similar in ages 0-14 (15.8, 95% CI 14.9-16.8) and 15-29 years (16.3, 15.4-17.2), with no significant trend. Prevalence increased from 137 to 166.9/100,000, particularly in the age 15-29 years. Direct costs accounted for € 2117 in persons with diabetes and € 292 in control individuals. A statistically significant decreasing trend in hospitalization for acute complications was evident (p 0.001), which was almost completely due to ketoacidosis. People with at least one HbA1c measurement over the year were 48.5%.We showed high incidence and increasing prevalence of type 1 diabetes in young adults in Italy, which impact on direct costs under the universalistic coverage of the NHS.