all things to do with diabetes obesity and metabolism
The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that intensive glucose lowering in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) reduce the risk of long term diabetes complications (1). Similar results were demonstrated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS). But intensive glucose control involves finger pricks at least 4-8 times a day and is not sustainable in the medium to long term in most patients.…
By now, you have heard that the continuous glucose monitoring “button” (Freestyle Libre) has finally been put on the NDSS. It was in the news and current affairs a few weeks ago with an interview of some politician to get their 5 minute of fame. You may even have a few patients come in asking for details. Of course, when you delve into the announcement a bit, you realise that it was a re hatching of some old news.…
29th January 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
If you have someone in the family with type 2 diabetes (T2D), then your risk of developing diabetes significantly increases. How much is “significant” though? Is it 2 times, 3 times or is it 10 times? Does it matter how many members in the family have diabetes? Is paternal diabetes important too? Do we know the numbers?…
29th January 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
The major difference between the 2018 American Diabetes Association/ European Association for the Study of Diabetes (ADA/EASD) consensus guidelines compared to previous guidelines were that they were less glucose centric in determining which agent to use after metformin. We used to use the most potent agent to get the sugars to target but increasingly, we are now looking at what other benefits the next agent has in addition to lowering glucose.…
5th January 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
Athletes and highly active people are not immune to coronary artery disease. There are some studies which suggest that despite the high levels of physical activity, these individuals have a higher prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) compared with controls with low atherosclerotic risks (1,2). Is this increased level of CAC associated with increased mortality?…
4th January 2020, Dr Chee L Khoo
Anecdotal evidence suggests that having a pet reduces cardiovascular mortality. Does it? You can imagine that trying to conduct a randomised control trial can be difficult. One has to consider the pre-existing risks profile of the pet owner, physical activity pre and post pet ownership, marital status of the owner and whether pet ownership benefits men or women more.…
12th December 2019, Dr Chee L Khoo
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and heart failure (HF) are common diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. Two out of three patients with T2D have evidence of ventricular dysfunction within 5 years of diabetes diagnosis (1). Data from both observational studies and clinical trial cohorts suggest that the development of HF in patients with T2DM is associated with anywhere from a 4- to 10-fold increase in mortality risk (2,3).…
12th December 2019, Dr Chee L Khoo
EMPA-REG, CANVAS, DECLARE-TIMI 58 and VERTIS-CV are cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) originally designed to demonstrate non-inferiority of SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). These clinical trials involving a total of > 36,000 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) followed for 2–5 years. Patients treated with a SGLT2 inhibitor experienced a 25–35% lower risk of hospitalisation for heart failure (HHF).…
24th November 2019, Dr Chee L Khoo
It’s not often that we report on trials with negative results but this trial attracted my attention because of many issues it raised when the top-line results were announced in the Journal of American Medical Association a fortnight ago. The conclusion states “supplementation with vitamin D3 or omega-3 fatty acids, compared with placebo, resulted in no significant difference in change in eGFR at 5 years.…
14th November 2019, Dr Chee L Khoo
Oral therapy for T2D – navigating the PBS maze
During our recent GP Diabetes Injectable Masterclass Workshop, I noted that there was a lot of uncertainty and confusion in relation to what oral agents can be combined under the PBS. This uncertainty and confusion can only lead to hesitation to escalate treatment in patients whose glycaemic control is suboptimal.…
13th November 2019, Drs Chee Khoo & Sobhy Khalil
We have a contribution from our GP colleague this week. Dr Sobhy Hakeem KHALIL who thoroughly studied the ADA/EASD Management of Hyperglycaemia In Type 2 Diabetes, 2018 Consensus Report and provided his take on the guidelines. I have added my comments to his take (in blue):
27th October 2019. Dr Chee L Khoo
In medicine, newer is usually better although sometimes, we can be sceptical whether “newer” means a sneaky way to extend patents. The newer, second generation insulins, Toujeo® (insulin glargine U300 or GLA-300) and Degludec® are truly better insulins. Diabetes Therapy recently published a practical guide to the use of these second generation insulins (1).…