Masqueraders: how to identify atypical diabetes in primary care

Diabetes mellitus is a complex set of conditions that impacts 34 million Americans. While type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes are most frequently encountered, there are many other types of diabetes with which healthcare providers are less familiar. These atypical forms of diabetes make up nearly 10% of diabetes cases and can masquerade as type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM or T2DM), and the treatment may not be optimized if the diagnosis is not accurate. Atypical forms include monogenic diabetes (formally known as maturity-onset diabetes of the young [MODY]), latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult (LADA), ketosis-prone diabetes, and secondary diabetes. This paper will detail the defining characteristics of each atypical form and demonstrate how they can masquerade as type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus. Gestational diabetes mellitus will not be discussed in this article.

Cesium in Biology, Pancreatic Cancer, and Controversy in High and Low Radiation Exposure Damage—Scientific, Environmental, Geopolitical, and Economic Aspects

Radionuclide contamination in terrestrial ecosystems has reached a dangerous level. The major artificial radionuclide present in the environment is cesium-137 (137-Cs). In humans, animals, and plants cesium ion (Cs+) behaves like potassium ion (K+) and it is localized mainly inside the cells. Pancreas and salivary glands secrete Cs in the intestine thus eliminating about 14% of ingested Cs with the feces, the remaining 86% is eliminated by the kidney with the urine. Ingested radiocesium can also cause in humans several cases of pancreatitis with secondary diabetes (type 3c), which are both on the rise in the world. The Author studied the correlation between the geographical map of mortality from pancreatic cancer (PC) and the map of nuclear plant accidents, atomic bomb testing, and radioactive fallout. The worldwide death rate of PC is increasing, but the exact cause is still not known. Published data in medical literature at World, European and Italian levels are reviewed and compared. 137-Cs, with a half-life of about 30 years, is still present in the environment for about 300–600 years. Autoradiographic studies in mice have shown that 137-Cs is concentrated in greater quantity in the pancreas, particularly in exocrine cells, where most malignant PCs originate. Some methods of radiocesium removal and PC prevention are also suggested. But there is still a persistent, and not entirely disinterested, the controversy between damage from high and low exposure to ionizing radiations.

Glucose-Lowering Therapy in Patients With Postpancreatitis Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

<p><i>Objective</i>: Postpancreatitis diabetes mellitus (PPDM) is a type of secondary diabetes that requires special considerations for management. The main objective was to examine prescription patterns of glucose-lowering therapy among adults with PPDM compared to type 1 and type 2 diabetes.</p> <p><i>Research Design and Methods:</i> In a Danish nation-wide population-based cohort study we identified all individuals with adult-onset diabetes mellitus in the period 2000-2018 and categorized them as type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or PPDM. We ascertained diabetes incidence rates, clinical and demographic characteristics, classifications and prescription patterns of glucose-lowering therapy and compared these parameters across diabetes subgroups. </p> <p><i>Results</i><i>:</i> Among 398,456 adults with new-onset diabetes mellitus, 5,879 (1.5%) had PPDM, 9,252 (2.3%) type 1 diabetes and the remaining type 2 diabetes (96.2%). The incidence rate of PPDM was 7.9 (95% CI 7.7-8.1) per 100,000 person-years vs. 12.5 (95% CI 12.2-12.7) for type 1 diabetes (incidence-rate-ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.6-0.7, p<0.001). A sizeable proportion of PPDM patients were classified as type 2 diabetes (44.9%) and were prescribed sulfonylureas (25.2%) and incretin-based therapies (18.0%) that can potentially be harmful in PPDM. In contrast, 35.0% of patients never received biguanides, which are associated with a survival benefit in PPDM. Increased insulin requirements were observed for patients with PPDM compared to type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio 3.10; 95% CI 2.96-3.23, p<0.001) in particular for PPDM associated with chronic pancreatitis (hazard ratio 4.30; 95% CI 4.01-4.56, p<0.001).</p> <p><i>Conclusions</i><i>:</i> PPDM is a common type of secondary diabetes in adults but is often misclassified and treated as type 2 diabetes, although PPDM requires special considerations for management.</p>

Glucose-Lowering Therapy in Patients With Postpancreatitis Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

<p><i>Objective</i>: Postpancreatitis diabetes mellitus (PPDM) is a type of secondary diabetes that requires special considerations for management. The main objective was to examine prescription patterns of glucose-lowering therapy among adults with PPDM compared to type 1 and type 2 diabetes.</p> <p><i>Research Design and Methods:</i> In a Danish nation-wide population-based cohort study we identified all individuals with adult-onset diabetes mellitus in the period 2000-2018 and categorized them as type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or PPDM. We ascertained diabetes incidence rates, clinical and demographic characteristics, classifications and prescription patterns of glucose-lowering therapy and compared these parameters across diabetes subgroups. </p> <p><i>Results</i><i>:</i> Among 398,456 adults with new-onset diabetes mellitus, 5,879 (1.5%) had PPDM, 9,252 (2.3%) type 1 diabetes and the remaining type 2 diabetes (96.2%). The incidence rate of PPDM was 7.9 (95% CI 7.7-8.1) per 100,000 person-years vs. 12.5 (95% CI 12.2-12.7) for type 1 diabetes (incidence-rate-ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.6-0.7, p<0.001). A sizeable proportion of PPDM patients were classified as type 2 diabetes (44.9%) and were prescribed sulfonylureas (25.2%) and incretin-based therapies (18.0%) that can potentially be harmful in PPDM. In contrast, 35.0% of patients never received biguanides, which are associated with a survival benefit in PPDM. Increased insulin requirements were observed for patients with PPDM compared to type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio 3.10; 95% CI 2.96-3.23, p<0.001) in particular for PPDM associated with chronic pancreatitis (hazard ratio 4.30; 95% CI 4.01-4.56, p<0.001).</p> <p><i>Conclusions</i><i>:</i> PPDM is a common type of secondary diabetes in adults but is often misclassified and treated as type 2 diabetes, although PPDM requires special considerations for management.</p>

Severe Cardiac and Metabolic Pathology Induced by Steroid Abuse in a Young Individual

Androgenic-Anabolic Steroids (AAS) abuse is known to play an important role in causing the systemic inflammatory response and multiple-organ dysfunction in healthy individuals. Although many of the undesirable effects of steroid abuse have been reported, at present, little is known about the effect of anabolic supplements and the correlation between cardiac and metabolic pathology. This paper presents a case of a 25 year old patient with a complex medical history after 6 months of steroid administration. Myocardial infraction, dyslipidemia, obesity, hyperuricemia, secondary diabetes, and chronic renal disease were identified after clinical and para-clinical examinations. The particularities of this case were interpreted in the context of a literature review, highlighting the effect of multi-organ damage as a result of the uncontrolled use of anabolic steroid supplements.

Association of Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy and Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy with All-Cause Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background. People with diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) have increased cardiovascular mortality. However, the association between distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) or CAN with all-cause mortality is much less investigated. Thus, we set out to examine the effect of CAN and DSPN on all-cause mortality in a well-phenotyped cohort. Methods. All diabetes cases ( n = 1,347 ) from the catchment area of a secondary diabetes care centre who had medical examination including neuropathy assessment between 1997 and 2016 were followed up for all-cause mortality in the NHS Hungary reimbursement database until 2018. We investigated the association of CAN (Ewing tests) and DSPN (Neurometer) with all-cause mortality using Cox models stratified by diabetes type. Results. Altogether, n = 131 / 1,011 persons with type 1/type 2 diabetes were included. Of the participants, 53%/43% were male, mean age was 46 ± 12 / 64 ± 10 years, diabetes duration was 13 ± 10 / 7 ± 8 years, 42%/29% had CAN, and 39%/37% had DSPN. During the 9 ± 5 / 8 ± 5 -year follow-up, n = 28 / 494 participants died. In fully adjusted models, participants with type 1 diabetes patients with versus without DSPN had an increased mortality (HR 2.99, 95% CI 1.4-8.63), while no association with CAN was observed. In type 2 diabetes, both DSPN and CAN independently increased mortality (HR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.07-1.64, and HR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.17-1.76). Conclusions. Our results are compatible with an increased risk of mortality in people with type 1 diabetes and DSPN. Furthermore, we report a similarly strong association between DSPN and CAN and all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Incidence of Hyperglycemia/Secondary Diabetes in Women who have Undergone Curative Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: First Study from India

Purpose Development of cancer chemotherapy treatment-induced hyperglycemia/ diabetes (secondary diabetes) is a major problem and has never been reported from India. The present study was planned to ascertain this in women undergoing curative chemotherapy for their breast cancer. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective chart-based study and was conducted in a cancer specialty hospital. The information on women who were nondiabetic at the start of the treatment was collected from the files. Details on cancer diagnosis, domicile, body mass index (BMI), type of diet, marital status, number of children, and previous history of diabetes if any were considered. The blood glucose levels before surgery and after the completion of radiotherapy were considered. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for diabetes were considered. The data were subjected to frequency and percentage and analyzed using Chi-square test. Association between the demographic details and development of Hyperglycemia or secondary diabetes or prediabetes was done using the Pearson’s correlation analysis. p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results A total of 474 cases were included in accordance with the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that by the end of the radiation treatment, 24.89% were prediabetic, 10.97% were diabetic after being in prediabetic stage, 8.22% became diabetic without going through a prediabetic stage, and that 55.91% did not develop either prediabetic or diabetic condition. Analysis of development of secondary diabetes and prediabetes with BMI (p < 0.0001) and age (p < 0.024) showed a strong correlation and was significant. Conclusion To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study from India, and the results indicate that the development of secondary diabetes in women undergoing curative chemotherapy is high. Attempts are underway to ascertain the cause for the development and how it can be mitigated.