One-third of patients with T2D have diabetes complications around time of diagnosis

A new study, published in Journal of Diabetes and its Complications (November 2017) by Danish Diabetes Academy PhD student Anne Gedebjerg, shows that one-third of newly or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients had diabetes complications around time of diagnosis. Of concern, this suggests that many patients have their T2D diagnosed on the basis of already having developed diabetes complications. 

PREVALENCE DATA

Among the 6958 patients with newly diagnosed T2D, 35% had diabetes complications around time of diagnosis. Of these patients, 12% had microvascular complications only, 17% had macrovascular complications only, and 6% had both micro- and macrovascular complications. 

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH MICRO- AND MACROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

Poor glucose control was associated with micro- but not macrovascular complications and high C-peptide (indirect measure of insulin resistance) was associated with macro- but not microvascular complications. Macrovascular complications were associated with male sex, age >50 years, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, smoking, elevated CRP levels, and anti-hypertensive therapy. Microvascular complications were associated with high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, and absence of lipid-lowering therapy. 

Our findings suggest different pathophysiological mechanisms behind micro- and macrovascular complications. 

AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS

Gedebjerg A^a,b, Almdal TP^c, Berencsi K^a, Rungby J^d, Nielsen JS^e, Witte DR^b,f, Friborg S^e, Brandslund I^g, Vaag A^h, Beck-Nielsen H^e, Sørensen HT^a, Thomsen RW^a 

^aDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
^bDanish Diabetes Academy, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
^cDepartment of Endocrinology PE, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
 ^dDepartment of Endocrinology IC, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
^eDiabetes Research Centre, Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
^fDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
^gDepartment of Biochemistry, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark
^hAstraZenaca, Mölndal, Sweden 

Source: Journal of Diabetes and its Complications