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BACKGROUND: Information is lacking on the effects of hormone replacement therapy in women with diabetes, especially during moderate chronic hyperglycemia. OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of HRT on the lipid profile and the low density lipoprotein subclass distribution in women with type 2 diabetes under satisfactory and non-satisfactory glycemic control. METHODS: Fifty-four postmenopausal women after a 6 week run-in diet were randomized to receive either placebo (HbA1c < 8%, n = 13; HbA1c > 8%, n = 17) or HRT (HbA1c < 8%, n = 11; HbA1c > 8%, n = 13) for 12 weeks. HRT consisted of cyclical conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg/day plus medrogestone 5 mg/day. At the beginning and at the end of each treatment period the LDL subclass distribution was estimated by density gradient ultracentrifugation. RESULTS: At the baseline and during the study, the HbA1c level was significantly higher in hyperglycemic patients than in the near-normoglycemic controls (baseline 10.2 +/- 2.9 vs. 6.5 +/- 0.7%, P < 0.01). They showed a trend for higher total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared to near-normoglycemic controls, as well as significantly higher triglyceride concentrations in very low density lipoprotein, intermediate density lipoprotein and LDL-1 particles and cholesterol content in LDL-1 and -2 particles. HRT decreased LDL-cholesterol in both groups. In the normoglycemic patients a small increase in HbA1c was observed (6.5 +/- 0.7 vs. 7.4 +/- 1%, P = 0.04). In all cases, HRT did not modify the proportion of LDL represented by denser LDLs. CONCLUSIONS: HRT did not modify the LDL subclass distribution, even in the presence of moderate chronic hyperglycemia in women with type 2 diabetes.

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BACKGROUND: HbA1c is considered the gold standard of long-term glycemic control and is recommended as a routine test for every diabetic patient. However, its common use in clinical practice has some problems related to lack of standardization and its relative cost. Recent studies have suggested, that postprandial blood glucose could be better than a fasting sample, as a marker of diabetes control. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relative value of plasma glucose samples at different times of the day, and easy and accessible programs for home blood and urinary glucose measurements compared with HbA1c in assessing the mean glycemic control of type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Sixty type 2 diabetic patients were instructed to do home blood and urine glucose monitoring for two months, at the end, plasma glucose profiles were obtained. RESULTS: The mean of all the capillary BG measurements had the best correlation with the HbA1c (r = 0.84, p < 0.001), followed by the mean of the capillary BG measurements before breakfast and supper (r = 0.82, p < 0.001), and the 2 hr. postbreakfast plasma glucose (r = 0.79 p < 0.001). The fasting PG had a low correlation (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), but a good sensitivity to predict a fair or a poor metabolic control. Diabetes duration and type of treatment explained 17% and 28% of variance in HbA1c levels. CONCLUSIONS: A bimonthly fasting PG correlated well with the glycosylated hemoglobin and is the easiest and cheapest way of monitoring glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients with some preserved insulin reserve (diabetes for less than 10 years and on treatment with only one hypoglycemic agent). A sample of capillary BG, fasting, once per week correlates better with the HbA1c than a fasting PG every 2-3 months. The 2 hr and 5 hr postbreakfast PG have a good correlation with the HbA1c, but are not a substitute for doing BG monitoring. Glycosuria may be a useful parameter to rule out a fair or poor metabolic control in some patients.

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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the level of diabetes knowledge in a representative group of Mexican individuals with diabetes and to identify the factors that influence it. METHODS: A validated questionnaire was administered to 570 outpatients; 11.2% had Type 1 diabetes, 36.4% had Type 2 diabetes treated with insulin, and 52.2% had Type 2 diabetes treated with oral agents. Samples for HbA1c determination also were obtained. RESULTS: The percentage of correct answers in each section of the questionnaire was low. Type 1 patients had the highest scores, followed by the insulin-treated Type 2 patients; those with chronic complications also had high scores. Educational background, attendance at diabetes courses, age, and HbA1c concentration were the main predictors of knowledge. Attendance at courses was influenced by the severity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of patient knowledge about diabetes-related issues was low in this representative Mexican population. The educational efforts were focused on those with the worst metabolic control and/or with diabetes complications.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of acarbose in the treatment of secondary failures to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy, its comparison against bedtime NPH insulin, and to measure the changes in postprandial metabolism resulting from both treatments. METHODS: One hundred type 2 diabetic patients in a secondary failure were included. The study begun with a run-in diet period of 6 weeks, in which an isocaloric diet was prescribed. Only subjects who continued hyperglycaemic were randomly assigned to placebo and acarbose (n = 17) or bedtime NPH insulin (n = 12). Acarbose (300 mg/day) or placebo were administered using a randomized, double blind, crossover design. Treatment periods of 3 months were separated by a 3-week washout period. Insulin was administered during 3 months. At the beginning and the end of each treatment period, an i.v. glucose tolerance test and a meal test were performed. Safety tests were done every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Acarbose resulted in a small but significant improvement in fasting plasma glucose (13.5 +/- 2.4 vs. 11.3 +/- 3.9 mmol/l, p = 0.05), HbA1c (11.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 10.3 +/- 2.5%, P = 0.3) and in a decreased plasma glucose during the meal test. Bedtime insulin significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (13.1 +/- 2.9 vs. 8.2 +/- 2.3 mmol/l, p < 0.01), HbA1c (11.7 +/- 2.9 vs. 9.4 +/- 2.7%, p < 0.01) and plasma cholesterol. No change in insulin secretion resulted from insulin and acarbose treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose decreases blood glucose in secondary failure to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy; however, the decrease is not enough to reach the desired metabolic control. Bedtime NPH insulin is, by far, a more effective alternative.

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