Acute Effects of Cocoa Flavanols on Blood Pressure and Peripheral Vascular Reactivity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Essential Hypertension.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high risk of vascular complications. Interestingly, cocoa flavanols (CF) can exert beneficial vascular effects in non-diabetic subjects. However, these effects have only been scarcely studied in T2DM.

Lipohypertrophy Monitoring Study (LIMO): Effect of single use of 4 mm pen needles combined with education on injection site rotation on glycaemic control: Confirmation of an unpleasant truth.

Aims: To investigate whether single use of 4 mm needles combined with education about injection technique and lipohypertrophy affects HbA1c, hypoglycaemia and glucose variability.

Methods: Insulin-injecting people with diabetes recruited from nine Belgian diabetes centres were prospectively followed for 6 months. They were provided 4 mm pen needles and education concerning injection technique using an online platform (BD and Me™) based on the international Forum for Injection Technique & Therapy Recommendations focused on avoidance of lipohypertrophy zones and reduction of needle reuse.

Acute Effects of Cocoa Flavanols on Blood Pressure and Peripheral Vascular Reactivity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Essential Hypertension: A Protocol for an Acute, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Trial.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at high risk to develop vascular complications resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Cocoa flavanols are promising nutraceuticals with possible beneficial vascular effects in humans. However, limited research is currently available on the vascular effects in a diabetic population with inconsistent results.

THE ADDED AND INTERPRETATIVE VALUE OF CGM-DERIVED PARAMETERS IN TYPE 1 DIABETES DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF GLYCEMIC CONTROL.

Objective: In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) management, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived parameters can provide additional insights, with time in range (TIR) and other parameters reflecting glycemic control and variability being put forward. This study aimed to examine the added and interpretative value of the CGM-derived indices TIR and coefficient of variation (CV%) in T1DM patients stratified according to their level of glycemic control by means of HbA1C.

Methods: T1DM patients with a minimum disease duration of 10 years and without known macrovascular disease were enrolled.

Effectiveness of a family-, school- and community-based intervention on physical activity and its correlates in Belgian families with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Feel4Diabetes-study.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the European Feel4Diabetes intervention, promoting a healthy lifestyle, on physical activity and its correlates among families at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (based on the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score) in Belgium.

Methods: The Feel4Diabetes intervention involved three components: family, school and community component, with the family component consisting of 6 counseling sessions for families at risk. Main outcomes were objectively measured physical activity levels and its subjectively measured correlates.

Development and Validation of Two Self-Reported Tools for Insulin Resistance and Hypertension Risk Assessment in A European Cohort: The Feel4Diabetes-Study.

Early identification of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HTN) risk may improve prevention and promote public health. Implementation of self-reported scores for risk assessment provides an alternative cost-effective tool. The study aimed to develop and validate two easy-to-apply screening tools identifying high-risk individuals for insulin resistance (IR) and HTN in a European cohort.

Two-stage, school and community-based population screening successfully identifies individuals and families at high-risk for type 2 diabetes: the Feel4Diabetes-study.

Background: The implementation of population screening and early prevention strategies targeting individuals at high-risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) seems to be a public health priority. The current work aimed to describe the screening procedure applied in the Feel4Diabetes-study and examine its effectiveness in identifying individuals and families at high risk, primarily for T2D and secondarily for hypertension, among vulnerable populations in low to middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs) across Europe.

Methods: A two-stage screening procedure, using primary schools as the entry-point to the community, was applied in low socioeconomic status (SES) regions in LMICs (Bulgaria-Hungary), HICs (Belgium-Finland) and HICs under austerity measures (Greece-Spain).

The relationship between glycaemic variability and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review.

Rigorous glycaemic control-reflected by low HbA1c goals-is of the utmost importance in the prevention and management of complications in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, previous studies suggested that short-term glycaemic variability (GV) is also important to consider as excessive glucose fluctuations may have an additional impact on the development of diabetic complications. The potential relationship between GV and the risk of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), a clinical expression of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, is of increasing interest.

Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Insulin Sensitivity and Incretin Responses in Transgender People.

Objective: The long-term influences of sex hormone administration on insulin sensitivity and incretin hormones are controversial. We investigated these effects in 35 transgender men (TM) and 55 transgender women (TW) from the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI) study.

Research Design And Methods: Before and after 1 year of gender-affirming hormone therapy, body composition and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were evaluated.

Influence of Educational Level on Psychosocial Correlates and Perceived Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity in Adults at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: The Feel4Diabetes-Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether the relationship between psychosocial and perceived environmental factors and physical activity (PA) in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes is influenced by educational level.

Methods: Based on the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score questionnaire, this study selected 164 adults (Mage: 38 (5.34) y, 13.

Insulin resistance associates with hepatic lobular inflammation in subjects with obesity.

Purpose: Obese subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are more prone to develop additional metabolic disturbances such as systemic insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD is defined by hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning and stage of fibrosis, but it is unclear if and which components could contribute to IR.

Objective: To assess which histological components of NAFLD associate with IR in subjects with obesity, and if so, to what extent.

Efficacy of a Self-Regulation-Based Electronic and Mobile Health Intervention Targeting an Active Lifestyle in Adults Having Type 2 Diabetes and in Adults Aged 50 Years or Older: Two Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Adopting an active lifestyle plays a key role in the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Web-based interventions are able to alter health behaviors and show stronger effects when they are informed by a behavior change theory. MyPlan 2.

Simvastatin-induced erythromelalgia: less is more.

We describe a case of a woman with uncomplicated Type 2 diabetes mellitus, presenting with severe burning pains and intense redness of the legs, for which only cooling could provide relief. Although the description was classic of erythromelalgia, the lack of familiarity of the disorder caused considerable doctor's delay as well as the erroneous advice to start pain killers and amitriptyline. However, empirical discontinuation of simvastatin made all symptoms disappear.

A Self-Regulation-Based eHealth and mHealth Intervention for an Active Lifestyle in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Adoption of an active lifestyle plays an important role in the management of type 2 diabetes. Online interventions targeting lifestyle changes in adults with type 2 diabetes have provided mixed results. Previous research highlights the importance of creating theory-based interventions adapted to the population's specific needs.

Analysis of protein glycation in human fingernail clippings with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as an alternative technique for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Background: Glycated keratin allows the monitoring of average tissue glucose exposure over previous weeks. In the present study, we wanted to explore if near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy could be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing glycation in diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A total of 52 patients with diabetes mellitus and 107 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

Experiences and Opinions of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Regarding a Self-Regulation-Based eHealth Intervention Targeting Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour.

Online interventions targeting a healthy lifestyle in adults with type 2 diabetes are more effective when informed by behaviour change theories. Although these theories provide guidance in developing the content of an intervention, information regarding how to present this content in an engaging way is often lacking. Consequently, incorporating users’ views in the creation of eHealth interventions has become an important target.

Users' thoughts and opinions about a self-regulation-based eHealth intervention targeting physical activity and the intake of fruit and vegetables: A qualitative study.

Purpose: EHealth interventions are effective in changing health behaviours, such as increasing physical activity and altering dietary habits, but suffer from high attrition rates. In order to create interventions that are adapted to end-users, in-depth investigations about their opinions and preferences are required. As opinions and preferences may vary for different target groups, we explored these in two groups: the general population and a clinical sample.

Is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus More Prevalent Than Expected in Transgender Persons? A Local Observation.

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that approximately 0.4% of the Belgian population is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus, which is similar to other industrialized countries. The prevalence of transgenderism is estimated at 0.

Cortical Bone Size Deficit in Adult Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Context: The increased fracture risk associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) remains unexplained by traditional risk factors such as low areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Nonetheless, few data exist on other determinants of bone strength in T1DM, including volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone geometry.

Objective: We compared areal and volumetric bone parameters and cortical bone geometry in adult T1DM patients and sex- and age-matched controls.

LONG-TERM, SUSTAINED, LIFESTYLE-INDUCED WEIGHT LOSS IN SEVERE OBESITY: THE GET-ReAL PROGRAM.

Objective: To study the long-term effectiveness of a patient-centered, multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention treatment in patients medically eligible for bariatric surgery.

Methods: Using a case-control study design, we compared treatment results for 98 adults (mean body mass index [BMI], 44.2 kg/m(2)) with the outcomes of 148 controls (mean BMI, 43.

Hyperinsulinemia and skeletal muscle fatty acid trafficking.

We hypothesized that insulin alters plasma free fatty acid (FFA) trafficking into intramyocellular (im) long-chain acylcarnitines (imLCAC) and triglycerides (imTG). Overnight-fasted adults (n = 41) received intravenous infusions of [U-¹³C]palmitate (0400-0900 h) and [U-¹³C]oleate (0800-1400 h) to label imTG and imLCAC. A euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic (1.

Relationship between plasma free fatty acid, intramyocellular triglycerides and long-chain acylcarnitines in resting humans.

We hypothesized that plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are trafficked directly to intramyocellular long-chain acylcarnitines (imLCAC) rather than transiting intramyocellular triglycerides (imTG) on the way to resting muscle fatty acid oxidation. Overnight fasted adults (n = 61) received intravenous infusions of [U-(13)C]palmitate (0400-0830 h) and [U-(13)C]oleate (0800-1400 h) labelling plasma NEFA, imTG, imLCAC and im-non-esterified FA (imNEFA). Two muscle biopsies (0830 and 1400 h) were performed following 6 h, overlapping, sequential palmitate/oleate tracer infusions.

Basal and insulin-regulated free fatty acid and glucose metabolism in humans.

These studies were done to examine the effects of body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), sex, and fitness on basal and insulin-regulated FFA and glucose metabolism. We performed 137 experiments in 101 nondiabetic, premenopausal women and men, ranging from low normal weight to class III obese (BMI 18.0-40.

Direct free fatty acid uptake into human adipocytes in vivo: relation to body fat distribution.

We sought to assess whether direct uptake of circulating free fatty acids (FFAs) by adipocytes occurs in vivo in overnight postabsorptive humans and, if so, whether there are regional differences in uptake between lean and obese women and men. We used bolus injections of radiolabeled FFA tracers followed by carefully timed adipose tissue biopsies. First, we validated a method to measure direct adipocyte FFA uptake and then quantitated this process using the modified methods in normal-weight postabsorptive men and women.