Long-term blood sugar control may not affect macrovascular atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetes patients: Study

For this purpose, the researchers recruited 508 individuals (43.4% men; median age 46) with type 1 diabetes in a cross-sectional retrospective sub-study, part of the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) Study. Data on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was collected retrospectively over ten years (HbA1c-mean overall) before the clinical study visit that included a biochemical sampling, clinical examination, and ultrasound of the common carotid arteries.

The study revealed the following findings:

· Individuals with T1D had a median CIMT of 606 μm and HbA1c of 8.0% during the study visit and HbA1c-meanoverall of 8.0%.

· CIMT did not correlate with HbA1c at visit or HbA1c-meanoverall.

· After controlling for relevant factors in multivariable linear regression analysis, only age was associated with CIMT.

· After further dividing CIMT into quartiles, no correlation between long-term glucose control and CIMT (%, 1st 8.1 versus 4th 7.9) was found.

The main finding of the study was the lack of association between long-term blood glucose control and CIMT in T1D patients.

"The finding was surprising considering previous data showing associations between blood glucose control and CIMT in other cohorts of people with T1D," the researchers wrote. "Only age was independently associated with CIMT, they added, "our findings, thus, suggest that there are other factors involved."

"We hope that our findings will pave the way for future studies that can shed light and further explore the complex interplay of various factors in determining CIMT in T1D," they concluded.

Reference:

Inkeri, J., Harjutsalo, V., Martola, J. et al. No correlation between carotid intima-media thickness and long-term glycemic control in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Acta Diabetol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-023-02211-y