Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the UAE is around 20% amongst adults. Lifestyle including meal timings are different from the West and may necessitate different treatment schedules. We have used continuous glucose monitoring (CGMS) to look at glycemic patterns in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the UAE.

Methods: Available CGMS data (using methods previously described) on forty-four patients (thirty-one with type 2 DM and thirteen with type 1 DM) and seven non-diabetic subjects was pooled and summarized. Interstitial Glucose Values (IGV) at 288 time points for 3 consecutive days were available for each subject. Mean (IGV) for each time point for 3 groups of subjects was calculated. HbA1c was also noted in all subjects.

Results: Mean±S.D. CGMS readings in type 1 and type 2 DM were 182±39.8 and 153±19.8 mg/dl respectively. Corresponding HbA1c’s were 8.6±1.8% and 8.4±1.4% Mean IGV in non-diabetic subjects was 101±6.1 mg/dl. In patients with type 2 DM, IGV was always less than 200 mg/dl. Four peaks in IGV per day were noted. In type 1 DM, glycaemic control was less satisfactory with two peaks in IGV at 9 AM and 3 AM respectively. In non-diabetic subjects glucose level was stable and in euglycemic range throughout 72 hours.

Conclusion: In the group studied there was relatively good glycemic control among patients with type 2 DM. Patients with type 1 DM had poor control, especially for the afternoon and the evening. The pattern of control suggests poor compliance with diet and also need for rethinking the conventional insulin regimes to suit the culture in the UAE.