Top 5 Diabetes Articles of 2023

In our 5 most-read articles on diabetes, studies revealed a linked between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and increased hospital bed-days, promising weight loss results from survodutide, racial biases in T2D risk prediction models, cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a leading cause of hospital admissions in patients with diabetes, and how endoscopic procedure may eliminate the need for insulin to treat T2D.

Here are our top 5 most-read diabetes articles from 2023. Click here to check out all of our coverage on diabetes.

5. Type 2 Diabetes Can Increase Hospital Bed-Days, Study Says

A study in Hong Kong involving over 1.5 million patients revealed that T2D is associated with an increased risk of hospital bed-days, especially for those who received a T2D diagnosis before age 40 years and those who also have a mental health disorder. Patients with T2D had a significantly higher hospital bed-day rate compared with those without T2D, with age playing a role in hospitalization patterns. Men with diabetes had a 1.75-fold increased risk, while women had a slightly higher 1.87-fold increased risk, and T2D was associated with a higher risk of hospital bed-days across various disease categories. Additionally, 38.4% of bed-days among people who received a T2D diagnosis before the age of 40 were attributed to mental health disorders, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health in young people with T2D.

Read the full article here.

4. Patients With Overweight or Obesity Show Significant Weight Loss in Phase 2 Survodutide Trial

A phase 2 trial of survodutide, a glucagon/glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor dual agonist developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma, showed promising results for weight loss in individuals without T2D who have overweight or obesity. Participants receiving the 4.8 mg dose weekly for 46 weeks achieved nearly 19% weight loss. Of patients receiving this dosage, 68.8% achieved weight loss of 10% or more, and 54.7% achieved weight loss of 15% or more. Among participants who received the 2 highest doses of 4.8 mg or 3.6 mg, up to 40% achieved weight loss of 20% or more, while none of the participants in the placebo group hit this mark. The study involved 387 adult patients with a body mass index of at least 27 kg/m², and the weight loss benefits of survodutide continued to increase even after 46 weeks of treatment.

Read the full article here.

3. Researchers Uncover Potential Racial Biases in T2D Risk Prediction Models

A study suggested that the Prediabetes Risk Test (PRT) and other prognostic T2D prediction models may exhibit racial bias, potentially perpetuating health inequities. The researchers analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data and found that all investigated models were miscalibrated with regard to race. The Framingham Offspring Risk Score overestimated T2D risk for non-Hispanic White individuals and underestimated it for non-Hispanic Black individuals, while the PRT and Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities risk models overestimated risk for both races. The study highlights the importance of addressing racial bias in algorithmic processes to ensure equitable health care outcomes.

Read the full article here.

2. For Patients With Diabetes, Review Finds CVD to Be Leading Cause of Hospital Admissions

A review of 42 studies conducted between 1980 and 2022 found that CVD, particularly ischemic and coronary heart disease, was the leading cause of hospital admissions among patients with diabetes. The review included studies that reported the distribution of hospital admissions based on broad categories among people with diabetes, including both type 1 diabetes and T2D. CVD was the predominant reason for hospital admission in 76% of the studies, and when examining admissions over time, CVD consistently remained the leading cause. Other common causes for hospital admissions among people with diabetes included infections, renal conditions, endocrine disorders, cancer, digestive system–related diseases, and injury or poisoning.

Read the full article here.

1. Endoscopic Procedure May Eliminate Need for Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes

A preliminary study published in April suggested that a 1-hour endoscopic procedure using controlled electrical pulses in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, could potentially eliminate the need for insulin in patients with T2D. The study included 14 patients, and 86% of them maintained good glycemic control without insulin for a year following the procedure, suggesting a potential improvement over drug treatment alone. Researchers said they were planning a double-blind randomized controlled trial to further investigate the results. If successful, this endoscopic treatment could offer an alternative to insulin for managing T2D.

Read the full article here.