Cardiovascular risk and lipid-lowering therapies are not new concepts in type 2 diabetes management. However, over recent years, lipid therapies have evolved and clinicians are now faced with more options than just statins. This At a glance factsheet is a brief guide to the newer lipid-lowering therapies available, their different modes of action and their place in treatment. A previous factsheet has discussed cardiovascular risk and how this should be assessed to guide whether lipid-lowering therapy is indicated.

The 59th European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting was held on 2–6 October in Hamburg, Germany.

In this brief report, we summarise the key presentations from a primary care perspective.

Gastroparesis is a recognised complication of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) and, whilst not the most commonly observed complication, it carries with it a significant impact on a person’s health, glycaemic control, social functioning and mental wellbeing. Gastroparesis is often not well recognised because of the disparate group of symptoms it may present with. Symptoms are often misattributed or not recognised, and consequently the diagnosis is either missed or delayed. It should be managed by a multidisciplinary team with knowledge of and expertise in this area. Above all, the team should be understanding and help steer patients to the best supportive care.

Author: Simon Saunders, Clinical Lead Academic Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Citation: Saunders S (2023) At a glance factsheet: Diabetic gastroparesis. Diabetes & Primary Care 25: 121–3

David Morris, Probal Moulik

HbA1c has become a key parameter for diagnosing type 2 diabetes and for monitoring glycaemic control in all types of diabetes. This case study reports on a person who presented with an unexpectedly low HbA1c at an annual hypertension monitoring appointment. The aim of reviewing the case is to provide an understanding of HbA1c, its limitations, and the clinical situations in which it is unreliable and alternative measures of glycaemic control should be sought.

Citation: Morris D, Moulik P (2023) Case report: An unexpectedly low HbA1c. Diabetes & Primary Care 25: 153–5

Article learning points HbA1c is a surrogate marker for plasma glucose levels over the previous 3 months – an average that is skewed to more recent glucose readings.

HbA1c may be falsely lowered in conditions that reduce the lifespan of red blood cells or increase red cell turnover. Common examples include haemolytic anaemias and hypersplenism.

Conversely, HbA1c may be falsely elevated in conditions that extend erythrocyte survival or reduce erythrocyte turnover. Common examples include asplenia and deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12 or folate.

Haemoglobinopathies have a variable effect on HbA1c, and specialist advice should be sought.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose or continuous glucose monitoring should be used where HbA1c is unreliable. A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test is advised for diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy. Fructosamine is an alternative measure of glycaemic control to HbA1c, reflecting control over the previous 2–3 weeks.

Authors

David Morris, Retired GP and Specialist Doctor in Diabetes, Undergraduate Clinical Tutor, Keele University; Consultant Endocrinologist, Probal Moulik, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust.