BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with high levels of premature morbidity and mortality. Prolonged survival is possible, however, and some patients appear to be protected from the long-term complications of this condition. METHODS: Diabetes UK awards medals to patients who have had Type 1 diabetes for 50 years or more. By examining medal-holders, we have established the clinical and biochemical features of a group of 400 subjects (54% male) with Type 1 diabetes of long duration. RESULTS: Mean age of the subjects was 68.9 years and mean age-at-onset of diabetes 13.7 years. Features of long duration diabetes in this cohort include normal body mass (mean BMI 25.0 kg m-2), low insulin dose (mean 0.52 units kg-2) and greatly elevated HDL-cholesterol (mean 1.84 mmol/l). Mean HbA1c was 7.6% (normal range 3.8-5.0%) and no patient had a normal HbA1c at the time of venesection. As a group, they have long-lived parents and consume moderate amounts of alcohol. Medical contact has often been sporadic. A significant proportion (29%) were taking anti-hypertensive medication. Screening for micro- and macroalbuminuria was positive in 35.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with long-duration (> 50 years) Type 1 diabetes are relatively protected from clinical diabetic nephropathy and large vessel disease; our data are consistent with protection possibly being genetically determined in part via elevated HDL-cholesterol levels. An abnormal urinary albumin/creatinine ratio is common in these patients, despite their low risk of significant renal deterioration; this may have implications for microalbuminuria screening programmes.
BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with high levels of premature morbidity and mortality. Prolonged survival is possible, however, and some patients appear to be protected from the long-term complications of this condition. METHODS:Diabetes UK awards medals to patients who have had Type 1 diabetes for 50 years or more. By examining medal-holders, we have established the clinical and biochemical features of a group of 400 subjects (54% male) with Type 1 diabetes of long duration. RESULTS: Mean age of the subjects was 68.9 years and mean age-at-onset of diabetes 13.7 years. Features of long duration diabetes in this cohort include normal body mass (mean BMI 25.0 kg m-2), low insulin dose (mean 0.52 units kg-2) and greatly elevated HDL-cholesterol (mean 1.84 mmol/l). Mean HbA1c was 7.6% (normal range 3.8-5.0%) and no patient had a normal HbA1c at the time of venesection. As a group, they have long-lived parents and consume moderate amounts of alcohol. Medical contact has often been sporadic. A significant proportion (29%) were taking anti-hypertensive medication. Screening for micro- and macroalbuminuria was positive in 35.7%. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with long-duration (> 50 years) Type 1 diabetes are relatively protected from clinical diabetic nephropathy and large vessel disease; our data are consistent with protection possibly being genetically determined in part via elevated HDL-cholesterol levels. An abnormal urinary albumin/creatinine ratio is common in these patients, despite their low risk of significant renal deterioration; this may have implications for microalbuminuria screening programmes.
Authors: Nicola Napoli; Elsa S Strotmeyer; Kristine E Ensrud; Deborah E Sellmeyer; Douglas C Bauer; Andrew R Hoffman; Thuy-Tien L Dam; Elizabeth Barrett-Connor; Lisa Palermo; Eric S Orwoll; Steven R Cummings; Dennis M Black; Ann V Schwartz Journal: Diabetologia Date: 2014-06-09 Impact factor: 10.122
Authors: Hillary A Keenan; Jennifer K Sun; Jared Levine; Alessandro Doria; Lloyd P Aiello; George Eisenbarth; Susan Bonner-Weir; George L King Journal: Diabetes Date: 2010-08-10 Impact factor: 9.461
Authors: Liane J Tinsley; Varant Kupelian; Stephanie A D'Eon; David Pober; Jennifer K Sun; George L King; Hillary A Keenan Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2017-10-01 Impact factor: 5.958