Glucose Variability Linked to CVD Risk

Minimizing glucose variability (GV) could improve insulin resistance and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study.

For their systematic literature review, the researchers analyzed 22 studies with a total of 1143 patients with high GV and 1275 patients with low GV. These studies assessed all GV and CVD risk factors, which included total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).
​__________________________________________________________
RELATED CONTENT
Glucose Variability Linked to Increased Mortality Risk in Hospitalized Patients
Intensive Glucose Control Could Increase Mortality Risk
__________________________________________________________

Out of the CVD risk factors included in the analysis, the researchers found that HOMA-IR and reduced IMT were affected by GV. Patients with low GV had significantly lower HOMA-IR and IMT levels compared with those with high GV, but there was evidence of heterogeneity in the studies. However, there were no other significant statistical differences.

“Among these selected CVD risk factors in type 2 diabetes, minimizing GV could improve insulin resistance and reduced IMT, consistent with a lowering in risk of CVD.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Liang S, Yin H, Wei C, Xie L, He H. Glucose variability for cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis [published online November 14, 2017]. J Diabetes Metab Disord. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40200-017-0323-5.