Metabolic control and treatment regimens in patients with type 1 diabetes in Castilla-La Mancha, 10 years later: The 2020 DIACAM1 study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate degree of metabolic control and treatment regimens in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) enrolled in the DIACAM1 study, after 10 years of follow-up under routine clinical practice conditions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1,465 patients enrolled in the DIACAM1 study, a multicentre, cross-sectional study conducted in Castilla-La Mancha in 2010, were analysed. Of these patients, 58 (4%) died during the 10-year follow-up period. Anthropometric, clinical, laboratory and treatment data were reviewed for 1,121 (76.5%) patients in active follow-up.

RESULTS: Mean glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were 7.66% lower than in 2010 (p<0.001), 26% of patients achieved HbA1c levels <7%, 24.4% were obese, 51.7% had dyslipidaemia and 33.6% had hypertension. The following were found to be predictive factors for good glycaemic control (HbA1c<7%): good glycaemic control in 2010 (odds ratio [OR] 4.8); the use of intensified insulin regimens, including the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) guideline and glucose monitoring (OR 2.8); no hyperlipidaemia (OR 1.97); and higher levels of education (OR 1.4). The recommended targets for lipid and blood pressure control were met by 76% of patients; 40% of the patients enrolled required drug treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Glycaemic control in patients with T1DM in Castilla-La Mancha improved after 10 years of follow-up. The use of intensified insulin regimens and technology applied to diabetes care appear to be determining factors in achieving this improvement. Despite the increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, the majority of the patients achieved good lipid and blood pressure control.