Glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with a disease-specific enteral formula: stage II of a randomized, controlled multicenter trial.
BACKGROUND
Stage I of a preplanned 2-stage study has provided good evidence for improved glycemic control with a disease-specific enteral formula low in carbohydrates and high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), fish oil, chromium, and antioxidants in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. The study was continued with stage II to give confirmatory proof of these beneficial effects.


METHODS
105 patients with HbA1C>or=7.0% and/or fasting blood glucose (FG)>6.7 mmol/L (>120 mg/dL) requiring enteral tube feeding due to neurological dysphagia received 113 kJ (27 kcal)/kg body weight of either test formula (Diben) or an isoenergetic, isonitrogenous standard formula (control) for up to 84 days. Total insulin (TI) requirements, FG, and afternoon blood glucose (AG) were assessed daily. HbA1C and safety criteria were evaluated on days 1, 28, 56, and 84.


RESULTS
55 patients completed the study; on day 84, median changes from baseline (data as available, test vs control) were the following: TI, -8.0 vs +2.0 IU; FG, -2.17 vs -0.67 mmol/L (-39.0 vs -12.1 mg/dL); HbA(1C), -1.30% vs -1.20%; AG, -2.36 vs -0.49 mmol/L (-42.5 vs -8.9 mg/dL). The number of relevant hypoglycemic episodes (FG<3.33 mmol/L<60 mg/dL) was 1 vs 5. Feeding tolerance was comparable in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term tube feeding with a disease-specific enteral formula was safe and well tolerated in type 2 diabetic patients with neurological disorders. When compared with a standard diet, TI requirement decreased significantly with less hypoglycemia whereas FG and AG were significantly lowered, resulting in improved glycemic control.
Pohl
Marcus
M
Department of Early Neurological Rehabilitation, Klinik Bavaria, Kreischa, Germany. marcus.pohl@klinik-bavaria.de
Mayr
Peter
P
Mertl-Roetzer
Marion
M
Lauster
Frank
F
Haslbeck
Manfred
M
Hipper
Beate
B
Steube
Diethard
D
Tietjen
Monika
M
Eriksen
Jan
J
Rahlfs
Volker W
VW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000592:standards*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin