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BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care

BMJ

Preprints posted in the last 30 days, ranked by how well they match BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care's content profile, based on 16 papers previously published here. The average preprint has a 0.02% match score for this journal, so anything above that is already an above-average fit.

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Publication Bias in Abstracts Presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Pinedo-Torres, I.; Taype-Rondan, A.; Vera-Luza, A. A.; Zegarra-Lizana, P. A.; Rojas-Vilca, J. L.; Yovera-Aldana, M.

2026-08-31 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.26.26361486 medRxiv
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Objective. To determine the publication rate of abstracts presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions and to evaluate the association between statistical significance of study results and subsequent publication. Research Design and Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of abstracts presented at the 2018 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions. The primary exposure was study result category (statistically significant vs. non-statistically significant findings), and the primary outcome was publication in an indexed journal within 5 years after conference presentation. Publication status was determined through PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus searches. Adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using generalized linear models with Poisson distribution and robust variance. Results. Among 541 included abstracts, 321 (59.3%) were subsequently published in indexed journals. Abstracts reporting statistically significant findings had a higher publication rate than those reporting non-statistically significant findings (61.9% vs. 42.3%; p=0.002). In the adjusted analysis, abstracts with non-statistically significant findings had a lower likelihood of publication compared with those reporting statistically significant findings (adjusted RR 0.71 [95% CI 0.55-0.93]; p=0.013). Conclusions. Approximately four in ten abstracts presented at the ADA Scientific Sessions were not published within 5 years. Abstracts reporting non-statistically significant findings had a lower likelihood of subsequent publication, suggesting persistent publication bias in diabetology research. Future initiatives promoting the interpretation of effect estimates, confidence intervals and clinical relevance, rather than statistical significance alone, may help reduce selective dissemination of evidence

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Measuring implementation of clinical guidelines through the COVID-19 pandemic, using linked national health records: a national study of type 2 diabetes in England

Biglarbeigi, P.; Dale, C.; Lambarth, A.; Mason, A.; Takher, R.; Ballabio, G.; Minshull, J.; Mamas, M. A.; Tomlinson, C.; Rowark, S.; Rayman, G.; Pearson, E. R.; Khunti, K.; Sattar, N.; Sofat, R.

2026-08-10 health policy 10.64898/2026.08.07.26359950 medRxiv
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Objectives: To examine the conformance to type 2 diabetes NICE guidelines across cardiovascular risk strata; and to quantify geographical variation in treatment pathways following the COVID-19 pandemic, encompassing guideline changes. Design: We carried out a retrospective observational study using linked electronic health records across England. Process mining, a data driven method that can reconstruct clinical treatment pathways, was applied to map 12-month treatment trajectories after treatment initiation. Conformance with NICE NG28 (2022) was quantified using a structural similarity index. Further, behavioural and entropy-based similarity (capturing treatment variability and complexity) measures were used to assess sequencing and heterogeneity of treatment. Setting: Primary and secondary care in England datasets within the National Health Service England Secure Data Environment (NHSE SDE), analysed first at national level and then across 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) which are the devolved health care geographical delivery regions in England. Participants: 822,650 individuals with newly diagnosed T2DM between 1-February-2022 and 1-November-2025, stratified into low cardiovascular risk (LR-C; QRISK3<10), high risk (HR-C; QRISK3>=10 or receiving statins/blood pressure lowering treatment), and established cardiovascular disease (eCVD-C). Participants were followed for 12 months after first dispensed glucose lowering therapy. Main outcome measure: First line therapy, treatment intensification and switching within 12 months; change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c); quantified conformance to NICE recommended pathways; and regional variation in broader similarity measures. Results: Metformin monotherapy was the dominant initiation strategy in LR-C and HR-C cohorts (92.4% and 90.2%, respectively), whereas eCVD-C showed lower uptake of metformin (68.9%) and higher uptake of SGLT2 inhibitors (26.3%). Intensification from metformin to combination therapy was infrequent across all cohorts (<1%), although HR-C demonstrated the highest treatment transitions and switching behaviour. Dispensed SGLT2 inhibitor use was nearly threefold higher in eCVD-C (26.7%) than in LR-C (9.0%) or HR-C (10.7%). Overall, conformance to NICE-recommended pathways remained modest nationally, particularly in LR-C and HR-C. Across 42 ICBs, substantial regional heterogeneity in treatment pathways and guideline conformance was observed, with conformance ranging from 0.29 to 1.00 in LR-C pathways, 0.40 to 1.00 in HR-C pathways, and 0.54 to 0.92 in eCVD pathways. Conclusion: National T2DM treatment pathways for post-pandemic showed higher alignment to NICE guidelines in eCVD-C compared to the other risk groups, with ongoing gaps and large regional variations in other risk groups. Process mining offers a scalable approach to monitor implementation of guideline recommended care that could support learning health systems. Using T2DM during and post COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, this work demonstrates how these methods can assess the use of existing and innovative therapies, identify gaps and guide future adoption to ensure recommended treatments reach the right patient groups.

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Optimising the prevention, detection and management of diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes: Feasibility study protocol (D-stress feasibility study).

Fabian-Therond, C.; Ahuja, S.; Papachristou Nadal, I.; Holt, R. I.; Watson, S. I.; Hussain, S.; Choudhary, P.; Ajjan, R.; Harris, R.; Peck, M.; Mohammadi, J.; Sims, S.; Fiorentino, F.; Due-Christensen, M.; Huber, J.; Fisher, L.; Hardenberg, K.; Stadler, M.; Jin, H.; Halliday, J. A.; Sturt, J.; on behalf of the D-stress study collaborators,

2026-08-18 endocrinology 10.64898/2026.08.17.26360546 medRxiv
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Introduction Diabetes distress describes the psychological and emotional burden of living with diabetes and is associated with reduced self-management and adverse diabetes outcomes. Clinical guidelines recommend routine assessment and management of diabetes distress, but this is not always implemented. Therefore, there is a need to develop approaches to deliver emotional health support in routine clinical care more effectively. We describe here the protocol for a study to I) assess the feasibility of implementation of the D-stress Pathway, comprising Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) and an online, group-based, psychological diabetes distress reduction intervention called REDUCE, ii) evaluate the feasibility of the study protocol iii) detect an effect signal of diabetes distress score and Interstitial Glucose Time in Range and iv) refine initial programme theories of how both interventions (EUC and REDUCE) work, for whom, and under what circumstances. Methods This feasibility study includes a multicentre trial within a cohort design (TWICs) where sites have a staggered exposure to the interventions alongside a realist process evaluation. Four UK NHS diabetes services will recruit 80 adults with type 1 diabetes ([&ge;]1 year) using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) ([&ge;]3 months). All participants will receive EUC and provide monthly data over 7 months on diabetes distress (measured by the Type 1 Diabetes Distress Assessment System (T1DDAS) and interstitial glucose measured by using continuous glucose monitoring. Participants with elevated diabetes distress, will be offered the six-week, group-based, online REDUCE intervention plus EUC, compared to EUC alone. Up to twenty participants with type 1 diabetes, ten family members/friends, sixteen healthcare professionals delivering EUC and five REDUCE facilitators will be interviewed to explore their experience of receiving training and delivering the D-stress Pathway. Up to 20 EUC consultations and REDUCE sessions will be observed. Analysis Feasibility will be assessed against pre-specified progression criteria and analysed descriptively using summary statistics. Primary outcomes include baseline level of diabetes distress, recruitment rate, intervention uptake, and data completeness, which will be analysed descriptively. Qualitative data will be analysed using framework analysis guided by realist programme theories developed for this study. Ethics Ethics approval has been granted by NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) (Bromley REC: 25/LO/0469) and Health Research Authority obtained. All participants will provide informed consent. Trial registration no: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT07193446 on 26/11/2025. Protocol and statistical analysis plan: The trial protocol and statistical analysis plan can be accessed at ClinicalTrials.gov.

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Clinical, environmental, and sociodemographic factors in ethnic differences in incidence of type 2 diabetes complications and mortality in a Dutch dynamic prospective primary care cohort: a DIAMANT study

Muilwijk, M.; Strooij, B.; Elders, P.; Rutters, F.; Nijpels, G.; Vaartjes, I.; Overbeek, J.; Herings, R.; Lakerveld, J.; Blom, M.; Beulens, J.

2026-08-13 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.12.26360278 medRxiv
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Introduction: Ethnic minority populations are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D). We investigated ethnic differences in the risks of diabetes-related complications and mortality in the Netherlands, and identified clinical, sociodemographic and environmental determinants associated with these differences. Methods: We included 175,112 adults with T2D from the dynamic prospective primary care cohort DIAMANT. DIAMANT data were linked to national registries from Statistics Netherlands and GECCO, a database integrating geographic, environmental and contextual exposures. Ethnic differences in complications risks were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Potential mediating factors were explored using machine-learning-based variable selection and association decomposition approaches. Results: At baseline, mean age was 65.4 (SD 12.3) years, 46.6% were women and median T2D duration was 11.3 [IQR 7.2; 15.8] years. Substantial heterogeneity in complication risk was observed across ethnic groups compared with Dutch-origin individuals. Retinopathy risk was consistently higher across nearly all non-Dutch groups (HRs 1.37-2.37). For macrovascular complications, elevated risks were mainly observed among Surinamese and Turkish individuals, including heart failure (HR 1.30 and 1.46, respectively). In contrast, individuals of Indonesian and Moroccan origin showed similar or lower risk for most complications. Environmental exposures (e.g. air pollution, temperature) and sociodemographic factors (e.g. main benefit, household composition) accounted for a substantial attenuation of several observed associations. Discussion: Substantial ethnic differences exist in risks of T2D complications and mortality, which showed to be heterogeneous across outcomes and populations. Our findings suggest that a considerable proportion of these disparities is attributable to differences in environmental and sociodemographic context, highlighting the importance of interventions that take into account differences in environmental and socio-demographic context.

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Social Determinants of Health and GLP-1 RA Use Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Stage 2 CKM: Insights from NHANES 2005?2020

Jian, Q.; Segal, M. S.; Shao, H.; Singh-Ospina, N.; Jiao, T.

2026-08-21 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.18.26360763 medRxiv
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Background Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome encompasses interconnected conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and chronic kidney disease (CKD). As CKM progresses, cardiorenal risks increase. Although Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) have demonstrated cardiorenal and cardiometabolic benefits, offering an opportunity to slow CKM progression, their use may vary across social determinants of health (SDoH) and stage 2 CKM subgroups. Objective To evaluate the influence of SDoH on access to GLP-1 RA among patients with T2D and other stage 2 CKM conditions. Methods This cross-sectional study used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005?2020. Adults aged [&ge;]30 years with T2D and/or other stage 2 CKM conditions were included. Weighted descriptive analysis, multivariable logistic regression and LASSO were applied to assess associations between SDoH and GLP-1 RA use. Results Among 4,520 participants (representing approximately 84.0 million U.S. adults), weighted mean age was 61.4 years, 48.9% were female, and 61.5% were non-Hispanic White. Among participants with T2D, GLP-1 RA use was higher among individuals with higher education (3.39% vs 1.43%), private insurance (3.00% vs 0.58%), and higher income (4.70% vs 1.87%), while no use was observed among those without routine places for care. In adjusted analyses, individuals with lower income, less than high school education, lack of insurance, and being unmarried had 64%, 51%, 81%, and 40% lower likelihood of GLP-1 RA use, respectively. LASSO identified income, education, insurance, and access to care as predictors. Lower income, lower educational attainment, and lack of insurance were associated with 48%, 34%, and 79% lower likelihood of GLP-1 RA use, respectively, adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Conclusion SDoH-driven disparities limit GLP-1 RA access. Expanding GLP-1 RA access by addressing socioeconomic barriers is critical to slowing CKM progression, reducing cardiovascular risk, and mitigating health disparities.

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Designing to Implement Genomics Informed ASCVD Risk Assessment: Patient and Clinician Perspectives about Identifying and Managing the Underlying Causes of Severe Hypercholesterolemia

Morgan, K. M.; Campbell-Salome, G.; Salvati, Z. M.; Kunnmann, M.; Cawley, D.; Carr, L.; Ceballos, L.; Gidding, S. S.; Kenny, E. E.; Kontorovich, A. R.; Naib, T.; Oetjens, M. T.; Pejaver, V.; Suckiel, S. A.; Tomey, M. I.; Jones, L. K.; Hallquist, M. L. G.

2026-08-12 genetic and genomic medicine 10.64898/2026.08.10.26360146 medRxiv
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Introduction: Severe hypercholesterolemia has four primary causes: monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), polygenic hypercholesterolemia (PRS), severely elevated Lp(a) concentration, and hypercholesterolemia due to environmental/lifestyle/behavioral factors (i.e., no known genetic etiology). Here, we explore patient and clinician perspectives about the identification and management of each of these causes. Methods: Patients with severe hypercholesterolemia with a primary language of English or Spanish and clinicians (primary care, genetic counseling, cardiology) across two health systems (Geisinger, Mount Sinai) participated in semi-structured interviews. Analysis was completed using an a priori codebook informed by Proctor?s implementation outcomes to identify themes influencing the identification and management of the underlying causes of severe hypercholesterolemia. Results: A total of 28 patients and 25 clinicians participated. Patients emphasized the importance of receiving results directly from their clinician, requested take-home resources that mirrored the information from their clinician, were motivated to seek multidisciplinary care, and anticipated all results would be actionable, but that high-risk PRS and elevated Lp(a) may require more support (e.g., specialists, education) to act on. Clinicians stressed the importance of integrating workflows (e.g., test ordering) with the electronic health record, highlighted LDL-C levels and multidisciplinary care coordination as key to management, explained how they would tailor care to individual patients, and expressed a more limited understanding of Lp(a) and PRS result types based on their clinical experiences and, therefore, hesitation about the recommended clinical actions. Conclusions: Patients and clinicians identified complementary determinants influencing the identification and management of the underlying cause of severe hypercholesterolemia. Participants welcomed risk information and requested a higher level of informational support and specialty expertise to appropriately manage high Lp(a) and PRS results. Integrating genomic information into risk assessments will require a partnership between general practitioners and specialists to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the identification and management of the underlying causes of severe hypercholesterolemia.

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Usability, acceptability and feasibility of continuous glucose monitoring among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Kenya

Amolo, P.; Mungai, L.; Karume, A. K.; Kibugi, J.; Mwende, W.; Botella, N.; Haldane, C.; Kamau, Y.; Marban-Castro, E.

2026-09-01 endocrinology 10.64898/2026.08.27.26361447 medRxiv
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Introduction Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is considered standard care in high-income countries. There is, however, limited published evidence on CGM use in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to assess the usability, acceptability, and feasibility of CGM use among people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and caregivers in a low-resource setting. Research Design and Methods This prospective study conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital purposively enrolled persons aged 4-25 years who had been on management for T1D for at least six months, and caregivers of those under 18 years. Fourty youth living with T1D used CGM for three months in place of self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). The System Usability Scale (SUS), a Theoretical Framework of Acceptability-based questionnaire, the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), the Glucose Monitoring Satisfaction Survey (GMSS), and a feasibility survey were administered. Outcomes were summarized descriptively, including means, medians, and frequencies using R statistical software. Results The median SUS score was 98.8 (IQR 92.5-100.0). Acceptability was high, and the median total GMSS score improved from 3.73 to 4.73. Among adolescents and adults, the median overall DDS score reduced from 1.54 to 1.36, with reductions in scores in all domains, except for hypoglycemia distress which increased, and physician distress which remained low. Among caregivers, the median overall DDS score declined from 2.05 (moderate distress) to 1.90 (low distress), with modest reductions in teen management and parent-teen relationship distress and a slight increase in personal distress. Median CGM active wear time was 89%. Conclusion This study comprehensively evaluated CGM across usability, acceptability, and feasibility outcomes, with the findings supporting the integration of CGM into routine diabetes management in low-resource settings. The short follow-up period, however, may not capture changing perceptions or long-term adherence.

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Acceptability, feasibility, quality of life and diabetes distress score outcomes: A pragmatic randomised clinical trial on continuous glucose monitoring for people with type 1 diabetes

Marban-Castro, E.; Muhwava, L.; Girdwood, S.; Kemp, T.; Freitas, J.; Kamau, Y.; Otieno, M.; Akach, D.; Morato, A.; Sanz, S.; Fiechter, V.; Erkosar, B.; Watson, M.; Vetter, B.; Haldane, C.; Shilton, S.; Rheeder, P.; Dave, J. A.; Carrihill, M.; Karsas, M.

2026-08-31 endocrinology 10.64898/2026.08.26.26361479 medRxiv
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Introduction: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers an advancement over traditional self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of different CGM use cases in African populations remains limited. Methods: This was a pragmatic three-arm, randomised controlled trial on CGM conducted among people living with T1D in three public healthcare clinics in South Africa. Participants were assigned to Arm 1 (continuous CGM), Arm 2 (periodic CGM), or Arm 3 (SMBG). Diabetes education was provided at all study visits. Feasibility was assessed by adherence to CGM use and through the Glucose Monitoring Satisfaction Survey (GMSS). Diabetes distress was measured by the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by the EQ-5D scales, and acceptability using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Surveys were collected on paper and transferred to OpenClinica. Analyses were performed in R. The trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry (NCT05944718) on July 13, 2023. Results: A total of 83 participants were included in Arm 1, 85 in Arm 2, and 80 in Arm 3. CGM mean active time was 55% in Arm 1 versus 69% in Arm 2. The proportion of participants meeting the [&ge;]70% active time threshold was higher in Arm 2 (52%) than in Arm 1 (34%). Diabetes' distress declined across arms during the intervention period, with no significant difference between arms; distress increased slightly six months post-intervention but remained below baseline. At 6 months, glucose monitoring satisfaction was significantly higher in both CGM arms than in the SMBG arm, and satisfaction increased over time in CGM arms. Health-related quality of life remained stable across arms during the intervention period with no significant difference between arms. High acceptability was observed in both CGM arms, with higher ratings in the periodic arm. Conclusions: CGM was acceptable to people living with type 1 diabetes and feasible to use in public-sector clinics in South Africa, with high acceptability under continuous and periodic use. Health-related quality of life remained stable across arms, and diabetes-related distress declined, during the intervention period, across arms. Glucose monitoring satisfaction rose significantly in both CGM arms compared to SMBG. Periodic CGM might be a promising and potentially more scalable option than continuous use for public-sector care.

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Relation of Self-Reported Race and Genetic Ancestry to Hypertension Prevalence Among Hispanics/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Montanez-Valverde, R. A.; Kim, V.; Duran-Luciano, P.; Yuan, Y.; Sofer, T.; Kaplan, R. C.; Gallo, L. C.; Talavera, G. A.; Perreira, K. M.; Daviglus, M. L.; Rosas, S. E.; Llabre, M. M.; Elfassy, T.; Li, X.; Isasi, C. R.; Rodriguez, C. J.

2026-09-03 genetic and genomic medicine 10.64898/2026.09.01.26361995 medRxiv
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Background. The imprecision of current metrics to capture the complex genetic admixture and racial identity among Hispanic/Latino individuals in the United States [US] is a concern. We examined the relationship of self-reported race and genetic ancestry with hypertension [HTN] among Hispanics/Latinos. Methods. Cross-sectional study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), including 10,586 Hispanic/Latino unrelated adults. Genetic ancestry: West African [AA], Amerindian [AI], and European [EA]. Self-reported race: White, Black, Native American, or Multiple/Missing (More than one race or Unknown/Not reported/Refused). HTN: systolic (SBP) [&ge;]130 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) [&ge;]80 mmHg, and/or use of HTN medications. Age- and sex adjusted models were used. Results. Self-reported race was White (38{middle dot}6%), Black (3{middle dot}6%), Native American (4{middle dot}1%), and Multiple/Missing (53{middle dot}7%), with Unknown/Not reported/Refused representing 32{middle dot}7%. Black and White Hispanics/Latinos had the greatest AA (55{middle dot}7%) and EA (69{middle dot}3%) ancestries, respectively. Each 10% AA increase was associated with OR 1{middle dot}15, SBP beta +0{middle dot}9 mmHg, and DBP beta +0{middle dot}7 mmHg. Conversely, each 10% AI increase was associated with OR 0{middle dot}83, SBP beta -0{middle dot}4 mmHg, and DBP beta -0{middle dot}6 mmHg. HTN prevalence was highest among those with Black race or in the highest AA quantile (45{middle dot}6% and 48{middle dot}0%, respectively), and lowest among those with Native American race or in the highest AI quantile (37{middle dot}6% and 26{middle dot}7%, respectively). Conclusion. One-third of Hispanics/Latinos did not self-report race. Black or White self-reporting race did somewhat relate to AA or EA ancestry, respectively. HTN profiles were related to self-reported race and genetic ancestry in this admixed population.

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Randomized metformin and cognitive outcomes in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study

Wander, P. L.; Doherty, L.; Pan, Q.; Carmichael, O.; Turner, R.; Kuo, S.; Munshi, M.; Wallia, A.; Noble, J.; Shah, V. O.; Nadkarni, N. K.; Mudaliar, S.; Dabelea, D.; Temprosa, M.; Knowler, W. C.; Nathan, D. M.; Luchsinger, J. A.; DPP Research Group,

2026-08-07 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.05.26359234 medRxiv
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Importance. Metformin may influence risk of dementia, with prior conflicting observations of protection or harm. Objective. To determine the association of randomization to metformin vs. placebo or intensive lifestyle intervention (ILS) in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) with cognitive outcomes (cognitive impairment syndromes and trajectories of cognitive test performance) during the DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS). Design, Setting & Participants. Prospective long-term follow-up of DPP/DPPOS participants at 27 U.S. centers among adults who were at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) at baseline. Exposures. Randomization to metformin, placebo, or ILS (1996-1999) for 3.2 years followed by open-label metformin in the original randomized metformin group until 2021. Main Outcomes & Measures. Cognitive impairment syndromes were adjudicated in 2022-2024 in 1,483 participants (median age 74 [IQR 68, 80]) using the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Dataset version 3. Cognitive performance in executive and memory domains was ascertained with repeated cognitive tests between 2009 and 2024. Multinomial logistic regression and mixed-effects models were fit to examine associations of randomization to metformin with cognitive outcomes. Results. Total metformin exposure (mean {+/-} SD) was 15.5 {+/-}7.7 years/person in the metformin group. Persons in the placebo and ILS groups received out-of-study metformin usually after developing diabetes with mean metformin total exposure of 4.5 {+/-}5.1 and 3.8 {+/-}4.8 years/person in the placebo and ILS groups, respectively. Overall, the frequency distributions of the cognitive syndromes did not differ significantly by treatment group; however, randomization to metformin was associated with a 60% (OR 0.40 [95%CI 0.17, 0.97]) and 62% (OR 0.38 [95%CI 0.16, 0.89]) lower odds of dementia compared with placebo and ILS, respectively, after adjustment for demographics, education, income, and APOE-{varepsilon}4 genotype. Randomization to metformin was also associated with significantly better memory performance over time ( {beta} =0.58; 95%CI: 0.09, 1.1; p=0.02; Cohen's d=0.1). Conclusions and Relevance. Long-term metformin treatment is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and better memory performance among persons with pre-diabetes or T2D. Estimates were imprecise due to a limited number of dementia cases. Longer follow-up with more dementia cases is needed to confirm our findings.

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Continuous Glucose Monitoring Reveals Glycemic Patterns Associated with End-Organ Alterations in Early Dysglycemia

Chen, B.; Alexopoulos, A.-S.; Lau, W. T.; Thakoor, K. A.; Lee, C. S.; Metwally, A. A.; Dunn, J. P.

2026-08-17 endocrinology 10.64898/2026.08.14.26360480 medRxiv
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Objective: To determine whether continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) identifies clinically relevant glycemic heterogeneity and subclinical end-organ alterations in adults without diabetes. Research Design and Methods: We analyzed 1,017 AI-READI Year 3 participants without diabetes (558 with normoglycemia and 459 with prediabetes by A1C). Fifty-two metrics from 10-day blinded CGM were reduced to nonredundant glycemic axes. Partial Spearman correlations between representative CGM metrics and clinical measures across 13 domains were adjusted for age, sex, and BMI and controlled for false discovery rate. CGM-derived subphenotypes were identified using unsupervised UMAP-HDBSCAN-based clustering. Results: Among 462 glycemic-clinical associations tested, 99 (21.4%) remained significant after false discovery rate correction. Hyperglycemia-related metrics, including mean glucose, time above range, and time in tight range, showed more associations than variability metrics. The strongest signals involved cardiometabolic, cardiovascular, and cognitive measures. Greater hyperglycemia and glucose excursions were associated with lower language performance, slower processing speed, and lower cognitive efficiency ({rho} {approx} -0.10 to -0.14; all P < 0.01). Clustering identified four reproducible glycemic subphenotypes: Healthy, Mild Hyperglycemia, High Variability, and Hyperglycemia. CGM phenotypes reclassified A1C-defined groups: 58.1% of participants with normoglycemia fell into dysglycemic phenotypes, whereas 18.8% of participants with prediabetes fell into more favorable phenotypes. The Hyperglycemia phenotype had the most adverse cardiometabolic profile and lower cognitive performance. Conclusions: In adults without diabetes, CGM revealed glycemic patterns associated with distinct subclinical alterations. CGM-based phenotyping may complement A1C for characterizing early dysglycemia and selecting individuals for longitudinal risk-stratification studies.

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Acceptability, Feasibility, and User Experiences of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Type 1 Diabetes in Kenya: Perspectives of Adolescents, Young Adults, Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers

Karume, A. K.; Amolo, P.; Mungai, L.; Moraa, H.; Arunga, T.; Nzove, E.; Ndambuki, C.; Muhwava, L.; Kamau, Y.; Marban-Castro, E.

2026-08-18 endocrinology 10.64898/2026.08.16.26359665 medRxiv
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Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a growing public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, where access to glucose monitoring and consistent routine care remains limited. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may improve diabetes outcomes, but evidence of its acceptability and use in low-resource settings is limited. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of CGM use among people living with T1D, their caregivers, and healthcare providers (HCPs). Methods: Participants were recruited from the ACCEDE-U study, a usability study on CGM use among people living with T1D attending a tertiary referral hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Among 40 participants in the ACCEDE-U study, those who had completed at least seven weeks of CGM use were eligible to participate in the qualitative component. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted: one with nine caregivers, one with nine adolescents (12-17 years), and one with six young adults (18-24 years). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 HCPs. Data was collected using guides, audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically guided by the socioecological framework. CORE-Q guidelines were used to report results. Results: Participants reported increased engagement in glucose monitoring and high acceptability of CGM. Reduced finger-prick testing and real-time alerts were key benefits, particularly among adolescents and young adults, who valued its discreetness and convenience. CGM was perceived to facilitate sharing of glucose data with HCPs. Caregivers reported a reduced monitoring burden. HCPs perceived CGM as valuable for clinical decision-making by providing real-time insights into glycemic patterns. Cost and limited device availability were identified as major barriers to sustained use. Conclusion: CGM was well accepted and perceived as beneficial. However, challenges related to cost and access may limit broader uptake. Improving affordability and availability could enhance feasibility and promote wider implementation in similar settings.

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Medial Plantar Nerve Shear Wave Elastography and Viscosity Imaging for Differentiating Mild from Moderate Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Gao, X.; Li, Y.

2026-09-02 radiology and imaging 10.64898/2026.08.28.26361645 medRxiv
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Objective: To examine how medial plantar nerve shear wave speed (Cs) and viscosity coefficient (Vi) are associated with the severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and to assess their ability to differentiate adjacent severity categories. Materials and Methods: Based on TCSS, the 113 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were assigned to the non-DPN (n = 33), mild DPN (n = 46), and moderate DPN (n = 34) groups. Medial plantar nerve Cs and Vi were measured using shear wave elastography and viscosity imaging. Receiver operating characteristic analysis evaluated Cs, Vi, and their logistic regression-based combination; areas under the curves (AUCs) were compared using DeLong tests. Results: Cs and Vi increased progressively across the three groups (both P < 0.001). For non-DPN versus mild DPN, the AUCs of Cs, Vi, and the combined model were 0.688 (95% CI, 0.604-0.772), 0.741 (0.660-0.822), and 0.745 (0.665-0.826), respectively, without significant pairwise differences. For mild versus moderate DPN, the corresponding AUCs were 0.707 (0.625-0.789), 0.794 (0.724-0.865), and 0.799 (0.731-0.867). The combined model outperformed Cs (P = 0.045), whereas Cs versus Vi and Vi versus the combined model did not differ significantly (P = 0.162 and 1.000, respectively). Conclusion: Medial plantar nerve Cs and Vi increased with DPN severity. Their combination improved discrimination between mild and moderate DPN compared with Cs alone but not with Vi alone. Quantitative medial plantar nerve viscoelastic assessment may complement clinical severity grading.

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Site-Specific Cancer Incidence among Clinical Subtypes of Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes in the United States

Li, Z.; Liu, C.; Weber, M. B.; Ali, M. K.; Hofmeister, C. C.; Varghese, J. S.

2026-08-18 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.17.26360595 medRxiv
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Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with elevated rates of several cancers and is increasingly recognized as a heterogeneous disease, but whether its clinically distinct subtypes carry different cancer risks is unknown. Methods: In this matched retrospective cohort study using electronic health record data from the Epic Cosmos Research Platform (2012-2025), adults with newly diagnosed T2D were classified into severe insulin-deficient (SIDD, 21.6%), mild obesity-related (MOD, 23.5%), mild age-related (MARD, 40.7%), or mixed (14.1%) subtypes using validated algorithms and matched to adults without diabetes on age, sex, and body mass index. Cause-specific Cox models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for seven site-specific cancers, accounting for competing risks. Cancer screening uptake was assessed as a secondary outcome. Results: Among 575,139 adults with T2D and 689,719 without diabetes (median follow-up, 3.8 years), MARD had the highest cancer incidence (17.3 per 1,000 person-years). Relative to adults without diabetes, rates of colorectal, pancreatic, liver, endometrial, and ovarian cancer were elevated across subtypes, with the highest hazards in SIDD (HR=3.87, 95% CI=3.51 to 4.27) and mixed phenotypes. Prostate cancer rates were lower in all subtypes, most markedly in MOD (HR=0.60, 95% CI=0.55 to 0.64). Rates of breast cancer were higher among mixed (HR=1.12, 95% CI=1.05 to 1.19) and lower among MOD (HR=0.85, 95% CI=0.80 to 0.90). Mammography and prostate-specific antigen screening were lower across subtypes. Conclusions: Site-specific cancer incidence and screening uptake differed across clinically defined subtypes of T2D. Subtype classification from routine clinical data may inform targeted cancer surveillance, though further study is needed before clinical use.

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Metabolomic signatures of data-driven type 2 diabetes subtypes and their associations with dementia and stroke risk

Han, S.; Hewett, J.; Ahmadizar, F.; Biessels, G. J.

2026-08-25 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.21.26361082 medRxiv
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Background Data-driven type 2 diabetes (T2D) subtypes differ in their risks of dementia and stroke. We examined whether their metabolomic profiles also differed and whether subtype-related metabolic patterns were associated with dementia, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Methods We analyzed NMR-based metabolomic profiles across previously defined T2D subtypes in the UK Biobank. Subtype-related metabolites were summarized using principal component analysis (PCA), and their associations with incident dementia, stroke, and all-cause mortality were examined using Cox models. Attenuation analyses and two-sample Mendelian randomization further assessed subtype-outcome relationships and the potential causal relevance of outcome-associated metabolites. Results Among 7,671 individuals (mean age 59.85 years; 37% female), the first five PCs explained 76.7% of variance in subtype-related metabolites and mainly reflected lipid and lipoprotein signatures. After adjustment for T2D subtype and confounders, the HDL-remodeling PC increased risks of all-cause dementia (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08-1.27), VaD (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05-1.32), and all-cause mortality (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.13-1.19). Lower scores on the LDL cholesterol-enriched axis increase risks of all-cause dementia (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62-0.91) and mortality (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.69-0.83). The VLDL/LDL-enriched PC was inversely associated with mortality (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98). No significant stroke results were observed. Adjustment for the PCA-derived metabolomic patterns generally attenuated subtype-outcome associations, MR analyses identified 197 metabolite-outcome associations that remained significant after FDR correction. Conclusions Metabolomic profiling showed that the metabolic signatures differed across data-driven T2D subtypes and highlighted lipid and lipoprotein remodeling as a major metabolic feature associated with dementia, stroke, and all-cause mortality.

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Chrononutrition and prenatal mental health: The relationship between food intake indicators and prenatal depressive symptomatology

Personette, C. M.; Phan, D. A.; Duan, D.; Kim, N.; Abebe, K. Z.; Scifres, C. M.; Costacou, T. M.; Catalano, P.; Simhan, H.; Davis, E. M.; Mendez, D. D.; Hawkins, M. S.

2026-08-22 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.19.26360839 medRxiv
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Abstract Aim: Examine cross-sectional associations between mid-pregnancy food intake indicators and prenatal depressive symptomatology. Methods: This secondary analysis of the Comparison of Two Screening Strategies for Gestational Diabetes trial (N = 718) examined domains of mid-pregnancy food intake (direct timing, energy timing, meal/snack structure, meal energy distribution, diet quality) derived from 24-hour dietary recalls. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Generalized linear models examined associations between food intake indicators, total, and high (EPDS [&ge;]13) depressive symptoms. Results: Mean (SD) EPDS score was [6.3 (4.9)]; 12.4% (n = 89) had high depressive symptoms. Eating frequency (B = 0.08 [0.02, 0.14], p = 0.009), snack frequency (B = 0.06 [0.00, 0.12], p = 0.040), nighttime snacking frequency (B = 0.06 [0.00, 0.11], p = 0.041), and total daily energy intake (B = 0.06 [0.01, 0.12], p = 0.031) were positively associated with total depressive symptoms. Energy intake from breakfast (PR = 1.2 [1.0, 1.3], p = 0.017) was associated with a higher prevalence of high depressive symptoms. Energy intake from dinner (PR = 0.81 [0.69, 0.94], p = 0.007), later timing of the first eating episode (PR = 0.83 [0.70, 0.99], p = 0.034) and first energy quartile (PR = 0.84 [0.70, 1.0], p = 0.048), were associated with a lower prevalence of high depressive symptoms. Conclusion: These findings extend prior chrononutrition-depression literature to the prenatal period, implicating eating frequency, energy intake, and meal energy timing and distribution in depressive symptomatology during pregnancy, warranting further longitudinal investigation.

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Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist initiation and risk of clinically recorded Alzheimer's disease-type dementia in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a target trial emulation using causal machine learning

Schroeder, J.; Ciora, O.-A.; Heesen, P.; Bendszus, M.; Levin, J.; Perneczky, R.; Bally, L.; Feuerriegel, S.

2026-08-24 endocrinology 10.64898/2026.08.21.26361012 medRxiv
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Background Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are increasingly used for type 2 diabetes. Despite established metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal benefits, it remains uncertain whether GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with longer clinically recorded Alzheimer's disease (AD)-type dementia-free survival than sulfonylureas (SU) or SGLT2 inhibitors. Methods Using All of Us electronic health records, we emulated target trials among adults aged 55 years or older with type 2 diabetes, a 12-month washout, and no prior dementia. We compared GLP-1 receptor agonists with SU and SGLT2 inhibitors. Propensity score weighting and doubly robust estimation addressed confounding. Causal survival forests estimated individualized treatment effects on 48-month RMST free from clinically recorded AD-type dementia. Findings In the GLP-1 receptor agonist versus SU comparison (6,328 individuals; 48-month NNT approximately 202), initiation was associated with a small but statistically significant increase in AD-type dementia-free survival (ATE 0.21 months; 95% CI: 0.07-0.35). The highest-benefit stratum gained 0.45 months (95% CI: 0.28-0.62). In the SGLT2 inhibitor comparison (3,070 individuals; 48-month NNT approximately 245), the average effect was not statistically significant (ATE 0.06 months; 95% CI: -0.18 to 0.31), but treatment effects were heterogeneous. The highest-benefit stratum gained 0.83 months (95% CI: 0.49-1.17). Predicted benefit was associated with older age, insulin use, lower HbA1c, and lower BMI. Interpretation GLP-1 receptor agonists may delay clinically recorded AD-type dementia compared with SU. Comparative effectiveness versus SGLT2 inhibitors may vary, supporting further study. Given the hypothesis-generating nature of these findings, diabetes treatment selection should remain guided by glycemic, cardiovascular, renal, and patient-centered considerations. Funding German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (03LWH0181B)

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The Yamanashi Multi-omics Cohort (YMoC): study design of a screening-defined longitudinal metabolic-risk cohort with integrated multi-omics and digital phenotyping

Goto, G.; Hanawa, D.; Naito, K.; Wang, Q. S.; Kanai, S.; Awaji, M.; Nishikawa, H.; Yui, H.; Nishitani, S.; Miyake, K.; Ooka, T.

2026-08-21 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.18.26360529 medRxiv
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Background: Large-scale biobanks have advanced genomic and epidemiologic research, but many rely on infrequent biological sampling and limited digital phenotyping. The Yamanashi Multi-omics Cohort (YMoC) was established to support longitudinal assessment of molecular, clinical, and behavioural changes in a screening-defined cohort of adults at elevated metabolic risk without diagnosed diabetes. Methods: YMoC is a longitudinal cohort of 215 adults aged 30-70 years in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, who met prespecified glycaemic eligibility criteria at health check-up, including fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L) and HbA1c <6.5%. Participants underwent three in-person visits over six months. Measurements include 75-g oral glucose tolerance testing with serial sampling, clinical biochemistry, anthropometry, liver elastography, and collection of blood, urine, stool, and saliva for multi-omics profiling. Between visits, participants wore a Fitbit Inspire 3 and completed daily app-based questionnaires using the Taohealth app. Current molecular data include genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism array genotyping and longitudinal plasma proteomics in a subset. Conclusions: YMoC is designed to evaluate within-person molecular and phenotypic trajectories in a screening-defined metabolic-risk cohort. The cohort provides a dense longitudinal resource linking clinical assessments, biospecimens, omics assays, and digital phenotyping, including analyses of insulin-resistance-related markers such as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

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Prevalence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among Children and Adolescents (<18 years) in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abu Bashar, M.; Prabhat, ; Khan, I. A.; Begam, N.

2026-08-14 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.12.26360221 medRxiv
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Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a common metabolic disorder in paediatric age groups and is a major contributor to the burden of health economics. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the prevalence of this condition among children. Methods English language literature published from inception until April 2025 was searched from the electronic databases, i.e., PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL. Original data published in any form that reported NAFLD prevalence among children and/or adolescents in India were included. The subgroup analysis of prevalence was done based on the risk category, i.e., average risk group and high risk group (obesity or overweight, metabolic syndrome, etc.). The prevalence estimates were pooled using the random-effects model. Results A total of 11 studies (six in high-risk populations and 5 in the average-risk general population) comprising data from 3512 individuals were found eligible and were included. The overall pooled estimate of NAFLD prevalence among the children and adolescents was 35.4% (95% CI: 19.7% to 52.9%) with very high heterogeneity(I2=99.0%). The pooled prevalence of NAFLD among average/low risk children and adolescents was 10.7% (95%CI: 5.2% to 20.5%) with high heterogeneity across the studies (I2= 96.6%, p=0.001) whereas the pooled prevalence of NAFLD in high risk overweight/obese children and adolescents was found to be 59.7% (95% CI:55.2% to 64.1%) with moderate heterogeneity across the studies (I2=50.90%; H2=2.04; Q (5) = 10.03; p=0.07) Conclusion This systematic review demonstrates that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a growing health concern among Indian children and adolescents, as 1 out of 3 children/adolescents is suffering from it, with a disproportionately high burden observed in those who are overweight or obese.

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Detecting early loss of kidney function in a Sri Lankan cohort study of working age adults

Chulasiri, P.; Rutter, C. E.; Gunawardena, N.; Wickramasinghe, S.; Niyas, R.; Pearce, N.; Caplin, B.; Ruwanpathirana, T.

2026-08-19 epidemiology 10.64898/2026.08.18.26360601 medRxiv
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Background: Chronic kidney disease of undetermined cause (CKDu) is a form of kidney disease not associated with traditional risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes or heavy proteinuria. 11.2% of men and 3.7% of women demonstrated low eGFR (a surrogate for CKDu) in the absence of these risk factors in a 2017 cross-sectional population-representative survey of adults in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. We therefore established a longitudinal cohort to track changes in kidney function over time and to identify risk factors for developing poor kidney health. Methods: This was a 6-year study of adults aged 20-60 years conducted in Puhudivula, Anuradhapura district. Exclusions included evidence of diabetes, hypertension or pre-existing CKD. We fitted hidden Markov models (HMMs) to estimate underlying state of kidney health and examine risk factors associated with departure from a healthy state. Results: We identified four kidney health trajectories in the population (n=425): always healthy (74%); unhealthy throughout (5%); transition from health to unhealthy (10%); and reversion from unhealthy to healthy (11%). Using smokeless tobacco, including betel quid, was associated with being in an unhealthy category (2.29 [1.17, 4.49]). Lagged exposure to smoking (2.26 [1.25, 4.10]), smokeless tobacco (1.98 [1.13, 3.48]) and weedkiller (1.72 [1.15, 2.59]) were associated with the point of transition to an unhealthy state. Conclusions: Almost a quarter of working age adults in this population demonstrated eGFR changes consistent with poor kidney health. Smokeless tobacco use was associated with both pre-existing evidence of poor kidney health and transitioning to the unhealthy category.