CGM effective in T2D with less intensive insulin regimens

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) results in better glycaemic control compared with blood glucose meter monitoring (BGM) in adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes treated with basal insulin without prandial insulin, a randomised controlled trial from the US has shown.

A primary care-based study involving 175 adults with type 2 diabetes showed there there was a significantly greater decrease in HbA1c level over 8 months in those assigned to CGM (from 76 to 64 mmol/mol) compared to BGM (75 to 68mmol/mol).

The mean percentage of time in the target glucose range was 59% for CGM and 43% for BGM.

More information: JAMA Network Open

High intensity is best exercise for postmenopausal women with bone loss

A Queensland study has shown that for postmenopausal women with low bone mass, a high-intensity resistance and impact training is better than low-intensity Pilates-based exercise program for enhancing indices of fracture risk.

The findings come from a prospective trial involving 115 postmenopausal women conducted by the Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, and the Bone Clinic, Brisbane.

It found that those allocated to 8-month, twice-weekly, 40-minute high intensity resistance training program had greater improvements in lumbar spine BMD, as well as height, muscle strength, and functional performance than a ‘Buff Bones’ Pilates program.

Exploratory analyses also suggested that antiresorptive medication may enhance the efficacy of both styles of exercise at the proximal femur and for low-intesnity exercise only at the lumbar spine.

The findings are published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

Hypercalcaemia not uncommon in inpatients

The first study in almost two decades to investigate the prevalence of inpatient hypercalcaemia in Australia has found that it is still not uncommon, occurring in about 1% of admissions at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.

As in previous studies, the main causes were malignancy (26%) and primary hyperparathyroidism (25%). The study showed that most cases of  hypercalcaemia were moderate and not on average above 3.0 mmol/L, but it was associated with high mortality rates, particularly at higher calcium levels.

The results are published in the Internal Medicine Journal.