The objective was to identify anthropometric trajectories among subjects with type 2 diabetes, and associate them with glycaemic control.
A prospective study including 268 community-dwelling participants with type 2 diabetes (34% women, mean age 68.7±8.9 years) followed for 10.7 years (range: 8.8-13.6 years). Type 2 diabetes control was considered for 1) fasting plasma glucose (FPG) <7.0 mmol/L, or 2) HbA1c<7.0% (53 nmol/mol). Changes in weight or waist and weight variability were considered.
One half (FPG) and one third (HbA1c) of participants presented with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Half of the participants presented with obesity and 75% with abdominal obesity. During follow-up, half of the participants maintained their weight, 25% gained >5 kg, and 25% lost <5 kg; almost half increased their waist by >5 cm. Using FPG as criterion, participants who lost >5 cm waist were more likely to be controlled: multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.10 (1.23-7.78). Participants with controlled diabetes also presented with a higher weight variability: multivariable adjusted mean±standard error 4.8±0.3 vs. 3.9±0.3 kg, p=0.028. Using HbA1c as criterion, participants who lost >5 kg were less likely to be controlled: OR and (95% CI): 0.35 (0.18-0.66). Similar findings were obtained when restricting the analysis to participants with type 2 diabetes throughout the whole study period. In a Swiss community-based sample of participants with type 2 diabetes, diabetes control rates are low; neither weight nor waist changes were significantly and consistently associated with type 2 diabetes control.