Impact of diabetes-specific nutrition formulas on time in range in overweight or obese Colombian patients with diabetes: A case series study

Abstract

The use of diabetes-specific nutrition formulas reduces postprandial glucose and insulin levels and promotes satiety, thereby improving glycemic control and contributing to weight loss. The effect of diabetes-specific nutrition formulas on the percentage of time in range (70-180 mg/dL) has not yet been investigated. This longitudinal pilot study was based on a case series of overweight or obese patients diagnosed with diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring and managed at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogotá (Colombia). We compared continuous glucose monitoring data and anthropometric variables before and after 4 weeks of using a diabetes-specific nutrition formula as replacement for breakfast and afternoon snack. Eleven patients were included in this study; of these, 63.7% were men. The mean patient age was 55 ± 14.5 years, and 81.1% had type 2 diabetes. The mean percentage of time in range increased from 64% ± 24% to 75% ± 16% (mean difference: 10.63; 95% confidence interval: 2.13, 19.14; p = 0.01). The mean percentage of time above range (>180 mg/dL) decreased from 34% ± 25% to 23% ±14% (mean difference: -11.27; 95% confidence interval: -2.48, -20.05; p = 0.02), with no difference in hypoglycemia incidence or anthropometric variables. Our study suggests that the use of a diabetes-specific nutrition formula as replacement for breakfast and afternoon snack improves glycemic control, as measured via continuous glucose monitoring, in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes. This adds to the emerging evidence on the effect of this intervention on continuous glucose monitoring metrics. Further evidence is needed from larger clinical trials to support the inclusion of this intervention in routine clinical practice.