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Glucose Variability Linked to Mortality in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders has shed light on the relationship between glucose variability and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Researchers from China Medical University conducted a retrospective cohort study, analyzing data from 3,996 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who visited a medical center between 2001 and 2020. The study aimed to explore the association between glucose variability and echocardiographic parameters, as well as the mediating effect of these parameters in the relationship between glucose variability and mortality.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that both variability in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were significantly linked with mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
  • FPG variability was correlated with left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular mass (LVM), e', and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity according to multivariable regression analyses.
  • At a mean follow-up of 5.2 years, FPG variability, LVM, LVMI, s', and TR velocity were independently linked with all-cause and expanded cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.
  • The study concluded that the echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function had a weak mediating effect in the association between FPG variability and mortality, but not in the association between HbA1c variability and mortality.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed data from 3,996 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • The mean follow-up period was 5.2 years.
  • FPG variability was correlated with LVMI, LVM, e', and TR velocity.
  • FPG variability, LVM, LVMI, s', and TR velocity were independently linked with all-cause and expanded CVD mortality.
  • The mediating effect of echocardiographic parameters was as follows:

+ LVM: 3.04%

+ LVMI: 3.75%

+ s': 2.19%

+ TR velocity: 2.71%

+ s': 4.33%

+ TR velocity: 2.72%

Sources:

  • Relation of glucose variability on mortality from any cause and cardiovascular diseases in individuals with type 2 diabetes: mediation analysis of echocardiographic parameters. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 2025,25(1):1-12.
  • China Medical University (china.edu.tw)
  • BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com)
  • doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12872-025-05182-w

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