[INTRODUCTION - Data on bone mineral density (BMD) in diabetes mellitus are contradictory in the literature. Early studies described a decreased bone mineral density in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but recent studies report no osteopenia in T1DM.The BMD may depend on the quality of treatment for diabetes mellitus and on the presence of chronic complications. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) the BMD is not decreased, occasionally it can even be increased. PATIENTS AND METHODS - Bone mineral density was measured in 122 regularly controlled diabetic patients (T1DM: n=73, mean age: 43.6±11.1 years,T2DM: n=49, mean age: 61.8±9.8 years) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and at the femur. Results were compared to those of 40 metabolically healthy control persons with a mean age of 47.5±11.9 years.The patients’ carbohydrate metabolism was assessed by the average HbA1c level of the last three years.These values were 7.9±1.4 % in T1DM, and 7.5±1.7 % in T2DM. BMDs were classified based on the T-score and Z-score using the WHO criteria. RESULTS - There was no significant difference in T1DM or in T2DM compared to the reference group in the prevalence of either osteoporosis or of osteoporosis and osteopenia combined. CONCLUSION - BMD was not found to be decreased in patients with well-controlled metabolism compared to healthy controls.]

[The importance of hypertension in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the method of continuous blood pressure control and patient’s careas well as the forms of non-drug and drug therapy have been disclosed by presenting therapeutical recommendations from American, European scientific societies and international organizations. It has been established that the principles of care and treatment of hypertonia have basically remained unchanged in diabetes all over the world, despite the recent widespread debate over the interpretation of normal blood pressure and the consideration of the benefits of intensive or standard treatment.]

[Authors had found diabetes mellitus type 2 in 30% of 38 886 hypertensive patients (stadium I-III). Diabetes was more frequent in case of women under 30 years. Subsequently all age groups (from 40 to 80 years) incidence was more frequently (p<0.01-0.001) in men, above 80 years again a higher ratio was in women. Presence of diabetes was correlated to rate of BMI value and systolic, diastolic pressure as well. In women - above 140 mmHg systolic pressure - the elevation was exponential. We have found a significant correlation between fasting glucose and waist. Reaching the target blood pressure is not a simply task in hypertensive patients with diabetes. The 140/90 mmHg was reached in 34.2%, 90 mmHg diastolic blood pressure in 62.3%, but the required 80 mmHg only in 16.4% of cases. Achieve the target value was quite different in the different region of our country. The major cardiovascular complications (stroke, renal disease, myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease) have suffered a higher rate in the hypertensives with diabetes compered to hypertensives without diabetes.]

[Recently, lixisenatide, a new incretin mimetic GLP-1-receptor agonist with a mainly prandial effect has been registered for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The amino acid sequence of lixisenatide and that of human native GLP-1 is 50% identical. Due to its altered amino acid sequence and conformation, lixisenatide is resistant to inactivation by DPP-4. Lixisenatide is a specific agonist of GLP-1- receptors and its binding has a pharmacologic GLP-1-agonist effect. Lixisenatide is used subcutaneously, its normal daily dose is 1×20 μg. It is mostly used in combination with metformin, but it can be also used to supplement sulfanylurea or basal insulin therapy. Clinical efficiency of lixisenatide has been investigated in the phase-III GetGoal trials. In these trials, adequate glycaemic control and a marked decrease in postprandial blood glucose values were observed. During lixisenatide therapy, a decrease in body weight and no substantial increase in the risk of hypoglycaemia were observed, whereas transient gastrointestinal side effects might occur after initiation of treatment. Lixisenatide as an add-on treatment to basal insulin should be considered as a new treatment approach in the management of type 2 diabetes.]

[INTRODUCTION - Diabetes mellitus is responsible for a huge burden of disease all over the world, including Hungary, as well. The object of our study was to estimate the direct health care costs of treating patients with diabetes, in order to characterize this aspect of the burden of disease, and to facilitate the use of this information in further analyses. METHODS - We used the data of the National Health Fund. Diabetic patients were defined as persons who filled in a prescription of oral antidiabetics (OAD) or insulin in the second half of 2007. We divided this study population into two groups depending on whether they were or were not hospitalised for major complications of diabetes in 2007-2008. The group that was not hospitalised was further divided into three subgroups according to the use of drugs (only OAD, only insulin, OAD and insulin). In all study groups, we estimated the mean, the standard deviation, and the median of health care costs for each cost item by age group in the whole study group and among those who actually used a particular service. Additionally, we took samples of patients who were hospitalised for specific complications, and estimated the health care costs for the first and for the second year after the occurrence of the complication. RESULTS - The mean health care cost of the 521,545 diabetic patients involved in the analysis was 335 thousand HUF. It was 633 thousand HUF for those who were hospitalised for complications, 242 thousand for OAD users without complications, and 449 thousand for insulin users without complications. 53% of the total cost covered drug treatment and 27% acute hospital treatment. 26% of the total drug cost was spent on OADs and on insulin. The acute hospital cost and the drug cost had multiplied within the first year of complication. The latter remained high or further increased in the second year. CONCLUSION - The healthcare cost of diabetes is already very high in Hungary, especially the care for its complications. Considering the burden of disease that manifests in premature mortality, reduction in quality of life, and high cost, and the epidemiological trends, diabetes mellitus should be a public health priority in Hungary.]