Abstract
Background/Aims: Limited real-world data describe weight change, associated factors, and glycemic control after diagnosis of diabetes. This study evaluated weight trajectories, glycemic control, and associated factors in the first year after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 in otherwise healthy patients.
Methods: Participants were patients aged 21–75 with diabetes mellitus type 2 diagnosed between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2004, identified from electronic medical records. Eligible patients for this retrospective cohort study met weight measurement criteria and did not have a condition associated with unintentional weight change (n=4135). We estimated 12-month patient weight trajectories using growth curve analyses, grouped similar trajectories using cluster analysis, and compared characteristics among groups.
Results: The four weight trajectory groups were ‘higher stable weight’ (n=757; 18.3%), ‘lower stable weight’ (n=2236; 54.1%), ‘weight gain’ (n=664; 16.0%), and ‘weight loss’ (n=478; 11.6%). Most patients (65.9%) had some weight loss by 8 months and then regained. After adjustments, weight losers were more likely than gainers to be older, be female, take fewer medications, have had nutritionist visits, and have lower mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Weight losers were less likely to be in a race group at higher risk for obesity, have depression or dyslipidemia, or have taken more than 30 days of a sulfonylurea alone or in combination with metformin.
Conclusions: Most diabetes patients lost some weight after diagnosis. Weight loss trajectories were strongly associated with better glycemic control when compared to weight gain. Patients with certain characteristics may need more support for weight loss, and most need support for weight loss maintenance.
- Received September 11, 2008.
