Study Finds Challenges Faced by People Living With Diabetes, HIV

There are significant challenges in achieving diabetes control in patients with both diabetes and HIV, according to a study published in HIV Research &  Clinical Practice.

In this study, which took place in Mexico City, researchers assessed 2,072 active people with HIV aged over 18, using medical records of active people enrolled at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) HIV Clinic (HIVC). The population of interest all had a consultation within the 12 months preceding May 2020.

The results showed that prevalence of diabetes among people with HIV was of 6.4%. Regarding the diabetes cascade of care (DMC), the results showed the following proportions of people achieved control goals: 133/133 (100%) received medical care in the last 12 months, 123/123 (100%) had blood pressure (BP) <140/90 mmHg, 73/132 (55.3%) had LDL cholesterol (c-LDL) <100 mg/dl, 63/132 (47.7%) had FG <130 mg/dl, 50/116 (43.1%) had glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <7%. ABC goals (HbA1c <7%, c-LDL <100 mg/dl, BP <140/90 mmHg) were met in 28/109 (25.6%) people. 126/133 (94%) people with HIV achieved HIV-viral load <50 copies/mL.

“Despite the high rate of viral suppression among people with HIV and diabetes, significant challenges remain in achieving comprehensive diabetes control. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve metabolic outcomes and the overall management of diabetes in people with HIV,” the researchers concluded.