Literature Collection

SUMMARY: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, particularly the elderly population. Remission of T2D in elderly patients through lifestyle modifications has been well documented, especially in newly diagnosed patients with good glycemic control and without obesity. It is also common in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. In this report, we present the case of a 66-year-old male patient with a 30-year history of T2D and mild obesity who achieved remission of T2D through customized integrated intensive lifestyle modifications, including a vegan diet, exercise and psychological support. The patient showed an improvement in HbA1c (7.7 to 5.3%) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; 6.2 to 1.8) and a shift in BMI (25.3 to 23.7 kg/m2) through weight loss (73 to 67 kg). The patient remains in remission 33 months after the completion of the intervention. This case suggests the possibility of long-term remission with lifestyle changes in patients with advanced age, a longer duration of diabetes and mild obesity. LEARNING POINTS: Long-term sustained remission is possible in a geriatric patient with long-standing type 2 diabetes (T2D) of more than 30 years. Customized integrated intensive lifestyle intervention can lead to a significant improvement in glycemic control and insulin resistance in elderly patients with T2D. Integrated lifestyle interventions, including a vegan diet, exercise and psychological support, have the potential to stop the usage of oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin in an elderly patient with a prolonged history of T2D and mild obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Correctional officials often cite diversion of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment (e.g., buprenorphine) as a reason for not offering MOUD treatment in jails and prisons, but it is poorly understood whether these fears are justified. We aimed to understand staff perceptions of medication diversion from jail-based MOUD programs and the factors that contribute to and prevent diversion. METHODS: We conducted qualitative analyses of semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus groups performed in 2019-20 with 61 administrative, security, behavioral health, and clinical staff who implement MOUD programming in seven Massachusetts jails. RESULTS: Contrary to staff expectations, buprenorphine diversion was perceived to occur infrequently during MOUD program implementation. The MOUD program changed staff views of buprenorphine, i.e., as legitimate treatment instead of as illicit contraband. Also, the program was perceived to have disrupted the illicit buprenorphine market in jail and reduced related coercion. Proactive strategies were essential to prevent and respond to buprenorphine diversion. Key components of diversion prevention strategies included: staff who distinguished among different reasons for diversion; comprehensive and routinized but flexible dosing protocols; communication, education, and monitoring; patient involvement in assessing reasons for diversion; and written policies to adjudicate diversion consequences. CONCLUSION: With appropriate protocols, buprenorphine diversion within correctional programs designed to provide MOUD treatment is perceived to be uncommon and preventable. Promising practices in program design help limit medication diversion and inform correctional officials and lawmakers as they consider whether and how to provide MOUD treatment in correctional settings.