Intensive multidisciplinary weight management in patients with type 1 diabetes and obesity: A one‐year retrospective matched cohort study

AIMS: Recent studies report that approximately 50% of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are overweight or obese. This work studies the effects of intensive multidisciplinary weight management (IMWM) in patients with T1D and obesity. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 68 patients with T1D and obesity who enrolled in a 12-week IMWM program (IMWM cohort: mean age, 42 ± 11 years; HbA1c, 8.3% ± 1.0%; body weight, 104.3 ± 18.2 kg; BMI, 36.2 ± 4.9 kg/m2 ). We matched them 1:1 with a similar cohort of patients receiving standard care (SC cohort: mean age, 42 ± 12 years; HbA1c, 8.3% ± 1.0%; body weight, 102.4 ± 17.9 kg; BMI, 36.1 ± 4.7 kg/m2 ). Data were collected at baseline and at 12 months. RESULTS: Participants in the IMWM cohort had a body weight change of -6.6 ± 1.8 kg or -6.4% ± 1.6% of their initial body weight, while participants in the SC cohort had no change (P < 0.01 for group*time interaction). Participants in the IMWM cohort had a change in HbA1c of -0.4% ± 0.1% from baseline (P < 0.01), while participants in the SC cohort had no change. There was no difference in glycaemic control between cohorts at 12 months. Total daily insulin dose changed by -5.9 ± 1.8 units/d from baseline in the IMWM cohort while there was no change in the SC cohort (P < 0.01 for group*time interaction). CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to standard care, patients with T1D and obesity who participated in an IMWM programme achieved significant weight loss and significant reduction in daily insulin dose at 1 year. Weight reduction was associated with improvements in glycaemic control compared to baseline.