Current Practices in Prevention, Screening, and Treatment of Diabetes in Kidney Transplant Recipients: European Survey Highlights from the ERA DESCARTES Working Group

Background: Although post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common complication after kidney transplantation, there are few data on prevention, optimal screening, and treatment strategies.

Methods: The European Renal Association's DESCARTES working group distributed a web-based survey to European transplant centres to gather information on risk assessment, screening procedures, and management practices for preventing and treating PTDM in kidney transplant recipients.

Results: Answers were obtained from 121/241 transplant centres (50%) across 15 European countries. Screening practices for diabetes mellitus during the transplant work-up varied, with only 13% of centres using the recommended oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and 14% not screening at all. At transplantation, 19% of centres tailored the immunosuppressive regimen based on perceived PTDM risk, using strategies such as cyclosporin use or early steroid withdrawal. Fifty-two percent adopted strict glycaemic control with basal insulin in the first days post-transplant. Sixty-eight percent had defined screening protocols for early PTDM (45 days-6 months), primarily based on fasting glycaemia and/or HbA1c, while only a minority (7%) incorporated an OGTT. Changes in immunosuppression were considered by 41% in cases of early hyperglycaemia (<45 days) and by 58% in established PTDM (>45 days). Besides insulin therapy, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors and metformin were most frequently used to manage early hyperglycaemia (<45 days) and PTDM (>45 days). The use of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-analogues increased >45 days post-transplantation.

Conclusion: This European survey underscores the significant variation in PTDM prevention, screening, and treatment practices, emphasizing the imperative for more explicit guidance in approaching this complication.