Correlation between triglyceride-glucose index and diabetic kidney disease risk in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is identified as an alternative indicator of insulin resistance (IR) and is associated with macro- and micro-vascular diseases among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The relationship between the TyG index and IR and its impact on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains unclear among adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM).

This study comprised a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Guangdong T1DM Translational Medicine Study (GTT) and a longitudinal analysis using data from the type 1 diabetes (T1D) Exchange registry study. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the association between the TyG index and IR. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to explore the impact of the TyG index on DKD risk.

The GTT Study included 836 adults (216 with DKD and 620 without DKD). A significant correlation existed between the TyG index and the estimated glucose disposal rate (r=-0.64, p < 0.01). The TyG index was a risk factor for DKD after confounder adjustment (OR = 1.34, 95% CI:1.03–1.74). The T1D Exchange registry study included 8,771 adults (2,050 with DKD and 6,721 without DKD). After adjusting confounding factors, the TyG index was identified as an independent risk factor for DKD at enrollment, with the highest risk of DKD incidence observed in the highest TyG tertile group (OR = 1.92, 95%CI:1.67–2.20). During a median follow-up of 44.58(21.84, 67.09) months, the risk of developing DKD was increased by 32% at every 1 SD increase of the TyG index over time among participants without DKD at enrollment.

The TyG index could be used to assess IR and was identified as an independent risk factor of DKD among adults with T1DM.