Working paper - Scoping Review Protocol
Glycaemic variability and kidney-related outcomes in diabetes mellitus: a scoping review
Vol.8 May 2026
University of the Sunshine Coast
2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/01036
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) (Thomas et al., 2025). While long-term glycaemic control is commonly assessed using glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), there is increasing interest in whether glycaemic variability may provide additional insight into risk of DKD development or progression (Subramanian and Hirsch, 2018). However, glycaemic variability is measured and defined in multiple ways, including continuous glucose monitoring-derived metrics, self-monitoring blood glucose-derived metrics, and visit-to-visit variability in HbA1c or blood glucose measures (Subramanian and Hirsch, 2018, Yapanis et al., 2022). Kidney outcomes are also heterogeneous, ranging from albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), DKD progression, end-stage kidney disease, and various renal biomarkers (e.g., NGAL, Kim-1).
A scoping review is an appropriate method (Lockwood et al., 2019) to map the extent and nature of the literature examining glycaemic variability and kidney-related outcomes in individuals with DM. This review will identify how glycaemic variability has been defined and measured, what kidney-related outcomes have been reported, and where gaps exist in the current evidence base. The protocol and subsequent review will be informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for scoping reviews and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). A checklist will be used as a systematic approach to map and report results of the search which complies with the Joanna Briggs Institute 2020 guide (Peters et al., 2021, Tricco et al., 2016).
On the 1st May 2026, a preliminary search was conducted to identify any existing reviews on the specified topic (Appendix I). The search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases using key words, for example “diabetes” AND “glycaemic variability” AND “diabetic kidney disease” in titles, abstracts and keywords of articles. PubMed identified 128 articles using these key words. No scoping reviews were identified in this search.
The objective of this scoping review is to map the existing literature examining glycaemic variability and kidney-related outcomes in individuals with DM, with a focus on how glycaemic variability is defined and reported, which clinical and biomarker-based kidney outcomes are used, and where current evidence suggests opportunities for more standardised or informative reporting. This will be achieved using specific research questions, outlined below.
Details
- Title
- Glycaemic variability and kidney-related outcomes in diabetes mellitus: a scoping review
- Authors
- Nicole B Flemming - University of the Sunshine CoastRebecca Donkin - University of the Sunshine CoastAnna Kuballa - University of the Sunshine CoastSteven James - University of the Sunshine CoastLaura E Pernoud - University of the Sunshine CoastAntonia Murphy - Griffith University
- Publication details
- Vol.8 May 2026
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.25907/01036
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine; Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Nursing; Cancer Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991228430002621
- Output Type
- Working paper; Scoping Review Protocol
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