FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS: AT A RISK TO DEVELOP DIABETES AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE REGULATION

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of diabetes impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in first-degree relatives (FDR) of type 2 diabetes patients.

Material & Methods: A cross sectional study, that was carried out from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 at Department of Pathology, Pakistan Railways Teaching Hospital, IIMC-T Rawalpindi. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted between July 01, 2009 and June 30, 2010. A sum of 180 FDR of type 2 diabetes patients (64 female and 116 male), ageing between 25-65 years, were included in the study. Siblings or the children of the type 2 diabetes patients were checked for fasting plasma glucose. In the second stage all these FDR of diabetic patients were subjected to a standard OGTT with 75g oral glucose. Diabetes type 2, Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of Diabetes by American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Results: The frequency of type 2 diabetes was 13.4%. IFG and IGT were 38.5% and 32.3% respectively. Diabetes (64% male and 36% female) was more common in males and IFG (51% male and 49% female) was equally common in both the genders; Whereas IGT was more frequent among women (56%female and 44%male).

Conclusions: FDR of type 2 diabetes patients are at a risk to develop IFG, IGT and type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is high in males, which increases with age. In the light of these findings it is concluded that routine screening of FDR of type 2 diabetes patients may help to identify prediabetes and diabetes at an early stage of the disease before its complications start.

Keywords: Impaired Fasting Glucose, Type 2 diabetes, First-degree relatives