Rukhshan Khurshid
Back ground: A cross sectional comparative study of one year was designed to find out blood parameters for screening the first degree relatives of diabetes who may be at risk of developing diabetes. Material and Methods: Patients with positive family history (n = 50) were selected by consecutive patients sampling from 14-50 years old people. 30 age matched subjects with no history of any disease were taken as controls. On the basis of age, patients were divided into 3 groups i.e. group A with age range 14-25 year, group B with age range 26-35 and group C with age range 36-50 year. All participants were interviewed for general demographic characteristics and current use of medications. Blood sample was collected from all participants to measure fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. In order to confirm the diagnosis of diabetes an oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Results showed that the increased BMI, fasting blood sugar and blood sugar after 30 min and increased insulin may be an early predictor of diabetes in group A with age range 14-25 years. In group B with age range 26-35 year it was observed that significant increased fasting blood sugar, HbA1c and insulin with impaired glucose tolerance or IGT was a good prediction of developing diabetes in FDR. In group C age range 36-50 years showed that significantly increased BMI, HbA1c, serum insulin IFG and IGT are the good predictor of T2DM in FDR of diabetes. An inter group comparison between group A, B and C showed that aberrant release of insulin in young age may be responsible for normal HbA1c and OGTT. In later ages, release of insulin was decreased which may increased the level of HbA1c and impaired the OGTT. Conclusion: It is therefore concluded that screening of diabetes in first degree relatives should be carried out in all age groups i.e. adolescent, middle age and older age. Oral glucose tolerance test alone is not a single predictor of diabetes in first degree relatives but there is need to examine the level of insulin, HbA1c along with OGTT to reach on better conclusion.
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