ABSTRACT

The study assessed diabetic risk in an apparently healthy young adult population. One hundred and sixty-five (165) subjects: males-90(54.6%), females-75(45.4%) aged 18-30years were recruited for the study. International Diabetic Federation (IDF) structured questionnaires were used in the study. Anthropometric indices, such as height, weight, waist circumference (WC); biochemical indices, such as fasting blood glucose (FBG), and physiological parameters {blood pressure (BP)}, were measured using standard procedures. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and Diabetic risk scores predicted using IDF risk calculator (IDFRISC). Glycated haemoglobin (HbAlc), and C-Reactive proteins (CRP) were determined in a subset (n=50) of the subject population representing 30.4% and used for further diabetic risk predictions based on the United Kingdom diabetes index and American Heart Association/Center for disease control index (AHA/CDC). Demographic distribution of the subjects was as follows: mean ages of females and males were 22.6±3.7 and 22.9±3.4yrs respectively. Result for anthropometric indices showed that mean height(cm) was significantly (p≤0.05) lower in females (164.7±6.5) than males (176.8±78), while mean body weight (kg) had no significant difference between the sexes, females (67.6±9.7) and males (69.3±9.5) . There was also no significant (p≥0.05) difference in mean BMI; (females 24.7±2.9 males; 22.1±2.4) and mean waist circumference (females 77.6±7.9; males75.7±5.9cm) across the sexes. Fruit consumption pattern among the sexes showed that females consumed a significantly (p<0.05) higher (0.39±0.49) amount of fruits than males (0.20±0.40). Level of physical activity (females -0.53±0.50; males 0.52±0.59), mean blood pressure  {systolic-females122.7±12.7) and males  (127.9±10.94)} and diastolic –female (74.89±5.03) and males (75.33±5.02), mean FBG (mg/dl) in females(62.6±11.26)  and males(62.6±10.3) showed no significant (p>0.05) difference across the sexes. Mean HbAlc (8.81± 0.43) and CRP(females-1.19±0.58 and males -1.92±0.67 ) also showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between the sexes.  The mean calculated risk score points for females (6.13±3.9) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than for males (4.26±3.30). Based on the IDFRISC 110 subjects (66.6%) had a low risk of diabetes, 27subjects (16.4%) had a slightly elevated risk of diabetes, another 27 subjects (16.4%) had a moderate risk of diabetes, while 1 subject (0.6%) was at a high risk of diabetes.  Using the UK diabetic index for HbAlc, 20subjects were normal, 8subjects were pre-diabetic and 22subjects were observed to be diabetic, while based on the AHA/CDC index for CRP 10 subjects were normal, 40 subjects were found to be pre-diabetic and none of the subjects was observed to be diabetic. These findings when analyzed alongside family history obtained from questionnaires   suggested that risk of diabetes mellitus is higher in young female adults than males, heritable and requires a deliberate and concerted screening effort to identify populations and individuals at risk of developing the disease.