Prevalence of Diabetes mellitus in obese subjects in South Kerala

Background: Obesity is an independent risk factor for Type2 Diabetes and is rising in prevalence throughout the developed and developing countries This study aims to find the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Obese Patients compared to non-obese patients who attended Medicine and Diabetology departments of various hospitals in South Kerala during the period June 2010 to May 2013. Materials and methods: The participant population comprised of 426 patients in the age group 30 to 65 years. All participants underwent routine physical examinations that included measurement of Body mass Index and waist circumference. Fasting plasma glucose concentration was measured by the hexokinase method Among the study group 186 patients were obese (90 males and 96 females). Results: The mean FBS was higher in obese(131.2mg/dl) compared to non obese(102mg/dl), and there was a higher proportion of people with hyperglycemia among the obese. This difference was found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: Although not all overweight or obese individuals are metabolically unhealthy, the majority are insulin resistant. The combination of obesity, physical inactivity, and consumption of an atherogenic diet is believed to lead to insulin resistance and thus to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.