Pre-diabetes among Medical students in a Medical College, Andhra Pradesh

Diabetes affects quality of life and has major public health impact. It was observed that Indians have a younger age of onset of diabetes compared to other ethnic groups. The children with Type-2 Diabetes are at risk of mortality and morbidity. An increase in the prevalence of Type-2 diabetes in the younger age group has been noted from the epidemiological studies. Early identification of children with Pre-diabetes aid in appropriate management there by reducing incidence and related cardiovascular and micro-vascular complications. Due to the paucity of studies on the prevalence of Pre-diabetes and Diabetes among Medical students, the present study was planned to assess the overall prevalence of Pre diabetes and Diabetes among Medical students aged >20 years, to assess the prevalence of pre-diabetes among obese students and to know the association of risk factors and pre diabetes.

This is a cross sectional study done among Medical students aged ?20years. Out of 300 randomly selected students 224 have given consent to participate in the study. They were tested for Impaired Fasting Glucose (IGT) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) along with their anthropometric measurements. The data for study variables like family history of diabetes, fast food consumption, and physical activity were collected by using pre-tested schedule.

Overall Prevalence of Pre diabetes among study group was 8.9%. Among them about 14.3% are males and 5.7% are females. As per Body mass index, Prevalence of pre diabetes among normal individuals was 1.6%, 13.3% among pre obese and 28% among obese individuals. Average fasting blood sugar level was 89.6 mg/deal with a standard deviation of 7mg/deal and average post-prandial blood sugar level was 102.71mg/deal with a standard deviation of 16.58mg/dl. Prevalence of overweight among participants was 23.2% and obesity was 6.3%. A Statistically significant association was observed between Body mass index and pre diabetes and pre-diabetes was associated with a family history of diabetes and waist circumference.

Screening for diabetes should be done routinely for students at high risk of obesity, positive family history of diabetes, fast food consumption and physical inactivity. We also recommend incorporation of known risk factors for non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc. into the medical examination schedule for all the students being admitted into the medical colleges and there should be regular monitoring of the high risk students at least for once in a year.