Abstract
Summary
Objective: We have shown that a positive family history of diabetes, and the variables of general and central obesity are independent risk factors for type 2 diabetes in our population. This study was done to evaluate whether a familial predisposition to diabetes resulted in a tendency for adverse anthropometric and haemodynamic profiles in south Indian non‐diabetic subjects.
Methods
: The analysis was carried out on 2463 subjects (M: F, 1196 : 1267) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The study subjects were selected from population surveys for diabetes. Details of age, sex, family history of diabetes, body mass index (b.m.i.), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure were recorded. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated.
Results
: A positive family history of diabetes was present in 24.7% of our subjects. Mean b.m.i. and percentage of obesity were significantly higher in families with a positive family history (group 2) vs. families with no family history (group 1). Subjects in group 2 had a higher 2‐h plasma glucose (p 2
= 6.91, p = 0.0086). Factor analysis with principle components analysis (PCA) showed that a family history of diabetes clustered with WHR in men, and with b.m.i. and WHR in women. The b.m.i. formed a different domain with blood pressure in both sexes. WHR and b.m.i. clustered with cholesterol and triglycerides in another domain.
Conclusions
: In this population, general and central obesity are associated with a family history of diabetes. A family history of diabetes may increase the risk of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia indirectly through its connection with b.m.i.