Background: Type-2-Diabetes-Mellitus (DM2), a major public-health problem in India, had a variable asymptomatic-phase. At the time of diagnosis, a large number of DM2 patients have already developed serious-complications. Diagnosis of DM2 is done by estimating, FBS, PPBS, RBS and HbA1c. HbA1c level is used both in diagnosis and determining lifestyle- modification, single or multi-drug therapy. Hence, longtime-management of DM2 requires regular-monitoring of BMI and HbA1c.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the possible association between BMI and HbA1c among newly-diagnosed DM2.
Patients and methods: This study was performed in the Department of Physiology, M.M.C.H, Murshidabad, W.B, India for a period of 1year. This was an observational descriptive-study, cross-sectional in design with institution-based anonymous data-collection. The sampling-technique was complete enumeration. Newly diagnosed 80 DM2 patients (no therapeutic intervention-drug and or lifestyle modification initiated), attended different OPDs constituted the study-population. Data was obtained after taking proper informed consent, then compiled in Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using simple tables and applying Student's t-test.
Results: Among the study population30% belongs to the 30-44 years while 43% belongs to the 45-59 years. 61% was either overweight/obese. 49% had HbA1c level < 8% and 51% had ≥8%. No association between BMI and HbA1c had been found in any age-group in this study.
Conclusion: No association is found between BMI and HbA1c among newly diagnosed DM2 in this study. This may be due to the long variable asymptomatic-phase of the disease. BMI and HbA1c are considered independently during the initiation and long-term-management of DM2.