A cross sectional screen for diabetes correlating physical activity and blood glucose levels

Abstract

Background: Diabetes, a chronic disease, is presently a rapidly growing epidemic globally. The risk of diabetes type 2 is greatly increasing with change in lifestyle factors, urbanization, high blood pressure, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet. It’s one of the reasons for premature death and disability and the number of cases are drastically increasing every year.Methods: 81 subjects above 18 years of age were considered for the screening. Random blood glucose levels were tested using the Thyrocare Sugar scan glucometer strips. Physical activity data was collected using a questionnaire. Based on the extent of physical activity, the subjects we grouped into three different categories. Data was analyzed and expressed using basic statistical tools in MS Excel 2007.Results: 6.17% of the rural population of Kendri, with mean age 47.4 years, had undiagnosed diabetes. The mean blood glucose level in diabetes positive cases was 279.8 mg/dL. A correlation of random blood glucose levels of the subjects with the extent of their physical activity was observed, where a decrease in physical activity/increase in physical inactivity showed an increase in blood glucose levels.Conclusions: From our study we conclude that undiagnosed diabetes is prevalent amongst the rural populations of Kendri, Chhattisgarh and low physical activity correlated with an increase of blood glucose levels, suggesting an urgent need to create health awareness, with emphasis on increase in physical activity, literacy and diabetes management, obesity, specifically among the illiterate and underprivileged rural populations.