Lean Diabetics and Microvascular Complications in Comparison With Normal Weight and Obese Type 2 Diabetics

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder showing an alarming increase in developing countries, particularly in India. In contrast to developed countries, we find that the clinical profile of diabetes mellitus is different in India. Most of the patients are not obese. Hence it is worth comparing the clinical profile of lean diabetics with normal and obese type 2 diabetic patients. OBJECTIVE: To screen the occurrence and pattern of micro vascular complications in lean type 2 diabetic patients compared to normal weight and obese diabetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational study of 1070 patients was conducted in our hospital between June 2011 to July 2013. We have selected patient's aged 30 years and older diabetics from outpatient and inpatient medicine department of our hospital and compared the urine protein creatinine ratio (PCR), monofilament testing and ophthalmoscopy findings in three groups (Lean, Normal weight and obese diabetics). RESULTS: Among the micro vascular complications, nephropathy was observed in 52.2% of lean diabetics compared to 44.5% and 39.2% of normal weight and obese diabetics respectively (p value-0.035). Neuropathy was observed in 46% of lean diabetics compared to 29.8% and 34.1% in normal weight and obese diabetics respectively (p value-0.003). Retinopathy was observed in 45.1% of lean diabetics compared to 32.3% and 30.8% of normal weight and obese diabetics respectively. (p value-0.014). CONCLUSION: Among diabetic patients who were screened for micro vascular complications in outpatient and inpatient medicine departments, lean diabetics were more prone for micro vascular complications when compared with normal weight and obese diabetics.