Author(s)

Charles U. Osuji, Bernard A. Nzerem, Chudi E. Dioka, Samuel C. Meludu, Emmanuel I. Onwubuya

Chapel Group Hospital, Owerri, Nigeria.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria.

Background: For a long time Africa was considered safe from diabetes. However, the International Diabetes Federation predicts an increase in diabetes from 240 million in 2007 to 380 million in 2025 with 80% of the disease burden in low and middle-income countries including Africa. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among a group of Nigerian women who had earlier been found to have a high prevalence of overweight/obesity. Methods: 253 women attending the 2009 Meeting were recruited for the study. Blood glucose concentration was measured using ACCU-CHEK^(R) Advantage glucometer by Roche Diagnostics and diabetes mellitus defined as fasting blood glucose concentration >7 mmol/L. Results: The population mean age was 53.04 ± 11.09 years, diabetics 55.76 ± 10.77 years, and non-diabetics 52.84 ± 11.11 years p = 0.709. 17 (6.7%) subjects had diabetes. Of the 17 diabetics 10 (3.95%) were known to have diabetes previously and 7 (2.76%) were diagnosed for the first time. 3 of the 17 diabetics were aged < 50 years while 14 of the 17 (82.3%) were aged > 50 years. 11 of the 17 (64.7%) diabetics had blood pressure > 140/ 90 mmHg while only 54 of the 236 (22%) non-diabetics had blood pressure >140/90 mmHg. The mean non fasting blood glucose concentration of the population was 5.83 ± 2.33 mmol/L, that of diabetics was 11.9 ± 5.27 mmol/L and non-diabetics 5.39 mmol/L ± 1.03, p < 0.000. Of the 10 previously diagnosed to have diabetes only 3 (30%) had fasting blood glucose concentration <7 mmol/L. Diabetes mellitus correlated with age, systolic blood pressure and age correlated with body mass, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of diabetes with a significant proportion of undiagnosed diabetes and a poor level of control among diagnosed diabetics.

Diabetes Mellitus; August Meeting; Igbo-Speaking; Blood Glucose

U. Osuji, C. , A. Nzerem, B. , E. Dioka, C. , C. Meludu, S. and I. Onwubuya, E. (2012) Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a group of women attending “August meeting” at Naze South East Nigeria. Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 2, 321-326. doi: 10.4236/jdm.2012.23050.