Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a group of women attending “August meeting” at Naze South East Nigeria

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.

DOI: 10.4236/jdm.2012.23050                

Abstract

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.

Keywords

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

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	World Health Organization (1999) Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Part 1: Diagnosis and classification of Diabetes mellitus. WHO Department of Non Communicable Disease Surveillance, Geneva.
[2]	Shaw, J.E., Sicree, R.A. and Zimmet P.Z. (2010) Global estimates of the prevalence of diabetes for 2010 and 2030, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 87, 4-14. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2009.10.007
[3]	Chan, J.C.N., Malik, V., Jia, W., Kadowaki, T., Yajnik, C. S., Yoon K. and Hu F.B. (2009) Diabetes in Asia: Epidemiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 301, 2129-2140. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.726
[4]	Harris, M.I., Klein, R., Welborn, T.A. and Knuiman, M.W. (1992) Onset of NIDDM occurs at least 4-7 years before clinical diagnosis. Diabetes Care, 15, 815-819. doi:10.2337/diacare.15.7.815
[5]	King, H., Rewers, M., (1993) Global estimates for prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in adults. Diabetes Care, 16, 157-177. doi:10.2337/diacare.16.1.157
[6]	King, H., Aubert, R. and Herman, W. (1998) Global burden of diabetes 1995-2025: Prevalence, numerical estimates and projections. Diabetes Care, 21, 1414-1431. doi:10.2337/diacare.21.9.1414
[7]	Amos, A., McCarty, D. and Zimmet, P. (1997) The rising global burden of diabetes and its complications: Estimates and projections to the year 2010, Diabetic Medicine, 14, S1-S85. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1096-9136(199712)14:5+3.3.CO;2-I
[8]	Wild, S., Roglic, G., Green, A., Sicree, R. and King, H. (2004) Global prevalence of diabetes: Estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care, 27, 1047-1053. doi:10.2337/diacare.27.5.1047
[9]	Cook, A.R. (1901) Notes on the disease met with in Uganda, Central Africa. The American Journal of Tropi- cal Medicine and Hygiene, 4, 175-178.
[10]	King, H. and Rewers, A. (1993) Global estimates for diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose intolerance in adults. WHO Ad Hoc Diabetes Reporting Group. Diabetes Care, 16,157-177.
[11]	Motala, A.A. (2002) Diabetes trends in Africa. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 18, S14-20. doi:10.1002/dmrr.284
[12]	Dunstan, D., Zimmet, P., Welborn, T., De Courten, M.P., Cameron, A.J., Sicree, R.A., et al. (2002) The rising prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance: The Australian diabetes, obesity and lifestyle study. Diabetes Care, 25, 829-834. doi:10.2337/diacare.25.5.829
[13]	Osuji, C.U., Nzerem, B.A., Meludu, S., Dioka, E.C., Nwobodo, E. and Amilo, G.I. (2010) The prevalence of overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia amongst a group of women attending “August” Meeting. Nigerian Medical Journal, 51, 155-159.
[14]	Aspray, T.J., Mugusi, F., Rashid, S., Whiting, D., Edward, R., Alberti, K.G., et al. (2000) Rural and urban differences in diabetes prevalence in Tanzania: The role of obesity, physical inactivity and urban living. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 94, 637-644. doi:10.1016/S0035-9203(00)90216-5
[15]	Gill, G., Mbanya, J.C. and Alberti, K.G. (1997) Diabetes in Africa. FSG Communications, Cambridge.
[16]	Solnica, B., Naskalski, J.W. and Sieradzki, J. (2003) Analytical performance of glucometers used for routine glucose self-monitoring of diabetic patients. Clinica Chimica Acta, 331, 29-35. doi:10.1016/S0009-8981(03)00079-2
[17]	Kruijshoop, M., Feskens, E., Blaak, E.E. and De Bruin, T.W.A. (2004) Validation of capillary glucose measurements to detect glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus in the general population. Clinica Chimica Acta, 341, 33-40. doi:10.1016/j.cccn.2003.10.033
[18]	Somers, A., Rusford, E., Hassan, M.S. and Erasmus, R.T. (2006) Screening for diabetes mellitus in Belhar, Delft and Mfuleni communities of Cape Town Western South Africa. South African Family Practice, 48, 16.
[19]	Owoaje, E.E., Rotimi, C.N., Kaufman, J.S., Tracy, J. and Cooper, R.S. (1997) Prevalence of adult diabetes in Ibadan, Nigeria. East African Medical Journal, 74, 299-302.
[20]	Rotimi, C.N., Cooper, R.S., Okosun, I.S., Olatunbosun, S.T., Bella, A.F., et al. (1999) Prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in Nigerians, Jamaicans and US blacks. Ethnicity & Disease, 9, 190-200.
[21]	Mbanya, J.C., Ngogang, J., Salah, J.N., Minkoulou, E. and Balkau, B. (1997) Prevalence of NIDDM and impaired glucose tolerance in a rural and an urban population in Cameroon. Diabetologia, 40, 824-829. doi:10.1007/s001250050755
[22]	Bakari, A.G., Onyemelukwe, G.C., Sani, B.G., Hassan, S.S. and Aliyu, T.M. (1999) Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in suburban northern Nigeria: Result of a public screening survey. Diabetes International, 9, 59-60.
[23]	Motala, A.A., Omar, M.A.K. and Pirie, F.J. (2003) Epidemiology of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Africa. Journal of Cardiovascular Risk, 10, 77-83. doi:10.1097/00043798-200304000-00002
[24]	Rheeder, P. (2006) Type 2 diabetes: The emerging epidemic. South African Family Practice, 48, 20.
[25]	Nyenwe, E.A., Odia, O.J., Ihekwaba, A.E., Ojule, A. and Babatunde, S. (2003) Type 2 diabetes in adult Nigerians: A study of its prevalence and Risk factors in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 62, 177-185. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2003.07.002
[26]	Akinkugbe, O.O. (1997) Non-communicable disease in Nigeria. Final report of national survey. Federal Ministry Health and Social Services, Lagos, 64-90.
[27]	Zimmet, P.Z., McCarty, D.J. and Decouten, M.P. (1997) The global epidemiology of NIDDM and metabolic syndrome. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications, 11, 60-68. doi:10.1016/S1056-8727(96)00090-6
[28]	Mennen, L.I., Mbanye, J.C., Cade, J., Balkau, B., Sharma, S., Chungong, S. and Cruickshank, K. (2000) The habitual diet in rural and urban Cameroon. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 54, 150-154. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600909
[29]	Ohwhovoriole, A.E., Kuti, J.A. and Kabiawu, S.I.O. (1988) Casual blood glucose levels and prevalence of undiscovered mellitus in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 4, 153-158. doi:10.1016/S0168-8227(88)80010-X
[30]	Ong, K.L., Cheung, B.M.Y., Wong, L.Y.F., Wat, N.M.S., Tan, K.C. and Lam, K.S. (2008) Prevalence, treatment, and control of diagnosed diabetes in the US national health and nutrition survey 1999-2004. Annals of Epidemiology, 18, 222-229. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2007.10.007
[31]	Johnson, T.O. (1971) Comparative study of screening methods for diabetes in the elderly Nigerian subject. The West African Medical Journal, 20, 243-246.
[32]	McLarty, D.G., Pollitt, C. and Swai, A.B.M. (1991) Diabetes in Africa—Part 1. Practical Diabetes and Digestion, 3, 3-7.
[33]	Zimmet, P. (1982) Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. An epidemiological overview. Diabetologia, 22, 299-311. doi:10.1007/BF00282581
[34]	The Decode Study Group (2003) Age and sex specific prevalence of diabetes and IG regulation in west Asian countries. Diabetes Care, 26, 1770-1780. doi:10.2337/diacare.26.6.1770
[35]	Edelman, D., Edwards, L.J., Olsen, M.K., Dudley, T.K., Stat, M., Harris, A.C., Blackwell, D.K., et al. (2002). Screening for diabetes in an outpatient clinic population. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 17, 23-28. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10420.x
[36]	van de Sande, M., Dippenaar, H. and Rutten, G. (2009) The relationship between patient education and glycemic control in South African Township. Primary Care Diabetes, 1, 87-91. doi:10.1016/j.pcd.2007.04.007
[37]	Erasmus, R.T., Blanco Blanco, E., Okesina, A.B., Gqwet, Z. and Matsha, T. (1999) Assessment of glycemic control in stable type 2 black South African diabetics attending a peri-urban clinic. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 75, 603-606.