ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus [DM] and obesity are significant global health problems that are on the rise. DM is particularly escalating in the developing world where its major hit is on the middle-aged productive individuals. Epidemiological information about their prevalence, awareness, risk factors, and control is scarce in Africa. The present study was primarily designed to assess such information among Police Forces households, as an identified Sudanese urban population residing in Khartoum. In a pilot survey for the Police Forces Study; all the 436 inhabitants of two police housing complexes were targeted. Of these, 426 [98%] individuals consented to participate in the study. Standard interviewing procedures were used to record medical history and socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Blood pressure [BP], anthropometric measurements as well as blood and urine samples to measure glucose, creatinine and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] were taken by trained medical students and technicians. The data was analyzed through univariate and multivariate regressions. Out of 436 individuals approached, 426 responded to our questionnaire and 275 underwent blood draws. Of the 426 respondents to the questionnaire 22 [5%] were told to have DM. Of those, 15 [68%] were prescribed blood sugar lowering medicines. Among the latter, 14 were compliant. Of the 275 subjects tested for blood sugar, 9 [3.3%] were labeled [diabetic] by blood sugar of 200 mg/dl or more. Also, there were 11 individuals taking drugs but not tested. Thus, the total number of diabetics in the sample actively examined for DM was 20 of 286 subjects, making a prevalence rate of 6.99%. Six out of the 20 [30%] diabetics where unaware of their diagnosis. Seventeen of the 20 diabetics had a body mass index [BMI] measurements. Thirteen [76.5%] had a BMI > 25 and 4 [23%] had BMI < 25. Six out of 12 diabetic males [50%] and 4 out of 8 [50%] females had abdominal obesity [waist>102 cm for males, >88 cm for females]. Ten out of 20 diabetics [50%] were also hypertensive. Eight out of 17 [47.1%] hypertensive diabetics were prescribed and compliant with blood pressure lowering medicines, however, none of those had their blood pressure controlled to <130/80. Thyroid studies among all study participants revealed hypothyroidism in four females and hyperthyroidism in a single male. The prevalence of diabetes, overweight and abdominal obesity seem to be comparable to other African countries. In this population, DM prevalence is above that is projected by the WHO for Sudan. These results render diabetes and obesity a public health priority