ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseasescharacterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects ininsulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The cold pressor testin healthy subjects triggers a vascular sympathetic activationand an increase in blood pressure. Hence; the present studywas undertaken for assessing the Impact of Cold Stress onHeart Rate and Blood Pressure in Healthy Offspring with andwithout Parental History of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Materials & Methods: 200 participants were enrolled in thepresent study and were divided into two study groups with 100patients in each group as follows: Group A- 100 healthy andnon-diabetic patients without parental history of type 2 diabetesmellitus; and Group B- 100 healthy and non-diabetic patientswith atleast of one parent with history of type 2 diabetesmellitus. Instructions were given to all the participants forimmersing their hands in cold water till their wrist portion for atime period of two minutes (or until toleration; whichever isearlier). Special care was taken for ensuring that all theparticipants avoided any form of isometric contractions, breathholding or performance of Valsalva maneuver. Continuousmonitoring of heart rate (HR), Systolic blood pressure (SBP)and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with the help of cardiacmonitor from the other arm at 60 seconds interval till timeperiod of two minutes.Results: While comparing the mean heart rate and bloodpressure in between the two study groups at different timeintervals, it was observed that heart rate and blood pressureafter CPT were significantly lower in study group patients(group B) in comparison to control group subjects (Group A).Conclusion: Heart rate and blood pressure show abruptchanges after CPT in subjects with atleast of one parent withhistory of type 2 diabetes mellitus.