Study of metabolic syndrome and insulin secretion function in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients in a large cohort study in Sichuan province of China / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

This investigation was directed to the metabolic syndrome and the islet beta-cell secretory function in the first-degree relatives (FDR) of type 2 diabetic patients in Sichuan province. A large cohort study was designed. Totally 1929 subjects were investigated. They were in two groups FDR group comprising 505 first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients, and Control group comprising 1424 controls without positive family history of Diabetes. Blood pressure, weight, waist, plasma glucose, lipids and insulin were measured. HOMA-IR and HOMA-beta indexes were used to evaluate insulin resistance and beta-cell secretion function. The insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and glucose disposition index (DI) were also used to evaluate insulin resistance. After adjustment for age and sex, HOMA-IR increased, ISI, DI and HOMA-beta decreased in FDR group when compared with controls (P < 0.05). The incidence of co-existed three or more metabolic disorders and metabolic syndrome was higher in FDR group than that in control group (P < 0.05). In FDR group, HOMA-IR increased, HOMA-beta, DI and ISI decreased while the number of co-existing metabolic disorders increased. But when the number of co-existing metabolic disorders > or = 4, HOMA-IR increased no longer and ISI decreased no more. Metabolic disorders occurred more frequently in FDR of diabetic patients than those in individuals without positive family history. As the number of co-existing metabolic disorders increased, the beta-cell secretion function and insulin sensitivity became worse. Our study indicated that it is necessary to keep on monitoring the metabolic index in FDR of type 2 diabetes and provide early preventive interventions.