Issue 148 Item 8 Spouses of Patients With Type 2 at Increased Risk of Developing

Diabetes Type 2 for Two: One in five spouses of patients with diabetes had evidence of glucose intolerance. The purpose of the study was to determine whether spouses of patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of diabetes compared with spouses of subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

A random sample of spouses of patients with type 2 diabetes (group 1S) attending a general practice diabetes clinic was compared with spouses of nondiabetic subjects (as determined by oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]) (group 2S). Spouses in both groups underwent OGTT, fasting lipid profile, and blood pressure (BP) measurements.

A total of 245 subjects in group 1S and 234 subjects in group 2S underwent OGTT. Group 1S had a significantly higher incidence of fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or type 2 diabetes (19.1 vs. 9.4%). Group 1S also had higher fasting glucose and triglyceride levels, higher BMI, and a trend toward higher BP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for BMI and age, showed the risk of diabetes in the spouse of a patient with diabetes was 2.11 (95% CI 1.74–5.1), as compared with the spouse of a subject with normal glucose tolerance. Similarly, the risk of any degree of glucose intolerance in a spouse of a patient with type 2 diabetes was 2.32 (1.87–3.98), as compared with a spouse of a subject with normal glucose tolerance.

The results show that spouses of patients with type 2 diabetes had a significantly increased risk of developing diabetes. As the spouses were genetically different (though ethnically similar), our results show that shared environmental factors or exposures during married life may contribute to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Our study also showed a trend toward higher blood pressure in spouses of diabetic patients, in addition to significantly higher levels of serum triglycerides and BMI in these spouses. Overall, almost one in five spouses of patients with diabetes had evidence of glucose intolerance.

The findings of the present study have important implications for the screening of patients for diabetes. In summary, we have shown that spouses of patients with type 2 diabetes have a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes compared with spouses of subjects with no diabetes; therefore, these individuals should be classified as being at high risk for diabetes. Diabetes Care 26:710-712, 2003

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FACT:

In 1970 Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food while in 2000 they spent more than $110 billion.

Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software or new cars.