Effect of increasing duration of diabetes mellitus type 2 on glycated hemoglobin and insulin sensitivity

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is the most rapidly growing chronic metabolic disorder in the world. With advancement in the age and duration of diabetes there is a gradual tendency for the level of blood sugar to rise along with a subsequent increase in the HbA1c as well as in the fasting insulin level. Whether this is an aging process or increased frequency of diabetes is still controversial. The correlation between glucose and insulin sensitivity is consistent with the idea that the degree of chronic hyperglycemia is a cause of excessive insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, i.e. the insulin resistance which characterizes type 2 diabetes but not nondiabetic subjects matched for age, gender, family history and duration of diabetes. The study comprised a total of 76 subjects out of which 30 were normal, non-diabetic persons and the rest 46 were diabetics with different duration of time in years, after being diagnosed diabetic. Data was analyzed after dividing the subjects into four groups—Group 1 comprised of one year old diabetics, Group 2 was made up of those, who had diabetes, for the past 2–5 years, Group 3 included patients who were diabetic since more than 5 years and Group 4 included non-diabetics as the normal control group. The results obtained indicated that the HbA1c levels showed a significant increase with the duration of diabetes as well as the insulin level showed a significant correlation after adjustment for age, sex and duration of diabetes.