Study of life style habits on risk of type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus has become one of the great epidemics of our time, AIM: Characterized by derangement of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. Diabetic patients may have some other habits like drinking, smoking, lack of physical activity. In the present study, we have tried to study the effect of all these habits on lipid profile and antioxidative enzymes, i.e., catalase and superoxide dismutase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different kits and standard biochemical methods were used to estimate all these parameters. RESULTS: Diabetics as well as diabetic individuals who were engaged in drinking, smoking and regular physical exercise showed a significant rise in glucose levels compared to normal subjects. Similarly, cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and activity of catalase were found to be increased in all diabetic subjects, but that of superoxide dismutase decreased as compared to normal subjects. In all cases, exercise has a beneficial effect. Furthermore, females were more prone to destructive effects of diabetes than males. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that smoking and drinking by diabetic subjects further deteriorates the effects of diabetes, while regular physical exercise has beneficial effects.