Metabolic characteristics of individuals at a high risk of type 2 diabetes – a comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Individuals with a family history of T2D are at an increased risk of developing the disease. The aim of this study was to assess metabolic differences between first-degree relatives (FDR) of T2D patients and persons with no known family history of T2D (non-FDR). METHODS: In 200 FDR and 73 non-FDR, we compared anthropometrics, glucose tolerance status, different measurements of insulin secretion, insulin resistance, as well as blood lipids and other blood analyses. RESULTS: In the FDR group, 30 individuals had impaired glucose tolerance or T2D. Among the non-FDR, two individuals had impaired glucose tolerance. In unadjusted data, the FDR were older, had stronger heredity for coronary heart disease, lower body mass index and weight, higher OGTT plasma glucose concentrations, and impaired insulin secretion (all p < 0.05). Using propensity score, we matched the groups, resulting in significantly stronger heredity of coronary heart disease, higher OGTT plasma glucose at 60 and 90 min, larger glucose area under curve during the OGTT and higher serum creatinine among the FDR. Using least squares means, OGTT glucose at 60 and 120 min, as well as the area under curve, and OGTT insulin levels at 60 min were significantly higher. Body mass index was negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (MI) and positively correlated with HOMA-β, a measurement of insulin secretion. CONCLUSIONS: We show that FDR are more likely to have impaired glucose tolerance and display higher OGTT plasma glucose and insulin, indicating an unfavorable metabolic profile. We conclude that OGTT is a simple and yet informative metabolic assessment in the FDR group. In both groups, we saw a negative correlation between body mass index and MI, confirming the role of body mass index in insulin resistance.