Common Risk Factors in Relatives and Spouses of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Developing Prediabetes

Prediabetes should be viewed as an increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we investigated its prevalence among the relatives and spouses of patients with type 2 diabetes or risk factors for prediabetes, insulin resistance, and β-cell function. A total of 175 individuals were included and stratified into three groups: controls, and relatives and spouses of type 2 diabetic patients. We compared clinical characteristics consisting of a homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA-β), a quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index. After a multivariable linear regression analysis, the relative group was independently correlated with high fasting glucose, a high TyG index, and low β-cell function; the relatives and spouses were independently associated with a low QUICKI. The relatives and spouses equally had a higher prevalence of prediabetes. These study also indicated that the relatives had multiple factors predicting the development of diabetes mellitus, and that the spouses may share a number of common environmental factors associated with low insulin sensitivity.