The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62268

Ranjita Misra, PhD, CHES¹, Padmini Balagopal, RD, CDE², and N Kamalamma, PhD². (1) Health&Kinesiology Department, Texas A&M University, 4243 TAMU, 158P Read Building, College Station, TX 77843-4243, 979-845-8726, misra@hlkn.tamu.edu, (2) Department of Homescience, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram - 624 302, Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India, Ambuteria, India

Purpose: As part of a larger project, this study examined risk factors for diabetes (as measured by fasting and post prandial blood glucose levels and obesity among children and adults in a rural population in Aalamarathupatti in Dindigul District, India. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted among adults (males and females) and children in a rural village in Aalamarathupatti in Dindigul District, India. Demographic and clinical data was collected during summer of 2002: fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, blood pressure, BMI, and waist to hip ratio. Results: A total of 163 children and 722 adults participated in the study. Respondents’ age ranged from 9 to 92 years with 50% below 35 years of age. The mean age of the adults were 41 years (SD=15.4) and children 13 years (SD=2.9). More than half of the respondents (55%) were females. Although the mean fasting and postprandial blood glucose level was normal, 7.4% and 8.6 percent of adults were in the abnormal range respectively. Only 6% and 2.5% of adults were overweight and obese. However, abdominal obesity was prevalent at a much higher degree with 14% of respondents falling in the abnormal range. Furthermore, 27.8% of adults had hypertension with 4.7% having low blood pressure. Fasting blood sugar level was significantly (and positively) correlated with respondent’s age, blood pressure, and BMI but not their waist-hip-ratio. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the need for awareness of risk factors and diabetes education to reduce the high incidence of diabetes in rural India.

Learning Objectives:

• Learning Objectives:
• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• 1. Describe the mean fasting and post-prandial blood glucose level among adults and children in a rural community in India.
• 2. List the prevalence of obesity (general and abdominal) and hypertension and their relationship to fasting blood sugar level among the respondents.
• 3. Discuss possible strategies for diabetes prevention and screening among Indians in rural India.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.