Family history of diabetes and parental consanguinity: important risk for impaired fasting glucose in south east Asians.

OBJECTIVE: Offsprings of type 2 diabetics have increased risk of metabolic disturbances. The aim of the study is to assess the potential effect of family history of type 2 diabetes (FHD) and parental consanguinity on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Non-diabetic offsprings of one or both parents with type 2 diabetes and healthy controls of comparable age, without a FHD were the subjects of this study. Family history of type 2 diabetes was defined by the presence of type 2 diabetes in one or both parents of the subject. Consanguinity was defined as history of marriage with a first cousin. Fasting plasma glucose levels were determined in cases and controls.
RESULTS: Impairedfasting glucose (IFG) was identified in 42% of subjects with FHD and in 14% without FHD. We found a strong independent association of FHD with impaired fasting glucose in both males and females by logistic regression analysis after adjusting the data for age, gender and body mass index (BMI). Parental consanguinity modifies the effect of FHD on IFG.
CONCLUSION: We concluded that family history of diabetes and parental history of consanguinity determine the risk for impaired fasting glucose in this study population.