Objective: We studied the influence of positive family history (FH) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in male offspring using multiple metabolic and endocrine parameters in order to assess whether one or more of these parameters can be used as indicators for T2DM development later in life.
Design: Fifty male subjects with one diabetic parent (ODP) and thirty with both diabetic parents (BDP) were compared with fifty, age-matched, offspring of non-diabetic parents (NDP). Body weight, height, BMI and blood pressure were determined in all subjects. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for glucose, HbA1-c, insulin, C-peptide, leptin and lipid profile. A 2h oral glucose tolerance test (2h-OGTT) was also carried out. Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed by HOMA-IR index.
Results: Mean serum levels of glucose (fasting and following 2h-OGTT), C-peptide and leptin in male offspring of diabetic parents were higher than in male offspring of NDP. Mean fasting serum insulin and triglycerides were higher in boys of BDP compared to those of ODP and NDP. HOMA-IR was markedly high in ODP and BDP groups when compared with the NDP group. No stastically significant difference was observed in the HbA1-c values between any of the groups studied.
Conclusions: These results indicate that T2DM associated risk factors are more vigorously expressed in male offspring with a history of diabetes in both parents, thus underscoring the importance of genetic determinants in the onset of T2DM. The results of this study may provide useful indicators of potential susceptibility to T2DM at an early stage of life.