Endocrine Abstracts

The importance of early detection of diabetes mellitus helps to prevent the development of related chronic complications.

Screening, which lasted a week, has been implemented in 31 pharmacies in the territory of the Province of Brindisi (Apulia–Italy) on a random sample of 1048 people. Blood glucose was measured by glucometer; a questionnaire was administered with anthropometric data and medical history and evaluation of the lifestyle of exercise and different dietary habits.

In total, 964 people did not know they have diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose. In 44 of these (equivalent to 4.6%; 23 males M and 21 females F) there was a fasting glucose greater than 125 mg/dl (mean blood glucose 149 mg/dl with S.D. 30.3), and 178 (18.5%; 89 M and 89 F) had blood glucose between 101 and 125 mg/dl.

About 77% of the 44 newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 83% of subjects with fasting glucose between 101 and 125 mg/dl did not exercise more than two times a week. Of the 44 subjects with fasting blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dl, 27% had a normal BMI, 34% overweight, 30% obesity class I, 7% obesity class II and 2% class III. Of the subjects with fasting blood glucose levels between 101 and 125 mg/dl, 1% were underweight, 32% normal weight, 42% overweight, 18% obesity class I and 7% class II. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between the presence of a known pre-existing hypertrygliceridemia and/or hypertension and the detection of fasting hyperglycemia.

This study demonstrates the importance of screening for the blood glucose determination in the population, especially in the presence of one or more components of metabolic syndrome, to allow, as early as possible, to investigate the diagnosis of an unknown overt or preclinical diabetes mellitus.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.