Metabolic improvement of male prisoners with type 2 diabetes in Fukushima Prison, Japan.
Imprisonment often improves metabolic control in prisoners with type 2 diabetes; however, the reasons for this remain unclear. Here, we investigated the metabolic control of male prisoners with type 2 diabetes in Japan. Retrospective analysis of 4385 medical charts of male prisoners in Fukushima Prison from 1998 to 2004 revealed 109 prisoners (all Asian) with type 2 diabetes (mean+/-S.D.: 51+/-10 years). All were followed up during their imprisonment (14+/-10 months). During imprisonment, mean fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin Alc (HbA1c) levels dramatically decreased from 184+/-74 to 113+/-38mg/dl (p<0.001) and 8.4+/-2.1 to 5.9+/-1.2% (p<0.001), respectively. In addition, 5 of 18 prisoners (28%) treated with insulin and 17 of 34 (50%) treated with oral hypoglycemic agents were able to discontinue their treatment and maintain good metabolic control. Most prisoners in Japanese prisons work 8h a day 5 days a week, consuming a high dietary fiber diet including boiled rice with barley, "Mugimeshi". These findings suggest that a well-regulated lifestyle and long-term intake of high dietary fiber may have beneficial effects on metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Hinata
Masamitsu
M
Medical Affairs Section, Fukushima Prison, 1 Uehara, Minamisawamata, Fukushima 960-8254, Japan. mhinata@hotmail.com
Ono
Masami
M
Midorikawa
Sanae
S
Nakanishi
Koji
K
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D002523:Edible Grain; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides