Male offspring of both diabetic parents have higher insulin resistance and serum leptin levels compared to those with one diabetic parent.
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.


METHODS
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.
Shahid
Adeela
A
Centre for Research in Endocrinology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Lone
Khalid P
KP
Saeed
Sadia
S
Arslan
Muhammad
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D020738:Leptin