title: Fasting Blood Glucose and Insulin Level in Opium Addict versus Non-Addict Individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many of lay person believe that opium lowers blood glucose. However some studies show the opposite results. In this study, we tried to evaluate the effect of opium on blood glucose and insulin resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This comparative study including 53 addicts in case groups who used opium just in the form of smoking and 55 non-addicts in a control group, took part in the study, after proving not to be opium users. After taking blood samples, their fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting blood insulin and lipid profiles were evaluated. Furthermore, insulin resistance index was analyzed via the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) formula with the cut-off points of 7.2 and 7.1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age and gender were not significantly different between the groups. There was no significant difference regarding the prevalence of insulin resistance between the two groups, according to the cut-off points of 7.1 and 7.2 (P = 0.196 and P = 0.248, respectively). Mean insulin resistance index was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.325). In the case group, fasting blood insulin was considerably lower (P = 0.025) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) was significantly higher (P = 0.016) than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the level of insulin and FBS in addicts, it does not seem that opium has a significant effect on reducing the blood glucose and insulin resistance.
authors: Associate Professor, Endocrinologist, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Hossein
authors: MH
authors: Gozashti
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Farzaneh
authors: F
authors: Yazdi
authors: Fellowship of Hemato Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Pouria
authors: P
authors: Salajegheh
authors: Student of Medicine, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Moein
authors: MM
authors: Dehesh
authors: Researcher, Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Kouros
authors: K
authors: Divsalar
keywords: Blood sugar; Insulin resistance; Opium addiction