A study of impact of smoking on glycemic index status among patients who are attending Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital, Dharmapuri

Introduction: Tobacco use has long been known to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have identified a positive association between smoking and incidence of diabetes. The evidence that smoking is an independent risk factor for the development of diabetes is still considered preliminary. Some studies have shown a dose response association between smoking and incidence of diabetes. Aim of The Study: To assess whether smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop clinically relevant glucose intolerance or diabetes and to assess whether total pack years' correlates with the severity of glucose intolerance/ diabetes. Materials and Methods: We have evaluated Hundred smokers and FIFTY nonsmokers Baseline characteristics of the study were as follows; age, sex, occupation, Education status, family history of diabetes, comorbid illness of smoking. Our Baseline examination included Ht, Wt, BMI, BP, HC, WC, Waist Hip ratio (anthropometric measurements), Lab investigation – Blood sugar (F and PP) and Lipid profile. Participants were defined as current smokers and former smokers. Former smoker were those who, at baseline, reported previously using cigarettes but denied current smoking. Results: Nearly 5% of the case population were obese. Among the control population, obesity accounted for 2% of them. There was a significant statistical difference between cases and controls with respect to BMI (‘p' = 0.0116). With regard to Blood Pressure, there was no significant statistical difference between cases and controls (‘p' = 0.4989). Glucose Intolerance among case population were found to be 29% and among the control population, found to be 22%. Thus there was no significant statistical difference between cases and controls (‘p' = 0.4727). 53 cases of the study group (53%) had high Triglyceride. 46% of the control group had high TG. Thus, there was no significant statistical association between study and control group (p =0.52) 13 cases of the study group (13%) had low HDL. 14% of the control group also had low HDL. Thus there was no significant statistical association between study and control group (p = 0.93). 10% of the case population had metabolic syndrome and 6% of the control population had the same. There was no significant statistical association. 10% of the case population had metabolic syndrome and 6% of the control population had the same. There was no significant statistical association. Conclusion: Smoking stimulate symathetic system, which inturnleads to anelevated catecholamine levels and there by insulin resistence.Smoking influences visceral adipose tissue and there by insulin resistance.Smokers(especially heavy smokers) are prone for unhealthy food habits and low physical activity which in turn leads to visceral fat accumulation and insulin resistance.