A Study of Distribution and Determinants of Diabetes Mellitus Among Army Personnel in Belgaum Cantonment in India

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Diabetes is rapidly emerging as a major public health problem in India; and Indiahas the maximum number of diabetics in the world. Diabetes assumes special importance in context of Indian army, where Diabetes is one of the leading causes of hospital admission, disability, and invalidment from service. The present study was conducted to find out the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and its distribution and determinants among Army personnel in Belgaum Cantonment. Methodology: A one year cross sectional study with a sample size of 600 participants, carried out by a structured interview using questionnaire, physical examination, anthropometry, and fasting blood sugar estimation. The present study was performed after the institutional ethical clearance and the informed and written consent from all the participants. The data obtained was analyzed for the statistical significance using SPSS software version 10 by adopting univariate and multivariate analysis. P<0.05 was considered the level of significance. Results: The overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus among army personnel was 6.67 %. Out of 40 diabetics identified, 17(42.5%) of them are newly detected cases of diabetes. Conclusion: The various risk factors found to be significantly associated with diabetes in the present study are increasing age, higher army rank and educational status, lack of physical exercise, increased Body Mass Index (BMI), and increased Waist Hip Ratio (WHR). Diabetes was also positively associated with current Hypertension status and family history of diabetes.