Relation of metabolic syndrome with inflammatory markers in non-diabetic first degree relatives of type 2 diabetes patients

Abstract

Vulnerability to type2 diabetes is inherited, but its overt appearance is affected by medical, social and behavioral factors. It develops gradually over decades, with a long prediabetic interval of mild, moderate or intermittent hyperglycemia. The complexity of the natural history of type 2 diabetes and the high variability in its clinical presentation often results in about a decade s delay before the diagnosis is made. A strong familial aggregation is observed among Asian Indians with high prevalence among the first degree relatives (FDRs). newlineAlthough genetic predisposition largely governs the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, the exact molecular basis of defective insulin secretion and reduced tissue response to insulin remains elusive. In about 20% of cases, diabetic complications are seen at the time of initial diagnosis, indicating that the pathology begins much earlier. The exact time is difficult to ascertain and so far, alterations in the plasma glucose concentrations are the earliest markers. The hypothesis that type 2 diabetes could be a disease of the innate immune system is another step towards understanding the pathophysiology of the disease. Deficient insulin secretion and action has also been demonstrated in non-diabetic relatives of newlinepatients with type 2 diabetes. Inflammatory markers like the white blood cell count, CRP, newlineInterleukins, fibrinogen and sialic acid have shown to predict the development of type 2 newlinediabetes.