Serum uric acid levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus among South Indian Urban Population: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background and aim: Hyperuricemia is common in individuals with obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This has been attributed to the hyperinsulinemia due to insulin resistance in T2DM and it’s effect on the renal excretion of uric acid. There have been recent studies depicting that hyperuricemia may independently predict the development of diabetes. However, there are conflicting studies of hypouricemia in T2DM as well which may be due to increased glomerular filtration rate with increased renal clearance of uric acid. In order to add further evidence to the existing database of knowledge about uric acid metabolism in T2DM this study was carried out. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study and the subjects were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data recorded included serum uric acid, HbA1c, fasting and post prandial plasma glucose, serum creatinine, fasting lipid profile and waist hip ratio. Results: The mean value of serum uric acid was 5.11±1.2 mg/dL in diabetics and 4.59±1.12 mg/dL in nondiabetics, though within the normal reference range was statistically significant (p=0.029). However, the association of hyperuricemia (serum uric acid >7mg/dL) as a risk factor for diabetes mellitus was not significant (p=1.000). Waist circumference in cases was 94.8 ± 10 cm and in controls it was 86.6 ± 11.6 cm (p<0.001). Waist-hip ratio in diabetics was 1.0 ± 0.11 and in non-diabetics 0.9 ± 0.08 (p<0.001). HbA1c, FBS, PPBS, serum creatinine, waist circumference, waisthip ratio were significantly increased and HDLc was decreased significantly in diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Increased serum uric acid, decreased HDLc and increased waist-hip ratio are observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Steps should be taken to monitor serum uric acid, lipid profile and anthropometric measurements of diabetics and non-diabetics.