DETERMINATION OF INSULIN RESISTANCE IN YOUNG ADULTS AND ITS RELATION TO SMOKING

Abstract

Smoking is a major risk factor for diabetes mellitus, mainly due to decreased insulin secretion and increased insulin
resistance (IR). The various complications associated with IR are cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome
(MetS), diabetes, stroke and endothelial dysfunction. The IR prevalence in young adults and its relation to smoking is not
clearly demonstrated. So, this study was planned to estimate the effects of smoking on IR. This study comprised 40
young adults who smoked minimum 6 beedis/cigarettes daily and 25 age matched control subjects. Blood samples were
collected in plain bulb and biochemical analyses like fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, fasting insulin were done
and then Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance was used to find out IR. Smokers has significantly higher
level of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HOMA-IR index and lower level of
HDL-C as compared to non-smokers. A significant association was noted between the smoking status, including both the
numbers of cigarettes/beedis smoke per day and fasting insulin level as well as for HOMA-IR index. Smokers have a high
risk of developing an insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia as compared with a matched group of non-smokers. This
may help to explain the high risk of cardiovascular disease in smokers.