ASSESSING HORMONAL INFLUENCES ON TYPE 2 DIABETES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN PAKISTAN: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY
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Keywords
Type 2 diabetes, postmenopausal women, estrogen, progesterone, insulin resistance, South Asia, metabolic health.
Abstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major health issue in South Asia, especially among postmenopausal women. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone change during menopause, which might increase diabetes risk. There's limited research on this topic in South Asian women, who face unique genetic and lifestyle challenges.
Objective: This study investigates how hormones affect T2D in postmenopausal women in Pakistan, focusing on estrogen, progesterone, and insulin.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar, Pakistan in the duration from November, 2023 to April, 2024 with 225 postmenopausal women aged 50-70 from Pakistan. Participants were selected based on T2D criteria set by the American Diabetes Association. We collected data through interviews, medical records, and lab tests, measuring glucose, HbA1c, insulin, estrogen, progesterone, and lipids. Statistical analysis used Pearson correlation and multiple regression to explore hormonal links to T2D, adjusting for age, BMI, and lifestyle factors.
Results: Diabetic women had lower estrogen levels (48.2 pg/mL) compared to non-diabetic women (57.5 pg/mL), with a p-value of 0.003. The HOMA-IR was higher in diabetics (3.9) than in non-diabetics (2.1), indicating insulin resistance. Higher triglycerides and LDL cholesterol were also found in the diabetic group, linking metabolic problems to T2D.
Conclusion: Hormonal changes play a key role in T2D in postmenopausal Pakistani women. Regular hormonal assessments might lead to personalized treatments, improving health outcomes for this high-risk group. More research is needed to develop targeted interventions that address hormonal impacts on T2D.
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Dr Aasima Rahman
Assistant Professor, Gynaecology & Obstetrics Department, College of Medicine, Shaqra University, Riyadh Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dr Shaima
Consultant Gynecologist, AIMS Sugar and General Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
Dr Rabail Irfan
Medical Doctor, Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar, Pakistan
Dr Saad Javed
House Officer, Department of Medicine, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan
Dr Muhammad Haseeb Sarwar
House Officer, Department of Medicine, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan
Dr Aftab Khursheed
Medical Officer, Obs and Gynae, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Sahiwal, Pakistan
Samra Akram
Manager Regulatory Affairs, Regulatory Compliance, Lahore, Pakistan
Dr Fahad Asim
Lecturer in Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan