A community based prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Ho municipality of Ghana

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) has seen an upsurge in the past few decades due to changing life style especially in sub-Saharan African countries. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of type 2 DM among men and women above 30 years in the Ho municipality. Subjects and methods The study involved 202 adults in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region of Ghana. Body weight and height were determined, and body mass index (BMI) calculated. Venous blood samples were collected after 8 to 12 h of overnight fast into fluoride tube and plasma obtained used for the determination of fasting blood glucose using a spectrophotometer. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were also determined. Socio-demographic data were collected using questionnaire and blood pressure determined using sphygmomanometer. Type 2 DM was defined as Fasting Blood Glucose (FPG) >= 7 mmol/L. Results The prevalence of type 2 DM and pre-diabetes were 6.9% (n = 14) and 17.3% (n = 35), respectively. The prevalence of type DM in the study participants increased from 0% in those between 30 and 39 years to 42% in the aged 40-49 years' group. Its prevalence was 21.4% for both 50-59 and 60-69 year age groups with those aged 70 years and above recording 14.3%. Additionally, 12.5% of alcohol consumers had diabetes mellitus against 7.1% of non-alcohol consumers whiles 14% of those with hypertension had diabetes as against 2.3% of the normotensives. Conclusion Diabetes prevalence was 6.9% and was higher in older people, people with hypertension, alcohol consumers and abdominally obese men.