Clin Nutr Res.  2018 Apr;7(2):112-116. 10.7762/cnr.2018.7.2.112.

Low Handgrip Strength Is Not Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hyperglycemia: a Population-Based Study

• Giglio BM
• Mota JF
• Wall BT
• Pimentel G

• KMID: 2409989
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2018.7.2.112

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is commonly linked to muscle weakness and metabolic abnormalities which increase healthcare costs. The study was undertaken to investigate if low handgrip strength, as a marker of muscle weakness, is associated with hyperglycemia and/or DM in Brazilian subjects. In a cross-sectional design, 415 individuals of both sexes (46.7% male) were interviewed by a questionnaire and the DM diagnostic was self-reported. Anthropometric measurements, such as weight, height, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference, mid-arm and calf circumference and handgrip strength, were obtained by trained nutritionists. Blood glucose concentrations were determined by portable monitor analysis. Student's t-test was applied to compare DM cases with non-diabetic individuals, and logistic regression analysis was performed to verify the odds for becoming diabetic or having altered glycemia and p < 0.05 was considered as significant. From 415 subjects, 9.2% (n = 35) were classified as DM. DM patients had significantly higher age, BMI, casual glycemia and lower handgrip strength and normalized (to body weight) handgrip strength (NHS) when compared with non-diabetic patients. Individuals with low NHS have 2.7 odds ratio to DM without adjustment for covariate (crude model, p = 0.006) and have 2.7 times higher the likelihood of DM than individuals with high NHS after adjusting for age (model 1, p = 0.006); however, this association disappeared after further adjusting for sex. In conclusion, low handgrip strength normalized or not to body weight, was not associated with hyperglycemia and DM diagnosis.

Keyword

Hand strength; Weakness; Diabetes mellitus; Blood sugar

MeSH Terms

Arm
Blood Glucose
Body Height
Body Weight
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
Diagnosis
Hand Strength
Health Care Costs
Humans
Hyperglycemia*
Logistic Models
Muscle Weakness
Nutritionists
Odds Ratio
Blood Glucose

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