Abstract

Considerable interest has been generated on the possible role of insulin resistance (IR) in the etiology and sustenance of hypertension among type-2 diabetic subjects. There is paucity of data on this relationship on African diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to show the relationship between homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) derived insulin resistance (IR) scores and blood pressure among type-2 diabetic patients in Nigeria. Anthropometric data, age, sex and duration of diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were taken. Blood pressures were measured using standard methods. Fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels were measured using an ELISA technique. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were measured using standard methods. Using the HOMA method, insulin resistance scores were derived for each subject. Forty type-2 diabetic patients 13 (32.5%) of whom were hypertensive and 27 (67.5%) of whom were normotensive were studied. Mean HOMA-IR scores were 1.96 ± 1.04 (range 0.49 – 2.92) among diabetic-hypertensive individuals and 2.28 ± 1.89 (range 0.39 – 7.6) among normotensive-diabetic patients (p = 0.5350). There was no significant correlation between mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and HOMA-IR score among the normotensive group was (r = +0.087, p > 0.5). There is no statistically significant relationship between mean arterial blood pressure and HOMA derived Insulin resistance in type-2 diabetic patients in this study.

Key words: Insulin resistance, blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, Nigerians, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)