Association of allergic symptoms and allergens with diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2005–2006

Abstract Background Epidemiological evidence for the association of allergies with diabetes mellitus (DM) is limited. Objective To Investigate the association of allergic symptoms and allergens with DM by analyzing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Methods Data from 1687 subjects were screened from the 2005–2006 NHANES (n = 10348) data, and logistic regression models were built and stratified analysis was performed to describe the association of allergic symptoms and allergens with DM and the constraints in which they were associated. Results After adjusting for confounding factors, the stratified analysis found that the risk of allergic symptoms in DM patients increased by 1.847-fold, 1.646-fold, 3.859-fold, 2.862-fold, and 1.476-fold among the middle-aged, males, people with total household size of 3 or 4, and high blood pressure (HBP) patients, but decreased by 0.024-fold and 0.285-fold in people living alone or with normal weight. In females or when the total number of people in the household was 4, the risk of allergen sensitization in DM patients increased by 2.028-fold and 4.674-fold. Compared with people without DM, people with DM had a 1.585-fold increased risk of developing a D. Pteronyssinus allergy and a 0.372-fold lower risk of developing an oak allergy. Conclusions DM is a risk factor for allergic symptoms and allergen sensitization under certain conditions and increases the risk of D. Pteronyssinus allergy and reduces the risk of oak allergy.