Noninvasive assessment of insulin resistance and diabetes risk among health care professionals in a tertiary care hospital

Purpose: This study aimed to assess insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes risk levels using the FINDRISK noninvasive assessment tool in physicians from a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between February-April 2013 on 200 physicians working in a tertiary. Data was collected using the Finnish diabetes risk score (FINDRISK) tool, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and fasting insulin. The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Results: Age was 25-45 years in 84.5% (n=169) of the physicians. Half of the participants were consultants, while the remaining were residents. Mean blood insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR levels of the participants were 14.04±13.38 IU/mL, 93.55±10.11 mg/dl, and‎ 3.39±3.64, respectively. Most of the participants (58.0%, n=116) were males. The FINDRISK categories were low in 16.5% (n=32), mild in 36.5% (n=73), moderate in ‎‎23.5% (n=47), high in 18.5% (n=37), and very high in 5.5% (n=11). HOMA-IR was 2.6-33 in 49.5% (n=99), while impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was present in 24% (n=48) of the doctors. Majority of the physicians (77.5%, n=155) had a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 25 kg/m2, did not exercise regularly (89.0%, n=178), did not consume daily vegetables and/or fruits (62.5%, n=125), and had diabetic relatives (72.0%, n=144). The risk of diabetes was higher among the consultants compared to the residents (p=0.001), which persisted even after controlling for age. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the FINDRISK assessment may use in the screening of medical doctors for diabetes in Turkey. Diabetes is more prevalent among hypertensive physicians. Projects are needed to modify the reversible diabetes risk factors among medical doctors.