Association of Undiagnosed Pre-Diabetes and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus with Interleukin-2 mRNA Expression Among Adults in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Many cases of hyperglycemia are undiagnosed in Nigeria due to poverty and inadequate access to health care. Although hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are inflammatory conditions, however, the role of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-2 in hyperglycemia and T2DM is not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and association of undiagnosed pre-diabetes and T2DM with IL-2 mRNA level among adults in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A cross sectional design was employed to randomly select 130 adults and they were grouped into three: normal control, prediabetes, and T2DM. Fasting blood glucose concentration was measured using Accu-answer glucometer, while mRNA level of IL-2 was quantified using real time PCR method. The prevalence of undiagnosed pre-diabetes was 43.07% (males, 19.23%; females, 23.85%) while undiagnosed T2DM was 16.15% (males, 6.92%; females 9.23%). The expression of IL-2 mRNA was significantly upregulated in both pre-diabetes and T2DM subjects compared with normal control (p < 0.05), but was significantly higher among T2DM subjects. Age ≥ 50 years, physical inactivity and marriage was significantly associated with hyperglycemia and T2DM (p < 0.05). The present study found a high prevalence of undiagnosed pre-diabetes and T2DM among adults in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Association of prediabetes and T2DM with IL-2 mRNA expression was found. IL-2 mRNA level might be a useful biomarker for monitoring diabetes mellitus progression. Directing diabetes survey and interventions to rural communities is highly recommended. Keywords: [Undiagnosed Diabetes, pre-diabetes, IL-2, rural communities, Bayelsa State, Nigeria]