Blood test could determine diabetes risks

The most commonly used inflammatory biomarker currently used to predict the risk of type 2 diabetes is high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP). However, emerging research has suggested that joint evaluation of biomarkers, rather than evaluating each one individually, will improve the likelihood of predicting diabetes risk and diabetes complications.

A study by ECU researcher Dan Wu investigated the relationship between systemic inflammation, measured by combined total high-sensitivity CRP and another biomarker called the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR), and incident type 2 diabetes. is between

The study followed more than 40,800 non-diabetic participants for nearly ten years, with more than 4,800 participants developing diabetes. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, a significant interaction was observed between MHR and CRP, Wu said.

“Notably, increases in MHR in each CRP stratum increased the risk of type 2 diabetes; concurrent increases in MHR and CRP conferred significantly higher incidence rates and risks of diabetes.

“Furthermore, the association between chronic inflammation (indicated by combined total MHR and CRP exposure) and incident diabetes was highly age- and gender-specific and influenced by hypertension, high cholesterol, or prediabetes. MHR and The addition of CRP to the clinical risk model significantly improved the prediction of incident diabetes,” Wu said.

Women are most at risk.

The study found that women were at higher risk of type 2 diabetes due to a combined increase in CRP and MHR, Wu said, adding that sex hormones may account for these differences.

Research findings have confirmed the involvement of chronic inflammation in the early onset of diabetes and warrants special attention, Wu said.

Epidemiological evidence indicates a steady increase in early-onset diabetes, particularly in developing countries. Exploiting this age-specific relationship between chronic inflammation and type 2 diabetes may be a promising approach to achieve early identification of at-risk young adults and to develop personalized interventions. ” he added.

Wu noted that the chronic progressive nature of diabetes and the resulting high burden of disease further highlighted the urgent need to address this critical health problem.

Although aging and genetics are nonmodifiable risk factors, other risk factors can be modified through lifestyle changes. Inflammation is strongly influenced by lifestyle activities and metabolic conditions such as diet, sleep disturbance, chronic stress, and glucose and cholesterol dysregulation, thus indicating the potential benefits of monitoring risk-related metabolic conditions.

The dual advantages of cost-effectiveness and the widespread availability of cumulative MHR and CRP in current clinical settings have made possible the widespread use of these measures as a convenient tool for predicting diabetes risk, Wu said.