ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME LIMB AND BODY CIRCUMFERENCES IN MALES AND FEMALES WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

The aim of the present study is to measure some limb and body circumferences in male and female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and establish their correlation with the course and prognosis of the disease in both genders. The study included 118 female (mean age = 63.6 yrs.) and 67 male (mean age = 64.9 yrs.) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. All subjects were of Bulgarian ancestry. The following circumferences were measured: arm relaxed (right, in the middle), arm contracted, forearm, waist, hip, thigh and leg. Waist/hip ratio and waist/thigh ratio were calculated. The between-gender comparison of the circumference of contracted arm show no statistically significant difference but the circumference of relaxed arm significantly greater in females than in males. No statistically significant between- gender difference is found in the waist and thigh circumference with a tendency to greater absolute values of the waist in males than in females. The hip circumference is significantly greater in females than in males, the thigh circumference is greater in females with difference reaching moderate significance, and the forearm circumference is significantly greater in males. WHR and WTR are greater in males than in females. The lipid profile variables cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL- cholesterol are slightly higher in females than in males with difference reaching statistical significance only for HDL-cholesterol (p=0.0019). Cholesterol and triglycerides levels are within normal limits and HDL-cholesterol level at the lower limit of the norm. The data of the study show that females with type 2 diabetes mellitus have greater limb and body circumferences the male patients. The risk of poor course of diabetes is greater in males because of the tendency to greater waist circumference and higher values of WHR. High values of waist circumference and WHR are associated with high risk and poor prognosis, while high values of hip and thigh circumferences and WHR indicate more favorable prognosis.