HAND GRIP STRENGTH IN TYPE II DIABETIC PATIENTS VISITING OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE OF NEPAL

Abstract

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus commonly affects the elderly individuals. Reduced muscle strength has been considered as one of the complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Handgrip strength is an important parameter to evaluate the power of the hand. Hand grip strength has also proven to be an important measure to diagnose muscle degeneration at an early stage. The study aimed to compare the hand grip strength between individuals with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the Outpatient Department of Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital. In total 200 subjects who met inclusion criteria participated in the study. Handgrip strength was measured with an isometric hand dynamometer and comparisons were made between diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Independent t-test were used to analyze the significance difference in hand grip strength between the two groups (p=0.05).

Results: Total of 200 subjects (100 T2DM and 100 controls) were studied. Mean hand grip strength (kg) was significantly lower both in men and women with diabetes compared with controls (37.54±6.08 vs 45.16±4.82, p = 0.000 in men and 33.97±6.47 vs 44.54±5.42, p = 0.000 in women).

Conclusions: Hand Grip Strength was significantly lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects when compared with healthy volunteers.