Observational study on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among ultrasonographically diagnosed cholelithiasis patients

Mohammed Abdul Hannan Hazari; Shadan Taskeen

Mohammed Abdul Hannan Hazari Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, DMRL ‘X’ Road, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad ‑ 500 058, Telangana, India.
Shadan Taskeen Department of Physiology, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Keywords: Diabetes, Gallstones, Glycated hemoglobin

Abstract

Background and Aim: Diabetes and cholelithiasis are common diseases worldwide in this era of modern epidemics of non - communicable diseases. Studies revealed that diabetes is a risk factor for gallstones. Since both diseases are related to altered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, we hypothesized that the vice‑versa, i.e., gallstone disease can be a risk factor for the development of diabetes. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among ultrasonographically diagnosed cholelithiasis patients and to find any correlation between parameters of gallstones and diabetes mellitus. Methods: This was a hospital‑based observational study. A total of 31 gallstone patients belonging to both genders (male = 9, female = 22) and in the age group of 20–80 years were enrolled in the study. From ultrasound report, parameters noted were: size of gallbladder, solitary or multiple gallstones, and size of the largest gallstone. All patients were asked about history of diabetes mellitus, (if history of diabetes is present – whether the diabetes was diagnosed before or after cholelithiasis), monthly family income, education status, and occupation. Data obtained were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this endeavor, we found that the prevalence of diabetes among cholelithiasis patients was only 35.48%; and of the 11 diabetic patients, 3 developed gallstones before the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Socioeconomic status did not have any bearing on the occurrence of diabetes and gallstones in our patients. Glycated hemoglobin levels did not correlate with the severity of gallstone disease which is assessed in the form of solitary/multiple stones and size of the largest gallstone. Conclusion: There is no increased prevalence of diabetes among cholelithiasis patients. Our hypothesis of gallstones acting as risk for developing diabetes could not be proved.