Parental transmission of type 2 diabetes mellitus among patients attending a tertiary care hospital

Problem considered: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a heritable condition. Some studies suggest a strong maternal association while others claim paternal transmission of diabetes to be more significant. The present study was aimed at identifying the role of parental transmission in Type 2 diabetic patients with family history of diabetes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among individuals diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and having a family history of the same attending the General Medicine OPD in a tertiary care hospital. Consenting consecutive patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled into the study. Demographic characteristics, age at onset of Type 2 Diabetes and parental history of the disease were obtained in detail. Results: Of the 174 participants enrolled into the study nearly 66% were males. Maternal history of DM (65%) was more commonly observed as compared to paternal history (57%) and nearly 23% had a history of both parents being diabetic. Fifty two percent gave a sibling history of type 2 DM. Siblings of patients with affected mothers had a greater likelihood of diabetes (77.8%) than those with affected fathers (51%) (P = 0.001). More males had a brother who was diabetic (66%), likewise more females had a sister who was diabetic (55%). Conclusion: Maternal inheritance of DM appears to be more common and there is a significant association of type 2 diabetes among siblings of patients with affected mothers. This apparent association is an area that needs to be explored further.