Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases with characteristics of hyperglycemia due to abnormalities of insulin secretion, impaired insulin function or both. Increased blood sugar levels in the body can cause the changes within the body, which then can be measured by using anthropometry as well as the measurement of vascularization changes to the periphery.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the relationship between anthropometry and ankle-brachial index (ABI) with blood glucose level (BGL) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Tuntungan Community Health Center in Medan.

Material and methods

The study design was a cohort observational cross-sectional study. Research samples were patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Tuntungan Community Health Center determined by consecutive sampling; inclusion and exclusion criteria were also considered. Primary data was used as the data source for the study. Anthropometry and ankle-brachial index were directly measured from diabetic patients whereas ad random BGL was measured using a portable device. Data were analyzed using SPSS computer program.

Results

Among 101 diabetic respondents, the results showed that 65 respondents (64.3%) had normal ad random blood glucose level while 36 respondents (35.6%) were hyperglycemic. Based on the results of chi-square, there was a relationship found between BMI, ABI, waist circumference, and BGL (p = 0.001; p = 0.0001; p = 0.0001). In contrast, no relationship was found between blood pressure, waist-hip ratio, upper arm circumference, and BGL (p = 0.07; p = 0.37; p = 0.77).

Conclusions

The results showed that uncontrolled BGL very closely related to complications experienced by patients such as macro vascular complications.