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Habitual consumption of Areca catechu may cause increased post prandial blood glucose levels in diabetics: a cross sectional study

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Original Article

Author Details : MA Bari Siddiqui, Addanki Yottoshuka

Volume : 3, Issue : 4, Year : 2016

Article Page : 357-362

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Abstract

Diabetes has become a universal major health concern, personal habits form an integral part of its etiology and poor control of blood sugar is a major contributor of associated morbidity. Betel nut (Areca catechu) has become a personal habit of at least 10% of the world population. The alkaloids and nitrosated compounds inside betel nut are competitive inhibitors of GABA receptors affecting the body in various ways, including the brain, cardiovascular system, lungs, gut and pancreas. Betel nut usage is also associated with increased central obesity in man and effects of chronic usage in man are similar to those of smoking and increase the risks of ill health. In line with the above theory the present crossectional study was conducted in department of Biochemistry, Bhaskar Medical College, Yenkepally and Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada. 70 patients were enrolled in the study and the usage and effects of betel nut chewing in diabetic patients were documented. The majority of patients enrolled with diabetes were in age group of >45 years, many of them being overweight or obese. Those with the habit of betel nut chewing had poor glycemic control evidenced by the high mean of  post prandial blood sugar of 160mg/dl (p<0.001) and HBA1C levels indicating poor control of > 7% (p<0.001) whereas the fasting blood sugar levels had no significant differences (p>0.001). Because most of the occasion’s betel nut being taken after food and on the balance of evidence we can conclude that chronic consumption of betel nut in diabetic people is a major contributing factor for poor control of post prandial blood sugar levels and the explanation for the poor control being inhibition of GABA receptors on pancreas. Further work in the probable mechanism of poor control needs to be done to highlight the problem of this habit and necessary actions to be taken to prevent morbidity.

How to cite : Siddiqui M B, Yottoshuka A, Habitual consumption of Areca catechu may cause increased post prandial blood glucose levels in diabetics: a cross sectional study. Int J Clin Biochem Res 2016;3(4):357-362

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