Betel Nut Consumption Leading To Poor Control of Post Prandial Blood Glucose Levels In Diabetics

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Diabetes is a major health concern worldwide, social habits are an important part of its etiology and poor glyce-mic control is a major contributor of associated morbidity. Betel nut (Areca catechu) is chewed regularly by at least 10% of the world population. The alkaloids or nitrosated compounds present inside act as competitive inhibitors of GABA receptors and have widespread effects in the body, including actions on the brain, cardiovascular system, lungs, gut and pancreas. Increased central obesity is also found in association with betel usage in man. The effects of chronic betel usage in man are at least as diverse as those of smoking and the habit increases the risks of ill health. In view of the above theory the present study was conducted in department of biochemistry Sid-dhartha Medical College, Vijayawada and Bhaskar Medical College, Yenkepally. A total of 70 patients were enrolled in the study with an aim to document the usage and effects of betel nut chewing in diabetic patients. The majority of patients with diabetes were in the older age group (>45 years) and many of them were overweight or obese. Those who were habituated to betel nut chewing showed poor glycemic control as evidenced by the high mean of post prandial blood sugar of 160mg/dl (p<0.001) and HBA1C levels of > 7% (p<0.001) where as the fasting blood sugar levels had no significant differences (p>0.001). As most of the times betel nut is taken after food and on the balance of evidence we can say that chronic consumption of betel nut in diabetic people is a contributing factor for poor control of post prandial blood sugar levels. The possible mechanism is by inhibition of GABA receptors on pancreas. There is necessity of further work in the probable mechanism of poor control