The dietary patterns and prevalence of type 2 diabetes among different blood types in two rural populations of Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is primarily characterized by insulin resistance, relative insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was studied in different blood types and the risk diet factors among the different blood types determined. Objective: To determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the different blood types (A, AB, B and O). Method: A total sample size of 302 was randomly selected from two Kenyan populations. Their fasting blood glucose level and two hour post-glucose load blood glucose were determined and recorded under blood types. The participants also made a 24- hour recall of their diet intake from which the protein, milk, PUFA, carbohydrate and meat intake estimates were correlated to fasting glucose level. Results: There were more diabetic cases in blood type B among the Luo community (3.1% of N=32) followed by blood type A among the Kalenjins (2.0% of N=50) and then blood type O in both communities (Luo, 1.3% of N=77 and Kalenjin, 1.6% of N=64). There was a positive correlation between fat intake and diabetes in blood type B (r=0.588, p= 0.000) using the fasting plasma glucose level. There was a significant positive correlation in the amount of fish intake and diabetes in blood type AB (r=0.841, p=0.036). There was a significant positive correlation between meat intake and elevated fasting blood sugar level in blood type B(r=0.424, p= 0.016). Conclusion: Blood types A and O are at a higher risk of being diabetic due to the high cases of impaired glucose metabolism. People with blood type B are at a higher risk of developing diabetes type 2 if they consumed a lot of meat and fat. It is recommended therefore that they should manage their diet intake very closely to avoid foods that predispose them to elevated blood sugar levels.