By Colin Kenny, GP, Dromore
The incidence of type 2 diabetes may be 2-3 times higher in people living with schizophrenia than in the general population. Psychiatric medication may play some part in this. Here, the investigators carried out a meta-analysis of 14 case–control studies comprising 1345 participants. They sought individuals with first-episode schizophrenia who had elevated fasting plasma glucose levels, elevated plasma glucose levels after an oral glucose tolerance test, and elevated fasting plasma insulin levels, as well as greater insulin resistance compared with healthy individuals serving as controls.
They found that people presenting with schizophrenia often had several markers of glucose dysregulation including raised fasting plasma glucose levels, reduced glucose tolerance and increased insulin resistance at illness onset. These findings show that glucose homeostasis is altered from illness onset in schizophrenia, indicating that individuals are at increased risk of diabetes as a result. These findings have implications for monitoring and treatment choices for people with schizophrenia.
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