Even if you are not diabetic, high fasting blood sugar levels increase the risk of developing various metabolic diseases, such as obesity and abdominal obesity, a study has found.
The research team led by Professor Kim Young-sik (pictured) and Professor Kang Seo-young of the International Medical Center at Asan Medical Center in Seoul analyzed fasting blood sugar levels, metabolic diseases, and lifestyles of 13,625 adults aged 30 and over who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2016-2018). The results of the analysis were published on the 12th. The research team divided the subjects into four groups according to their fasting blood sugar levels: △ less than 90 mg/dL △ 90–99 mg/dL △ 100–109 mg/dL △ 110–124 mg/dL △ 125 mg/dL or more. None of them were diagnosed with diabetes.
As a result of the analysis, the higher the fasting blood sugar level, the higher the obesity and abdominal obesity rates. In men, in the group with a fasting blood sugar of less than 90 mg/dL, the proportion of obese people was 27.2%. The 90-99 mg/dL group was 38.3% and the 110-124 mg/dL group was 55.2%.
Women with higher fasting blood sugar were also more likely to be obese. In the group with a fasting blood glucose of less than 90 mg/dL, the obesity rate was 16.9%. The 90-99 mg/dL group was 26.8%, and the 110-124 mg/dL group was 51.5%. Blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol indicators also worsened as the fasting blood glucose level increased.
The research team explained, “It shows that excessive drinking has an adverse effect on blood sugar control.”
However, exercise was not associated with an increase in fasting blood sugar. The research team analyzed that only exercising without drinking alcohol or losing weight did not help much in managing blood sugar.
Professor Kim said, “Even if you do not have diabetes, if your fasting blood sugar level is 90 mg/dL or higher, you need to manage your blood sugar because there are risks such as high blood pressure, obesity, abdominal obesity, and dyslipidemia. “If you have high blood pressure or pre-diabetes, it’s good to have your blood sugar checked every year,” he said. This study was published in the online edition of ‘Journal of Diabetes’, an international scientific journal in the field of diabetes.
Reporter Lee Seon-ah
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