Shorter Arm Length Linked to Type 2 Diabetes

People with shorter arm length are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes.
 
M.M. Smits and colleagues from University of Washington Seattle, WA found this association after they analyzed data from 658 second and third generation Japanese Americans (349 men and 309 women).

For the study, the researchers measured the total, upper, and forearm length and leg length (total and lower leg length) and also identified cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus by surveying subjects for their use of anti-diabetes medications and measuring fasting plasma glucose, or glucose at 2 hour.

Multivariate regression was used to establish possible associations between prevalence of type 2 diabetes and limb length while other possible confounders were also considered in the analysis.

The researchers found 145 subjects had diabetes.  Using univariate analysis, they did not find any association.  However, when other confounders were considered including age, sex, computed tomography-measured intra-abdominal fat area, height, weight, smoking status and family history of type 2 diabetes, an inverse association appeared between total arm length and upper arm length and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To be exact, those who had the shortest total arm length were 51 more likely than those who had longer total arm length to develop type 2 diabetes.  Similarly, those who have shorter total upper arm length were found at 44 percent higher risk for the disease.  However, forearm length, height, and leg length were not correlated with type 2 diabetes even after adjustment for other confounders.

Source: http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12346&catid=53&Itemid=8, Diabetologia, March, 2012.