Hyperuricaemia in Type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study was undertaken to find the significant parameters associated with hyperuricaemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes, and hence to determine if hyperuricaemia is associated with poor control of diabetes or increased coronary heart disease. All the diabetic patients seen at a Family Medicine Teaching Clinic within the period January to September 1997 were recruited into the study. In 273 Type 2 diabetics, serum uric acid was analysed against basic demographic data (age, sex, smoking and alcohol habits, body mass index, number of years since the diagnosis of diabetes), present medications, control of diabetic state (attending physician's estimation of the patient's diet compliance, fasting serum sugar, HbA1c), and complications (serum creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, urine proteinuria, retinopathy, last blood pressure readings, history of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke). Serum uric acid was significantly associated with body mass index, history of hypertension, serum triglyceride and serum creatinine, but was not related to coronary heart disease, stroke or control of the diabetic state. Female diabetics were more likely to have elevated uric acid. There is not enough evidence for monitoring serum uric acid or for intervention to lower asymptomatic hyperuricaemia in Type 2 diabetic patients.