Impact of Patient Body Composition and Handgrip Strength on Glycemic Management of Type 2 Diabetes: Cross‐Sectional Study Based on Outpatient Clinical Data in Japan

Background Skeletal muscle mass (SMM), total body fat mass (BFM), and body mass index (BMI) are known to have a significant impact on glycemic management in Type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the roles played by muscle function and visceral fat remain unclear. Methods This cross‐sectional study examined the association between these factors and glycemic control in 333 Japanese T2D outpatients. Handgrip strength (HGS) and waist circumference (WC) were also utilized in the study as surrogates for muscle function and visceral fat, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) for achieving HbA1c targets were analyzed. ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HbA1c < 7.0% or < 8.0% were examined to analyze the five variables as numerical values or by dividing them into tertiles. Results Significant ORs for HbA1c < 8.0% in HGS, WC, and BFM were 1.056 (95% CI, 1.015–1.099), 0.975 (0.953–0.999), and 0.960 (0.930–0.991), respectively. The OR in the high tertile for HGS, WC, or BFM was significantly higher, lower, or lower than the OR in the low tertile, respectively. A significant OR for HbA1c < 7.0% was found only in WC (0.953 [0.923–0.984]), and there was a significant disparity between the high and low tertiles in WC and BFM. Notably, SMM and BMI showed no significant associations with glycemic control. Conclusion Both WC and BFM were crucial factors impacting glycemic management, alongside HGS in Japanese T2D patients. These findings suggest that assessing skeletal muscle function, body fat distribution, and quantifying total BFM is essential for effective T2D management.