Prevalence of Diabetes Meliitus Among Teachers in an Urban Area in South East Nigeria

Background: The global burden Diabetes mellitus (DM) is rising disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Teachers represent a unique occupational group with sedentary work patterns, work-related stress, and limited access to routine health screening. Data on the burden of diabetes among school teachers in South Eastern Nigeria remain scarce. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes among primary and secondary school teachers in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross – sectional study carried out in Nnewi, an urban area in South East Nigeria. Sixteen (16) schools consisting of eight (8) primary schools and eight (8) secondary schools were selected randomly from a list of all public schools in the city. Four hundred and ten (410) teachers who were present in the school and gave consent to participate in the study were enrolled. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, medical history and social habits. Height, weight, waist circumference and body mass index were obtained by the research team. Fasting blood sample was collected to measure fasting blood sugar. Pre-diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose of 5.6–6.9 mmol/L, and diabetes mellitus was defined by a fasting plasma glucose of ≥7.0 mmol/L or self-reported prior diagnosis or being on glucose lowering therapy recommended by a physician after prior diagnosis. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22. Association between two groups was determined using Chi square. Student T test was used to compare mean while analyses of variance was used to test for association between multiple groups. Results: A total of 410 teachers participated in the study. There were 73 (17.8%) males and 337(82.2) females. The age range of the respondents were 19-72years with mean age of 41.1± 11.1. The overall prevalence of diabetes in our study 4.4 % while prevalence of Pre diabetes was 4.1%. There was no statistical difference in the mean blood sugar and the mean body mass index (BMI) of the different blood sugar categories. Conclusion: There is a substantial burden of previously undetected diabetes and pre-diabetes among school teachers in Nnewi. These findings highlight an urgent need for routine workplace-based metabolic screening, health education programs, and lifestyle interventions targeting this occupational.