Gallstone disease a risk factor of type 2 diabetes

Although stone disease has been associated with insulin resistance, its impact on the risk of type 2 diabetes is lacking. Using data from a prospective cohort study [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Postdam], German researchers have established that the presence of gallstones, but not kidney stones, is a predictor of future type 2 diabetes.

Researchers identified 849 incident cases of type 2 diabetes among a cohort of 25,166 participants. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol intake, education and physical activity, subjects who reported gallstones (n=3,293) were at a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes (relative risk, RR 1.95), which remained significant following adjustment for obesity variables and hypertension.

However, the presence of kidney stones (n=2,468) did not influence diabetes risk.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology
Source: The Daily Star, February 20, 2010