O diabetes mellitus (DM) tem alta prevalência na população mundial. Para avaliar o papel da glicemia capilar de jejum (GCJ) no seu diagnóstico, 277 indivíduos (202F/75M) foram estudados. Os voluntários aparentavam ser saudáveis, tinham mais de 30 anos, e foram recrutados num posto de saúde quando estavam acompanhando pacientes ou se preparavam para fazer um exame de sangue de rotina. Gestação e conhecimento prévio de DM serviram de critérios de exclusão. Após avaliação antropométrica, a GCJ era medida. Os casos com GCJ >96mg/dl eram reavaliados com dosagens de glicemia plasmática em jejum e 2 horas após 75g de dextrosol. Cento e oitenta e sete (67,5%) tiveram GCJ <FONT FACE=Symbol>£</FONT>96mg/dl e 90 (32,5%) GCJ >96mg/dl. Quando os parâmetros idade, peso, índice de massa corporal, cintura abdominal e quadril dos 2 grupos foram comparados entre si, os valores foram sempre estatisticamente maiores (p< 0,01) no grupo com GCJ >96mg/dl. A incidência de DM foi de 7,2% e de intolerância à glicose, 4,3%. Em conclusão, a GCJ se mostrou um instrumento valioso no diagnóstico precoce do DM.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a very prevalent disease worldwide. To assess the role of fasting capillary glycemia (FCG) in the diagnosis of early DM, 277 subjects (202F/75M) were studied. Volunteers were apparently healthy, older than 30 years of age, and were recruited in a clinic where they came accompanying patients or to undergo a routine blood analysis. Pregnant women and patients with previous diagnosis of DM were excluded. After an anthropometric evaluation, a FCG was obtained. Cases with FCG >96mg/dl underwent fasting plasma glycemia repeated 2 hours after ingestion of 75g dextrosol. FCG was <FONT FACE=Symbol>£</FONT>96mg/dl in 187 cases (67.5%), and >96 mg/dl in 90 (32.5%). When age, weight, body mass index, abdominal waist and hip/waist of the 2 groups were compared, values were all statistically higher (p< 0.01) in cases with FCG >96mg/dl. The incidence of DM was 7.2%; glucose intolerance was present in 4.3%. In conclusion, FCG was found to be a precious tool for the diagnosis of early DM.