ASSOCIATION OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION WITH BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS IN OBANLIKU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA NORTHERN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Diabetes Miletus is an emerging pandemic disorder with very complex pathogenesis. Studies have blamed it for the annual death of about 3.8 million people worldwide. Among the risk factors for diabetes are diet, physical activity, genetics and obesity, though a number of cases have been found where the recognized risk factors are absent. Recent studies have associated Helicobacter pylori infection with diabetes, though reports are contradictory. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in the Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State as well as its association with diabetes Miletus. The study employed the cross-sectional survey design. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the subjects as follows: four council wards out of 10 in the study area were selected by balloting; in each selected ward, two villages were again selected by balloting, then incidental sampling technique was used to select 30 subjects who met the inclusion criteria. Thus, a total of 240 subjects formed the sample size which was determined using Slovin’s formula. The subjects’ capillary blood samples were collected using the lancet prick and the blood taken (for H. pylori infection and blood sugar levels). Ethical approval for the study was sought for and obtained from the Cross River State Ministry of Health. Informed consent was sought from the subjects and anyone who refused to consent was excluded. The data collected were analysed using t-test. Results obtained showed that H. pylori infection is strongly associated with diabetes (P<0.05) and is not influenced by gender. Screening and treatment for H. pylori is strongly recommended for Diabetes patients (especially Type Two Diabetes).