Abstract
Background:
Family history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is one of the major risk factors for diabetes. It is the most common type of Diabetes and is characterised by elevated fasting blood glucose levels secondary to insufficient insulin action. The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus has risen alarmingly in the past decade. Being a familial disease, it imposes a lifetime risk of 40% in the offspring even if one parent is affected. 30-40% risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus development is seen in the 1st degree relatives of Diabetic patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

Aim:
To evaluate the influence of family history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on apparently healthy individuals.

Methods:
A cross-sectional comparative study using a sample size of 159 in healthy females in the age group of 18-25 years was conducted by dividing study population into two groups based on family history of diabetes in their 1st degree relatives. The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Anantnag over a period of ten months (December 2023 to October 2024). Anthropometric parameters like height, weight, BMI, hip circumference and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) were measured. Vitals such as blood pressure and pulse rate were also checked. Blood samples were taken to assess their fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, Lipid profile and serum uric acid levels.

Results:
The analysis showed that BMI of subjects with a positive family history of Diabetes was higher, and this difference was statistically significant (average of 22.07) as compared to those with no family history of diabetes (average of 20.91). Hip circumference and WHR were also found to be statistically significant in the population with a positive family history of diabetes. HbA1c and fasting blood glucose levels also showed a statistically significant result with mean value for HbA1c being 5.4940% for those with a family history and 5.2452% for those without. Fasting glucose levels showed a mean of 90.4508 mg/dl for individuals with a family history and 86.4932 mg/dl for those without. Other parameters such as waist circumference, Blood pressure, pulse rate, Cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), High-density lipoprotein (HDL), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and uric acid showed no statistical significance irrespective of the family history.

Conclusion:
These results suggest that apparently healthy individuals with positive family history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus have higher BMI, WHR, HbA1c and fasting blood glucose levels and this may predispose them to a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Family history, BMI, HbA1c