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Schizophrenia may increase diabetes risk

Recent findings indicated glucose homeostasis differed among individuals with first-episode schizophrenia who had never taken antipsychotics, compared with healthy controls.

“The mortality gap between people with schizophrenia and the general population is growing, and there is a need for novel approaches to halt this trend,” Toby Pillinger, MRCP, of King’s College London, said in a press release. “Our study highlights the importance of considering physical health at the onset of schizophrenia, and calls for a more holistic approach to its management, combining physical and mental health care.”

To examine the association between schizophrenia and glucose homeostasis, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of case-control studies reporting on fasting plasma levels, plasma glucose levels after oral glucose tolerance tests, fasting plasma insulin levels, insulin resistance and hemoglobin levels among antipsychotic-naïve individuals with first-episode schizophrenia and healthy controls. Analysis included 16 studies among 731 patients and 614 controls.

Fasting plasma glucose levels (P = .03), plasma glucose levels after an oral glucose tolerance test (P = .007), fasting plasma insulin levels (P = .01), and insulin resistance (P = .001) were significantly increased among individuals with first-episode schizophrenia, compared with controls.

However, hemoglobin A_1C levels were not different among individuals with first-episode schizophrenia or controls.

“These findings are a wake-up call that we need to rethink the link between diabetes and schizophrenia and start prevention right from the onset of schizophrenia. It is a case of thinking mind and body right from the start,” study researcher Oliver D. Howes, PhD, of King’s College London, said in the release. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Pillinger reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.