Clinical gallbladder disease in NIDDM subjects: Relationship to duration of diabetes and severity of glycemia

OBJECTIVE - To examine the relationship between the prevalence of gallbladder disease and severity of glycemia among diabetic individuals and to provide insight into whether the diabetes-gallstone association is a causal one, because NIDDM patients have an increased prevalence of clinical gallbladder disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - We examined 462 diabetic individuals identified during the San Antonio Heart Study, a population-based survey of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites. Diabetes was diagnosed according to National Diabetes Data Group criteria. RESULTS - The prevalence of self-reported gallbladder disease was 34.2% in diabetic women and 7.2% in diabetic men. Although duration of diabetes was positively related to the prevalence of gallbladder disease (P < 0.01), type of therapy was not associated, and fasting glucose concentration was inversely associated with gallbladder disease. CONCLUSIONS - Factors other than hyperglycemia may account for the increased prevalence of gallbladder disease in diabetic subjects.