Screening and Association between Diabetes Mellitus and Abo Blood Grouping in Amaoba Ikwuano and Amaba Ugwueke Abia State Nigeria

Diabetes Mellitus is a genetic disorder with a high degree of inheritance and the importance of human blood group in human blood transmission is well established. Studies to establish the relationship between blood group and diabetes are varied. This study was to screen and determine the association between diabetes mellitus and ABO blood grouping in the study areas. Accu-check glucometer strip and anti-sera were used for the study. Out of the 209 samples from urban and rural areas, males were 120 (48.8%) and females 107 (51.20%). Majority of the subjects male and female (39.70% and 58.6%) from the urban area and male and female (35.29% and 24.44%) from the rural area are O+ respectively, followed by A+ male and female (29.41% and 29.03%) from the urban area and male and female (5.88% and 35.55%) from rural area respectively. Then B+, male and female (10.29% and 9.67%) from urban area also male and female (11.76% and 28.88%) from rural area. More males and females (52.94%, 35.56%) in the rural area were Diabetic than those in the urban area (38.24%, 24.19%) respectively this is statistically significant (p < .05). majority of the males and females with blood group O+ (28.57%, 77.78%) from the urban area and (40.00%, 43.75%) from the rural area were Diabetic, followed by those with blood group A+ (42.86%, 22.22%) from the urban area and (10.00%, 37.59%) for the rural area. There is statistical difference between the occurrence of Diabetes Mellitus among the various blood groups (p < .05). More subjects that were overweight male and female (67.85%, 61.11%) from the urban area and (60.00%, 50.00%) from rural area have Diabetes Mellitus. Questionnaire analysis shows that the causes of diabetes mellitus in the urban area were identified by most (31.6%) respondents to be high consumption of starchy food followed by high consumption of sugar (6.5%) while the rural area majority (56.6%) of the respondents indicated high consumption of sugar followed by witchcraft and the least (16.5%) had no idea about the cause of the ailment. Management of the disease in urban area was identified to be adhering to diet (28.3%) followed by adhering to medication (28.3%) then routine screening (25%) than the least was no idea (3.30%) while most (56.60%) of the respondents from the rural area have no idea on what are the management practices, than adhering to diet (20.60%) and exercise (2.60%) had the least response. In the treatment of the disease in both urban and rural area, majority (74.62%) of the respondents agreed that diabetes mellitus is best treated in the hospital while most (41. 77) in the rural area believe in visiting the chemist respectively, However some in both urban and urban area still patronize herbal houses for treatment. There is therefore the need for proper public health enlightenment and education of the populace for regular screening test and management practices to immunize and avert the risk of complications that many arise.