Type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, and their association with increased hepatic enzyme levels among the employees in a university hospital in Thailand.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between abnormal hepatocellular functions and abnormal fasting glucose level in the employees in a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. A cross-sectional data analysis was conducted among 2790 workers who were 35-60 years old and participated in both the annual fasting plasma glucose (FPG) examination and the baseline questionnaire survey during 2001-2005. The prevalence rates (95% confidence interval; CI) of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were 10.4 (9.1-11.7) and 20.3 (17.0-23.9) percent respectively for women and men, while those of type 2 diabetes were 3.1 ( 2.4-3.9) and 6.5 (4.6-8.9) respectively. After controlling for conventional risk factors, only the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was significantly associated with increased abnormal FPG This association was particularly obvious for the DM. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the type 2 diabetes and ALT association was also evident in the Thai population.