The Association Between Handgrip Strength and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Community Dwelling Older Adults in Nanjing, China.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among older adults residing in community settings in Nanjing, China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 279 participants aged 60 years and older were assessed using a questionnaire, and T2DM diagnosis was confirmed through a review of medical records, defined as a documented physician diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and/or current use of antidiabetic medication. Participants were categorized into three groups based on HGS tertiles: low HGS group (< 12.0 kg, n = 92), middle HGS group (12.0-26.5 kg, n = 94), and high HGS group (> 26.5 kg, n = 93). Data analysis was conducted using analysis of variance, the χ² test, and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 72.43 ± 6.38 years, and 38.0% were male (n = 106). The average body mass index (BMI) was 23.40 ± 3.14 kg/m², and the prevalence of T2DM, hypertension, and heart disease was 15.1%, 44.8%, and 19.8%, respectively. No significant differences were observed among the three groups in BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or the prevalence of hypertension and heart disease, whereas the prevalence of T2DM was highest in the low HGS group (21.7%) and lowest in the high HGS group (8.6%). In the fully adjusted model, each 1 kg increase in HGS was associated with a 3.3% lower odds of T2DM (odds ratio 0.967, 95% confidence interval 0.944-0.989). CONCLUSIONS: Higher HGS was associated with a lower prevalence of T2DM among community dwelling older adults in Nanjing. These findings indicate that HGS may serve as a potential target for intervention and as a simple indicator for identifying older individuals at increased risk of T2DM in community settings. In Chinese community health centers, incorporating HGS into routine check ups for older adults could help prioritize individuals for further glucose testing and counseling about strength building physical activity.