DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing public health burden in Nigeria, largely driven by insulin resistance. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has emerged as a simple, reliable surrogate marker for insulin resistance, but evidence from Nigerian populations remains limited. This case–control study evaluated the TyG index in 100 adults (50 T2DM patients and 50 non- diabetic controls) recruited from healthcare facilities in Benin City. Fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and body mass index (BMI) were measured using standard procedures, and the TyG index was calculated, compared between groups, and correlated with demographic and clinical variables. The mean TyG index was significantly higher in T2DM subjects (9.24 ± 0.06) compared with controls (8.62 ± 0.02; p < 0.001). Overall, 79% of participants were classified into moderate-to-extreme TyG risk categories, predominantly among diabetic subjects. Within the T2DM group, the TyG index correlated strongly with fasting blood glucose (r = 0.734, p < 0.001), moderately with triglycerides (r = 0.455, p = 0.001), and weakly with BMI (r = 0.218, p = 0.029). Significant positive correlations were also observed with age (r = 0.486, p < 0.001) and presence of complications (r = 0.423, p = 0.002), whereas no associations were found with sex, family history, or duration of diabetes. The study concludes that the TyG index is significantly elevated in T2DM patients in Benin City and correlates with age, glycemic status, and complications, underscoring its potential as a low-cost, clinically meaningful marker of insulin resistance and metabolic risk in resource-limited settings.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-diabetic effect the Justicia carnea methanol extract on Streptozotocin induced diabetes in albino wistar rats. The analysis were carried out using standard biochemical methods. The oral acute toxicity test (LD50) of the Justicia carnea methanol leaf in rat extract was determined using Lorke’s method, and diabetes was induced in the rats by a single intraperitoneal dose of 50 mg/kg. b.w of Streptozotocin. Six (6) experimental groups of rats (n=6) were used for the study. Three groups (group 4,5,6) of diabetic rats received oral daily doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg Methanol leaf extract of Justicia carnea respectively while metformin(5 mg/ml); a standard diabetic drug was administered to group 3. Group 2 was induced with diabetes but left untreated (diabetic control), while group 1 was used as normal control which
was not induced with diabetes .The treatment lasted for 21days, and from the results of the acute toxicity study showed, the extract had an LD50 > 5000 mg/kg. From the result of the anti-diabetic study, a Significant (p < 0.05) increase was observed in blood glucose level of the untreated group (group 2) when compared with the normal control whereas groups treated with 100, 200 and 500mg/kg BW of Justicia carnea and 50mg/kg BW of metformin (group 3, 4, 5 and 6) showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in blood glucose levels when compared with the untreated group (group 2). Therefore, it can be concluded from the results that the leaf extracts of Justicia carnea can be used in the management of diabetes