ABSTRACT:
Objective: The main purpose of this study was to find out the interrelationship between stress and development of Type 2 DM using stress hormone Serum Cortisol as a marker among the industrial workers as work related stress was found to be an analogue between the environment and the individual. Method: A total of 250 Non diabetic Industrial workers have been chosen to conduct this cohort study in relation to their perceived stress which was measured through perceived stress scale PSS 10 and GHQ 12 questionnaire and their stress hormone, Serum cortisol level was assessed using Architect CLIA method as serum Cortisol will be secreted in higher levels during the body’s fight or flight response to stress and is also responsible for several stress related changes in the body mainly metabolic path way. The altered blood glucose levels were estimated using blood plasma by regular Glucose Oxidase method using fully automated chemistry analyser. Result: Study among 250 Industrial workers of age group ranging from 25-55yrs with the number of years of service ranging from 2- 30 years revealed a positive association between stress score and cortisol levels varying with work experience. the work group with 0-10 years of work experience had a cortisol value of 27+2.1µg/dl with fasting blood sugar 108 + 2.6 mg/dl and PPBS being 135+1.7 mg/dl and their perceived stress score 20+1 however for the work group with 11 to 20 years of experience their cortisol level was 22+1.3 which is almost little lesser in comparison to the first work group with fasting and post prandial values almost showing an average of 109 + 3.8 and PPBS 135 + 2.6 with a less degree of stress score of 16+2 and the work group with the work experience of 21 to 30 years showed a cortisol value of 24+3.1 with fasting blood sugar 109 +4.2 and Post prandial 135 +3.6 with a significant correlation to the stress score of 21+2 . Existence of correlation between parameters using Pearson’s correlation revealed statistically significant low correlation with age of workers and their fasting blood sugars. Their fasting blood glucose and post prandial blood glucose levels were statistically significant ( p<0.05) and highly correlated and the increase in cortisol levels could be correlated with increased fasting blood glucose and post prandial blood glucose levels with the correlation being ( p<0.01). Conclusion: From this cohort study it is evidently proven that work stress plays a major role in the development of Type 2 diabetes among industrial workers apart from other factors that could cause diabetes. And it is also evident from this study that release of high Cortisol by the body in relationship to its stress mechanism can influence the regulation of blood glucose resulting in an increased risk of Type 2 DM.