Objective:
Examine the association between grip strength and type 2 diabetes prevalence and severity.
Methods:
Using data from NHANES 2011–2012, objectively-determined hand grip strength was assessed using the Takei digital grip strength dynamometer, with diabetes assessed via physician diagnosis and glycohemoglobin A1C.
Results:
A 5 kg greater grip strength was associated with a 14% lower odds of having diabetes for men (ORadjusted = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.94; P = .002). Similarly, for women, a 5 kg greater grip strength was associated with an 18% lower odds of having diabetes (ORadjusted = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.97; P = .03). Grip strength was also associated with glycohemoglobin A1C among women with diabetes (βadjusted = –0.26, 95% CI: –0.39 to –0.12; P = .001), which suggests that grip strength is associated with diabetes severity among women.
Conclusions:
For both men and women, grip strength is associated with type 2 diabetes presence, and among women, grip strength is associated with severity of type 2 diabetes.
