FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING MURTALA MUHAMMAD SPECIALISTS HOSPITAL KANO.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Obesity, measured using Body Mass Index (BMI), is a major risk factor associated with poor glycemic control among diabetic patients. This study assessed fasting blood glucose levels and BMI among diabetic patients attending Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted involving 150 diabetic patients selected through systematic random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood glucose tests. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used for data analysis, while Pearson correlation analysis assessed the relationship between BMI and fasting blood glucose levels. Findings revealed that a significant proportion of patients were overweight or obese and had poorly controlled fasting blood glucose levels. A positive correlation was observed between BMI and fasting blood glucose levels, indicating that increased body weight contributes to poor glycemic control. The study concludes that obesity remains an important factor influencing blood glucose regulation among diabetic patients. It recommends regular weight monitoring, dietary counseling, and lifestyle modification programs to improve diabetic outcomes.