Publication:

Unmasking diabetes risk: screening of bank employees in Belagavi city

Background Diabetes is rising rapidly. Early identification of high-risk individuals and timely intervention are essential to prevent its onset and complications. This study aimed to screen bank employees in Belagavi using Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS) and identify factors influencing risk levels.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among employees of nationalized banks in Belagavi city. The estimated sample size was 330, and participants were selected through a simple random sampling technique. Data on demographic characteristics and IDRS scores were systematically recorded for all individuals.

Results Among the participants, most were male (72.27%) and aged above 50 years (59.39%). The majority were Hindus (96.06%), graduates (83.63%), and belonged to the upper socioeconomic class (87.57%). Regarding diabetes risk assessment, 187 (56.66%) of the bank employees were classified as having a very high risk, while 124 (37.57%) fell into the moderate-risk, and only 19 (5.75%) were identified as low risk. A significant proportion of individuals aged above 50 years (144,73.09%) and those leading a sedentary lifestyle (98, 68.53%) exhibited high IDRS scores.

Conclusions The study findings underscore that a substantial proportion of bank employees are at a very high risk of developing diabetes. Key factors such as age, physical inactivity, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were significantly associated with elevated IDRS scores. These results highlight the need for targeted preventive measures and lifestyle modifications to mitigate the risk of diabetes in this occupational group.