Osman Onur DALOĞLU, Mehmet Cağrı ÜNAL, Pınar Üzgeç GÜLLER, Zehra Yağmur Şahin ALAK, Metin GÜÇLÜ, Sinem KIYICI
Endocrinology Research and Practice - 2026;30(3):159-166
Objective: Sarcopenia, characterized by reduced muscle mass and strength, commonly affects the elderly. This study aimed to assess sarcopenia in middle-aged, overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and examine its relationship with glycemic control. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 60 patients with T2D, including 30 individuals with poor glycemic control (PGC; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >7%, mean age 54 +/- 5 years, 46.6% women) and 30 with adequate glycemic control (AGC; HbA1c <= 7%, mean age 54 +/- 6 years, 50% women). Sarcopenia was evaluated using handgrip strength (HGS), skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI), and the 4-meter walk test, as well as the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SARQoL) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality (PSQ) questionnaires. Results: Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 5 patients (16.6%), all from the PGC group. These patients had significantly lower median HGS (15.4 kg) and SMMI (7.4 kg/m2) compared to those with AGC (29.8 kg and 10.6 kg/m2; P = .021 and .006, respectively). HbA1c negatively correlated with HGS (r = -0.424; P = .001). Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that higher HbA1c levels were independently associated with lower SMMI (beta: -0.293; 95% CI: -0.483 to -0.102; P = .003) and lower HGS (beta: -2.016; 95% CI: -2.885 to -1.147; P < .001). The SARQoL score was lower in patients with sarcopenia (P = .022), while the PSQ score was similar. Conclusion: Sarcopenia may develop in non-elderly, overweight patients with poorly controlled diabetes, negatively affecting quality of life. Early screening for sarcopenia should be considered if diabetes is uncontrolled.
