Sarcopenic obesity, marked by the simultaneous presence of diminished muscular strength and increased adiposity, is an emerging issue in persons with diabetes. It makes people weak, makes it harder to control their blood sugar, and raises their risk of heart disease. Simple screening methods like SARC-F and handgrip strength (HGS) can help find problems early, which can lead to timely treatment as part of regular diabetic management. The Aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity among individuals with diabetes using SARC-F and handgrip strength, identify associated demographic and clinical correlates, and evaluate the diagnostic utility of their combined use in predicting sarcopenic obesity.

A cross-sectional study included 105 Type 2 diabetic Mellitus patients aged 40–70 at a tertiary care diabetic clinic. Participants were examined using the SARC-F questionnaire (score ≥4 indicating sarcopenia risk) and handgrip strength (HGS) measured using a calibrated digital dynamometer. BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Obesity was defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m² or higher or a body fat percentage of 30% or higher. Sarcopenic obesity was identified when patients met both sarcopenia risk (SARC-F ≥4 and low HGS) and obese criteria. Patient demographics (age, gender, occupation, diabetes duration, comorbidities, and physical activity) and clinical variables (HbA1c) were recorded. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics. Chi-square tests assessed categorical links, Pearson's correlation examined continuous variables, and multivariate logistic regression identified sarcopenic obesity predictors.

Among 105 adults with Type 2 Diabetes (mean age 57.8 ± 8.6 years; 54% females), 28.6% were at risk of sarcopenia and 18.1% had sarcopenic obesity. Females showed higher prevalence (22.2%) than males (13.5%, p = 0.03). Higher age (OR = 2.9), longer diabetes duration (OR = 2.5), poor glycemic control (OR = 3.0), and physical inactivity (OR = 2.7) were significant correlates. Handgrip strength correlated negatively with HbA1c (r = −0.34, p < 0.001) and BMI (r = −0.28, p < 0.01). SARC-F alone showed AUC = 0.77, while combining SARC-F with HGS improved diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.85, p < 0.01), supporting its utility for early identification of sarcopenic obesity in diabetics.

Diabetes often causes sarcopenic obesity, especially in elderly adults with poor glycemic control. SARC-F and handgrip strength provide a simple, cost-effective, and sensitive screening technique for early functional and metabolic decline in conventional diabetes care.