A study on estimation of serum ferritin in type 2 diabetes mellitus cases on oral hypoglycemic agents

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and associated micro and macro vascular complications on long duration. Insulin resistance is associated with onset of type 2 DM and various studies point its connection to iron overload in the body. Hyperinsulinemia due to resistance to insulin may be responsible for increasing serum Ferritin. Objectives: The present study was carried out to determine the relationship between serum Ferritin and type 2 diabetes mellitus and to establish correlation between serum Ferritin and fasting blood glucose as well as with HbA1c. Materials and Methods: An observational study for one year at a tertiary care hospital was carried on 50 diabetic male cases and 50 age matched controls. BMI, serum ferritin, HbA1c, FBS and PPBS were estimated on all the cases and controls as per standard guidelines and compared between cases and controls. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the present study, 41-50 years was the common age group, and BMI (kg/m2), Fasting blood sugar, Post prandial blood sugar parameters were statistically significant between cases and controls. The mean HbA1c% in cases was 9.48 ± 2.65 and greater than controls and significant correlation with serum ferritin levels which was 359.11 ± 87.18 was observed. Greater levels of Serum ferritin was observed in cases with elevated levels of HbA1c%. A strong positive correlation was found between serum ferritin and HbA1c, FBS and PPBS levels in the study. Discussion: This study clearly explains that there is a significant increase in the serum ferritin in cases of diabetes mellitus compared to normal controls and hyperferritenemia may be one of the causes for decreased insulin production and development of insulin resistance in diabetic individuals. Study of iron and related parameters may be a useful offshoot of the conventional studies on diabetes and its complications. Hence monitoring the prevalence of serum ferritin is beneficial in long rum among the diabetics.