Journal of Blood & Lymph

Some Haematological Parameters in Patients with Type-1 Diabetes in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Uko EK, Erhabor O, Isaac IZ, Abdulrahaman Y, Adias TC, Sani Y, Shehu RS, Liman HM, Dalltu MK and Mainasara AS

Problem statement: Diabetes mellitus is a global public health problem with increasing prevalence. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in some haematological parameters in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria and to compare the results with non-diabetics.

Material and methods: A total of 100 consecutively recruited confirmed T1D patients constituted the subjects for this case-control study. Subjects included 52 males (52%) and 48 females (48%). The age range and mean range was 25-60 years and 42.45 years ± 12.23 years respectively. Forty age and gender-matched non-diabetics were monitored as controls. The packed cell volume, platelet and total white cell count and blood glucose level was determined using standard methods and results were compared statistically with values obtained from non-diabetic controls.

Results: The mean PCV was significantly lower among subjects with (T1D) (36.93 ± 2.19) compared to the non-diabetic controls (39.80 ± 2.24), p=0.003. Diabetics with poor glycaemic control had lower packed cell volume compared to those with lower blood sugar level. The mean platelet and total white cell count was significantly higher among diabetics compared to non-diabetic controls (464.76 ± 158.66 and 8.48 ± 3.27) compared to (297.13 ± 94.25 and 6.48 ± 2.12) p=0.0001 and 0.001 respectively. Platelet and total white cell count increased with increasing hyperglycaemia (t=7.66 and 6.33, p-value=0.001). We observed a significant positive correlation between high platelet and total white cell count count and raised blood sugar level among the diabetic subjects studied (r=0.52 and 0.45) respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between haematological values based on the gender of diabetic subjects.

Conclusion: The packed cell volume is lower among diabetic patients compared to non-diabetics. Platelet and total white cell count are significantly higher among diabetic subjects compared to non-diabetic controls. Anaemia, thrombocytosis and leucocytosis were associated with raised blood sugar levels among patients with type 1 diabetes. We recommend the routine haematological monitoring of patients with type 1 diabetes to prevent complications associated with deranged haematological values in this patient group.