Some Haematological Parameters, Malondialdehyde and Glutathione Peroxidase Status of Diabetic Patients in Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: World Health Organization statistics identify 150 million people with diabetes mellitus worldwide and suggest that this figure may double by 2025.

Aim: This research was conducted to determine the status of some haematological parameters and free radicals among diabetic patients attending Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.

Study Design: This was a case control study involving two groups; 29 controls (non-diabetic) and 58 diabetic subjects.

Methodology: The participants were divided into two groups; 29 controls (non-diabetic) and 58 diabetic subjects. Five milliliters (5 ml) of blood was collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and plain containers for haematological and free radicals’ analysis respectively. The full blood count (FBC) investigation was carried out using automated haematology analyser while malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase status (GPx) investigations were carried out using chemical and enzymatic methods respectively. The FBC, GPx and MDA status of both control and subjects were compared in this study.

Duration: The study lasted for a period of six months between April to September, 2017.

Results: The results obtained in this study showed a significant increase in WBC, neutrophil, eosinophil and Platelet counts of diabetic subjects (P ≤ 0.05) when compared with controls, while other FBC parameters, MDA and GPx were not significant (P> 0.05). There was significant decrease in the basophil count of the diabetic subjects based on marital status (P ≤0.04), while other parameters measured were not significant (P> 0.05). The result also showed a significant increase in the MDA of diabetic subjects based on age (P≤ 0.05), while others were not significant (p>0.05). the study also showed no statistical difference in the FBC, MDA and GPx of the smokers and non-smokers (P˃0.05)

Conclusion: This research shows that WBC count, neutrophil, eosinophil and platelet count of the diabetic patients increased. There is need for a further research on direct free radical estimation and total antioxidant status in relation to diabetes, which gives more information than the indirect method of estimation. It is recommended that white blood cells and platelet levels should be closely monitored for proper management diabetic patients.