Effect of insulin therapy on phagocytic functions of polymorphs in diabetes

Abstract EN

Susceptibility of diabetics to infection is a common clinical observation.

It often leads to severe morbidity & mortality, particularly in patients whose glucose levels are inadequately controlled.

In this study the immunologic satus of diabetic patietns was evaluated by studying the phagocytic functions of their polymorph neutrophil leulxocytes (PMNL).

By meaning both the phagocytic index (P.I.) and lytic index (LI) of the PMNL it was possible to evaluate the specific immunologic defects that mayoccur in these patients as well as assess the various modes of therapy used to control blood glucose & there role in correcting these immunologic defects.

Phagocytic functions were found to be defective in uncontrolled dialectics.

Both PT & LT were defective metabolic control led to improvement of both these parameters, this was much more pronounced in the group of patients receiving insulin than in the group receiving oralhypoglycemic agents (P< 0.001).

This confirms the common nation that controlled diabetics on oral hypoglycemics .

Still remain susceptible to infection & should be considered for insulin therapy particularly if they show signs of infection.