Prevalence of leukocytes in type 2 diabetic patients in Erbil City

Abstract EN

Background : Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a global health concern affecting children, youth, and adults.

Type 2 DM (T2DM) is considered an inflammatory disease as inflammation can trigger the insulin signaling, assumingly by promoting beta cell death.

Objectives : This comparative study has been conducted on white blood cells in diabetic patients to examine the relationship between inflammation and blood glucose levels.

Methods : Blood samples from both males and females were obtained randomly and measured at Rizgary Teaching Hospital and Media Laboratory in Erbil City during October 2015 till March 2016.

Blood glucose levels and different types of leukocytes were measured in T2DMpatients and compared with no diabetic patients.

Results : The results showed an increment in the percentage of monocytes and neutrophils in diabetic females and a decrement in the percentage of lymphocytes as compared to controls, in contrast to diabetic males where an increment in the percentage of monocytes and lymphocytes was found.

Conclusions : It has been proven by this study that leucocyte count is elevated in diabetic patients, in reference to the hyper activated immune system in such people.

However, the results revealed that the inflammatory system showed a significant difference between diabetic and no diabetic people, reflecting on the importance of such system in the response of a body to the lack of control over blood glucose.