ASSESSMENT OF FERRITIN LEVELS IN UNCONTROLLED DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia and associated complications. Assessing ferritin and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in diabetic patients can provide valuable insights into the management and progression of the disease. This study aims to assess the ferritin and HbA1c levels in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and evaluate the clinical implications of these assessments. A case-control study was conducted on a sample of 60 consenting participants including 30 patients not under any form of diabetes mellitus treatment, 15 diabetic patients taking control measures or treatment, and 15 non-diabetic persons. Ferritin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and HbA1c levels were also determined through modified enzymatic reaction. Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, diabetes duration, and medication history, were collected via questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between ferritin levels and HbA1c levels. Values obtained in this study was presented as mean ± standard deviation (levels of significance were accepted at p<0.001), using the SPSS version 25.0 software. Independent sample t-test indicated that the diabetic patients had a significantly higher mean fasting blood sugar, ferritin, glycated hemoglobin level compared with the non-diabetic individuals (171.40 ± 10.81 mg/dl vs. 76.06 ± 2.93 mg/dl; 199.68 ± 26.05 ng/ml; and 7.97 ± 0.30% vs. 4.88 ± 0.08%).In this study, high HbA1c levels among uncontrolled diabetic patients were associated with a diet rich in protein and carbohydrates. Additionally, the increased ferritin levels were attributed to the absence of inflammation, a condition typically linked to high ferritin levels, in these patients. Further research is warranted to explore the clinical implications of these assessments in predicting diabetes complications and guiding therapeutic interventions.