Mean serum ferritin levels in type-2 diabetes mellitus in Pakistani population

Objective: To evaluate the mean serum ferritin in type-2 diabetic patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, from Sep 2014 to Feb 2015. Methodology: A total of one hundred patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus fulfilling inclusion criteria were selected. Blood sample was collected from all patients by the clean-catch technique after they received standardized verbal instructions. Blood samples were seen by classified pathologist in the laboratory. Results: Mean age of patients was 55.51 ± 5.40 years with 60% male gender predominating the overall sample of diabetics. Mean serum ferritin was 219 +- 70.67 ng/ml and mean HbA1c was 7.24 ± 0.61%. Stratification with regard to age and gender was also carried out. Conclusion: Serum ferritin levels were observed raised in type-2 diabetics, suggestive of possible role in the pathogenesis of type-2 diabetes mellitus. We recommend further research work over its pathogenesis so that the guidelines for its control may be formulated. (author)