Amira S Ahmed, Rehab M Elgharabawy, Amal H Al-Najjar, Monerh H Al-Abdullatif, Mona A Al- Abdullatif and Turki A Al-Mogbel
Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and type 2 diabetes, to estimate the effect of the IDA on the level of glucose and glycated hemoglobin (Hb1Ac), and to assess the ameliorating effect of IDA treatment on progression of diabetes and its complications.
Subjects and methods: This study included 125 male Saudi adult participants divided into five groups; control subjects (group I), patients with type 2 diabetes (group II), patients with IDA (group III), patients with type 2 diabetes and untreated IDA (group IV), and patients with type 2 diabetes and treated IDA with iron supplementation (group V). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, CBC, ferritin, iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were assayed.
Results: The HbA1c and FBG levels were significantly higher in groups III and IV compared to group I. The results revealed a significant decline in HbA1c and FBG levels in group V compared to group IV. Negative significant correlations were observed between iron and ferritin with HbA1c and FBG. The incidence of diabetic complications was significantly associated with IDA (X2: 81.48, p<0.001). Ferritin was the most reliable predictor of type 2 diabetes in patients with IDA. The best cut off value for ferritin was 31.56 ng/ml.
Conclusion: Low iron level has a crucial effect on glycemic status by increasing the level of FBG and HbA1c, IDA is strongly correlated with type 2 diabetes, and the iron supplementation for diabetic patients with IDA ameliorates the progression of diabetes and its complications.
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