ABSTRACT
Aims: Two prime leads that led to the present work are firstly, disturbances in Zinc metabolism are more pronounced in diabetics with complication and secondly, diabetic patient with increased C-peptide have an increased risk of coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular diseases. The aim of the study is to observe whether serum Zinc and /or C-peptide levels have any correlation in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with or without complications. Material and Methods: This prospective study included all newly diagnosed cases of type 2 DM with or without complications, of either sex between 30 to 80 yrs. Patients were clinically assessed and investigated, and their serum Zn and C-peptide levels were determined. Statistical analysis was carried out using unpaired students t-test. Results: During two year study period, 96 newly diagnosed consecutive type 2 DM cases were enrolled and they were divided into two groups. Group I included cases of DM without complications (n=54) and Group II cases of DM with complications (n=42). Neuropathy was present in 34 cases, nephropathy in 26 cases and retinopathy in 20 cases and all three complications were present in 10 cases. Mean serum Zn levels although slightly lower 70.96+1.54 μg/dl in group II cases compared to group I 72.28 +4.06 μg/dl was found statistically insignificant. Similarly mean serum C-peptide levels in group II (13.91+5.60 ng/ml) and group I (12.80+3.61 ng/ml) did not show a statistically significant alterations. Conclusion: It is concluded that serum Zn level and C-peptide levels bear no correlation and are of no predictive value in cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus with or without complications.