Rubella antibodies in diabetes mellitus

17 patients with type I and 30 patients with type II diabetes mellitus were investigated in this study, and the results were compared to those of 25 normal controls. Rubella antibodies were detected in 41% of patients with type I and in 40% of patients with type II diabetes mellitus as compared to 48% in our control group. The difference between the results in the three groups was statistically insignificant [P>0.05]. So the possibility of considering rubella virus as an aetiological factor in diabetes mellitus is excluded

Abnormal zinc metabolism in diabetes mellitus type II

This study included 20 adult patients with type II diabetes mellitus and 10 normal controls. We estimated serum glucose and zinc [Fasting and at 60, 120, 180 minutes after oral ingestion of gelatin capsule containing 25 mg zinc sulfate], serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urine volume/ 24 hours and its contents of zinc, glucose and protein. We found that all patients had diminished serum zinc concentrations, and all demonstrated hyperzincuria as compared to the control group. Urinary loss was greater when proteinuria was present. Studies of gastrointestinal zinc absorption suggested zinc mal-absorption in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Glucose metabolism was improved by zinc supplementation. It is concluded that zinc deficiency in our diabetics may be due to malabsorption of zinc, hyperzincuria, or both. We also concluded that glucose metabolism was improved by addition of zinc