Study of blood levels of glucose and insulin in Egyptian thalassemics not known to be diabetics

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on 32 patients [19 females and 13 males] with thalassemia major aged 2-18 years [mean 11.8 years] and 10 age matched controls. They were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, fasting and postprandial glucose levels as well as estimation of fasting and postprandial insulin levels. The results showed that fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly higher in thalassemics compared with the controls. Fasting and postprandial serum insulin levels were significantly lower in thalassemics than in the controls. The mean serum ferritin level was higher in cases with diabetic glucose levels [2597.5 ng/mL] than those with normal glucose levels [1564 ng/mL]. Two patients showed higher fasting insulin levels [9.5-14 uU/mL] than the controls [6.9-8.3 uU/mL], despite the elevated blood glucose levels indicating an insulin resistance