Plasma insulin and platelet functions in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

The role of platelets has been postulated in the genesis of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship of platelets with plasma insulin and plasma lipids level. The study was conducted on 42 male, non-smoker patients of type 11 diabetes mellitus and 18 age and sex matched healthy controls, randomly selected from Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. Platelet functions [in vitro aggregation] were evaluated by recording the intensity of aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate[ADP], epinephrine and collagen. Plasma insulin and cholesterol levels were significantly raised in the diabetic group [P<0.01]. The intensity of aggregation with ADP, epinephrine and collagen was significantly raised as compared to healthy controls, indicating increased aggregation of platelets in the patients with type 11 diabetes mellitus, when compared with healthy individuals