Impact of Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) on cognitive functions in Type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is a highly challenging worldwide epidemic affecting the health of millions of people. This study investigates the impact of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and duration of diabetes on cognitive functions in type 2 diabetic patients and evaluates whether high HbA1c or duration is more harmful to impair cognitive functions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 202 participants, 101 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and 101 age, gender, height, and weight-matched controlled subjects were enlisted. The HbA1c was determined using a clover analyzer, and cognitive functions were evaluated using "Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). RESULTS: The results revealed that AST Mean correct latency, AST Mean correct latency (congruent), AST Mean correct latency (incongruent), CRT Mean correct latency, MOT Mean latency, SWM Between errors, SWM Strategy, PRM Percent correct responses were meaningly delayed in the diabetic group as compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: High HbA1c or uncontrolled DM and duration of diabetes cause cognitive function impairment. Moreover, the cognitive functions declined were significantly linked with the duration of the disease and high HbA1c. While treating diabetic patients, physicians must monitor the HbA1c level as reasonable glycemic control is vital to curtail the complications of DM, including cognitive function impairment.

Association of ABO and Rh blood groups with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The phenotypic "ABO" blood groups are inherited antigenic substances which are found on the surface of red blood cells in addition to other tissues. Certain hypothesis advocates that genetic predisposition like "ABO" blood group would be associated with occurrence of diseases including type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between "ABO" and "Rhesus" blood groups with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 47 research documents in a data based search including ISI-Web of Science, EMBASE and PubMed. Literature was explored using the key terms including "ABO blood groups" "type 2 diabetes". Studies in which "ABO" blood types and diabetes mellitus were discussed included without restrictions of research documents, types, status and language of the publications. Finally, 15 publications which matched our criteria were included, and remaining studies were excluded. RESULTS: Blood group "B" was associated with high incidence of type 2 diabetes and blood group "O" has a minimum association with type 2 diabetes. Blood group "A" and "AB" were almost equally distributed in both diabetic and non-diabetic population. However, we were unable to find an association between "Rh+ve" and "Rh-ve" blood groups with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with blood group "B" are at high risk while individuals with blood group "O" are at low peril of evolving type 2 diabetes. It is suggested that subjects with blood group "B" should be closely monitored by physicians as these subjects have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Effect of environmental air pollution on type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Air pollution is a novel risk factor for insulin resistance and occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the evidence is limited and diverse. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of environmental air pollution on incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In this study, we identified 102 published studies through a systematic data base search including ISI-Web of Science, EMBASE and PubMed. We searched the related literature by using the key terms including diabetes mellitus, air pollution, occupational and environmental pollution, gaseous, NO2, particulate matter pollutants PM2.5, and PM10. Studies in which diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, air pollution, occupational and environmental pollution was discussed were included in the study. No confines on publication status, study design or language of publication were considered. Descriptive and quantitative information were extracted from the selected literature. Finally we included 21 publications and remaining studies were excluded. RESULTS: Air pollution is a leading cause of insulin resistance and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The association between air pollution and diabetes is stronger for traffic associated pollutants, gaseous, nitrogen dioxide, tobacco smoke and particulate matter. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to air pollutants is significantly associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is suggested that, environmental protection officials must take high priority steps to minimize the air pollution, hence to decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus.