Abstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with persistent hyperglycemia and increased risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications. Serum ferritin, an indicator of body iron stores and systemic inflammation, has been implicated in insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum ferritin levels and glycemic control, as assessed by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in patients with T2DM.
Methods: A hospital-based observational study was conducted over 18 months at a Tertiary care Medical College and Hospital. Fifty patients aged ≥30 years with T2DM of at least three years' duration were enrolled using purposive sampling. Clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations including fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS), HbA1c, serum ferritin, renal function tests, lipid profile, complete blood count, urine analysis, ECG, and fundus examination were performed. Statistical analysis was undertaken to determine the association between serum ferritin and glycemic indices.
Results: The mean age of participants was 54.16 ± 10.24 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 7.24 ± 3.60 years. The mean HbA1c was 8.06 ± 1.37%, indicating poor glycemic control. The mean serum ferritin level was 156.48 ± 128.48 µg/L. Serum ferritin demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation with HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and postprandial blood glucose. Higher ferritin levels were consistently associated with poorer glycemic control.
Conclusion: Elevated serum ferritin levels are significantly associated with increased HbA1c and other glycemic indices in patients with T2DM. Serum ferritin may serve as a useful biomarker for assessing glycemic status and identifying patients at greater risk of poor metabolic control and diabetes-related complications. Larger prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Serum ferritin, Glycemic control