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Abstract
Objective: To assess the association between serum ferritin levels and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus presenting to Benazir Bhutto Hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi. One hundred and forty patients with the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus between the ages of 35 and 70 years were enrolled using consecutive sampling. Patients with other conditions that are known to affect serum ferritin levels were excluded. Values of serum ferritin levels and HbA1c were determined in blood samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25. Group comparisons were performed using an independent samples t-test.
Results: Among 140 participants, 58.6% exhibited poor glycaemic control (HbA1c >7%). Serum ferritin levels and HbA1c were found to have a positive association, with participants having HbA1c >10.5% showing higher serum ferritin levels (108.27 μg/L) compared to those with HbA1c 6-7.49% (71.46 μg/L). Serum ferritin levels in people with well-controlled and poorly-controlled diabetes differed significantly, according to an independent t-test. (p=0.019).
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that serum ferritin levels were higher among participants with poor glycaemic control in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggesting that ferritin may serve as a supportive biomarker alongside routine glycaemic assessment.
Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Haemoglobin A, Glycosylated; Ferritins; Glycaemic Control.
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