A Unique Element in a Unique Disease; Zinc in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Abstract

Background: Zinc is a ubiquitous element in humans having effects on various body systems. The versatile role of zinc is the basis of its involvement in Diabetes Mellitus type 2, a unique metabolic disorder. Objective: To find out the correlation between serum zinc levels and fasting blood sugar in Diabetics type 2 patients and to compare it with normal healthy population. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Settings: Department of Medicine, Madinah Teaching Hospital, Faisalabad Pakistan and Department of Biochemistry, University Medical & Dental College, Faisalabad Pakistan. Duration: 6 months study from February 2018 to July 2018. Methods: Fifty patients aged 40 years and above of either sex visiting the Madinah Teaching Hospital were enrolled. Thirty healthy controls were also included for comparison. Patients suffering from any other serious disease or from diabetes mellitus type1 were excluded from the study. History and baseline information was taken on a proforma. Fasting blood sugar and Serum Zinc were evaluated on both cases and controls. Data collected and analyzed by SPSS version 20.  Results: There was a highly significant negative correlation between fasting blood sugar and serum zinc level in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Hypozincemia is related to hyperglycemia in diabetics type-2 patients. There was a substantial positive difference in zinc levels between diabetics and healthy groups.