Abstract:
Diabetes is a global public health problem and associated with metabolic, cellular,
and blood disturbances. Hematological changes have been reported in diabetes and play a major
role in diabetes-associated complications. However, reports are contradicting and data on
hematological parameters of type 2 diabetic patients in the study area are scarce.
Objective: To assess hematological parameters of type 2 diabetic adult patients at Debre Berhan
Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia from May 01 to June 30, 2020.
Methods and materials: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 268 (134 type 2
diabetic patients and 134 controls) study participants selected by systematic random sampling
technique. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected using a structured
questionnaire and checklist. Ethical approval was obtained from Jimma University. All phase of
quality assurance was maintained. Hematological parameters and blood glucose levels were
determined using UniCel DxH 800 (Beckman Coulter, USA) and Biosystems A25 (Costa Brava,
Spain) analyzers, respectively. Independent t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, correlation, and logistic
regression were used during data analysis. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: The current study found that total white blood cell count, absolute counts of neutrophil,
lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil, red blood cell distribution width, platelet count, and mean
platelet volume were significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients as compared to the control
group (P<0.05). On the other hand, the mean hemoglobin was significantly lower in type 2 diabetic
patients than the control group (P=0.007). Anemia was found in 17.9% of type 2 diabetic patients.
Longer duration of diabetes (AOR=3.05, 95% CI=1.12-8.34) and milk consumption (AOR=4.60,
95% CI=1.50-14.0) were significantly associated with anemia.
Conclusion: This study showed a statistically significant variation in some hematological
parameters of type 2 diabetic patients compared to control group. Anemia among type 2 diabetic
patients was found to be a mild public health problem. Therefore, routine screening of
hematological parameters should be considered for proper management of type 2 diabetic patients.
Close attention should also be given to the duration of diabetes and dietary practice.