INFLAMMATORY MARKERS AND HEMOGLOBIN A1C IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS AND PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Objective: To evaluate the inflammatory markers and hemoglobin A1c levels in type 2 diabetic patients and those with diabetic foot ulcers in Karachi, Pakistan. Study design: cross-sectional study. Place & duration of the study: The study will take place from June 2023 to June 2024 at the Baqai Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, in collaboration with the Department of Physiology at Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: 138 patients were included and grouped into with diabetic foot ulcers, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and control subjects. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or lower limb ulcers were excluded. The ELISA assay technique for superoxide dismutase analysis, the HPLC method for hemoglobin A1c, and complete blood count analyzer were used. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data that was gathered. Results: The three groups' medians for hemoglobin A1c, superoxide dismutase (SOD), C-reactive protein, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) all showed significant differences (p < 0.01) according to the Kruskal-Wallis test. Nevertheless, a post hoc analysis employing Tukey's HSD test revealed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the median serum hemoglobin A1c and SOD values across all three groups. Conversely, there was no significant difference between the median concentration of the NLR (p = 0.84) and C-reactive protein (p = 0.90). Conclusion: Hemoglobin A1c, and superoxide dismutase levels show a statistically significant association among study participants. Hemoglobin A1C and SOD levels have a critical role in the pathogenesis of foot ulcer development in type 2 diabetic patients.