Prospective study on Platelet Count Indices as Predictive Biomarkers for Development of Complications in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetic patients often exhibit elevated platelet reactivity, attributed to the direct impact of hyperglycemia and glycation of platelet proteins. Increased platelet activity has been associated with the development of vascular complications. Insulin plays a crucial role in preventing platelet activation, implying that deficient insulin levels may lead to heightened platelet reactivity. The objective of our study was to compare platelet count and predictive biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) who had complications versus those without complications. We aimed for a sample size of 58 patients in each group over a 6-month period for our prospective observational study. Data collection involved utilizing a case report form and analyzing laboratory tests. In our comparison, all platelet metrics, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR), were found to be higher in patients with DM complications compared to those without complications. However, this difference did not reach statistical significance. We further compared fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels between the two groups. Only HbA1c levels showed a statistically significant difference between patients with and without complications. Based on our study findings, platelet indices hold promise as straightforward and effective indicators for detecting the onset of complications in diabetic patients. They could thus play a significant role in the management of diabetes mellitus.