Anemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives: The aim of the research is to examine the frequency and types of anemia in patients with type 2 diabetes depending on gender, age, and therapy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Material and methods: The research is a cross-sectional study with historical data. The research used data collected during regular check-ups for patients with type 2 diabetes in primary health care offices in Osijek Health Center from February to June 2022. The collected data were demographic data, data on the duration of diabetes and the used therapy, data on the presence of diabetic nephropathy, fasting glucose values, values of glycosylated hemoglobin, iron, unsaturated and total iron binding capacity, hemoglobin, average erythrocyte volume, average hemoglobin in erythrocyte and average concentration of hemoglobin in erythrocyte. Results: Anemia was recorded in 19% of the subjects and was usually normocytic normochromic, characterized as mild or moderate. Etiologically, the most prevalent were anemia of chronic disease and mixed anemia. The average age of patients with anemia was 12 years higher than those without anemia. Normocytic normochromic and hypochromic anemia occurred statistically significantly more often in elderly patients, as did mixed anemia. No difference was observed in the frequency of anemia regarding the treatment of diabetes with monotherapy or combined therapy. A significantly higher frequency of anemia was observed in patients who used sulfonylurea derivatives. The first 5 years of metformin treatment were significantly associated with the onset of anemia of chronic disease, and treatment lasting longer than 10 years with the onset of mixed anemia. Conclusion: Regular screening is essential as a part of routine controls because patients with type 2 diabetes have a high incidence of anemia. This is especially significant for elderly individuals with renal insufficiency and poor disease control, as well as for patients receiving sulfonylurea derivative treatment.