Serum amylase and lipase activities in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is caused by a derangement in the secretion or function of the endocrine portion of the pancreas. There is a close anatomical and functional relationship between its endocrine and exocrine portions. To address this issue the current study was designed to evaluate the blood glucose and amylase and lipase levels of diabetic patients as representatives of the two portions of the pancreas respectively. Methods: The study was carried out on 75 newly diagnosed patients of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.50 age and sex matched healthy individuals were enrolled as controls. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from both cases and controls and were analyzed for blood glucose, serum amylase, serum lipase and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein) by standard methods. Results: Significantly (p<0.001) low serum amylase activity and significantly high (p<0.001) serum lipase activitywas found in diabetics as compared to controls. Also total cholesterol and HDL(high density lipoprotein) were significantly lower in diabetic patients(p<0.001). Conclusion: From our study it was concluded that in Type 2 diabetes, amylase activity decreased and lipase activity was raised which highlighted the interactions between the two functional entities of the pancreas. Diabetes which affects the endocrine pancreas could also affect the exocrine part due to the close structural vicinity between the two.