GLUCOSE-6- PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITIES IN DIABETICS A STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE NORTH EAST INDIA

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease leading to various systemic complications in the affected individuals if not properly controlled with timely interventions. There are various studies showing the toxic effects of high blood glucose and its oxidant derivatives in the pathogenesis of various complications of the disease. Glucose-6– phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the key enzyme of hexose monophosphate shunt which produces NADPH that protects the body from oxidative damage and prevents from development of various complications. Uncontrolled blood glucose level for a longer duration time diminishes the G6PD activity and can lead the body into complications. This study was conducted in North-East India to evaluate the difference of G6PD activity among diabetics and non-diabetics and to study the impact of hyperglycemia on the G6PD activity.

Methodology: Fifty diabetic and fifty non diabetic subjects are selected from participants of age 45 to 76 yrs. Demographic data including age, sex, height, weight, duration of diabetes mellitus, presenting symptoms, medical history was taken. Blood pressure and BMI were also measured. Blood samples from each patients were sent for estimation of FBS and PPBS, G6PD screening test and enzyme kinetic study, blood urea and serum creatinine estimation and serum triglycerides estimation.

Results: G6PD activity was found to be diminished in diabetic patients, mild to moderately in comparison to the control group. It was also found that the deficient activity was dependent upon the duration of diabetes mellitus but not on the severity of the condition.