DETERMINATION OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE AND SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING SPECIALIST HOSPITAL SOKOTO

Abstract

This study determined relationship between fasting blood glucose and some selected immunological parameters in diabetic patients attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto in order to assess the impact of diabetes on immune function. A total of 100 participants were recruited, comprising 50 diabetic patients and 50 apparently healthy controls. Blood samples were obtained for fasting blood glucose (FBG), total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, and CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte determination using standard haematological and flow cytometric techniques. Results showed that diabetic patients had significantly higher mean WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts compared with controls, indicating heightened innate immune activation, while lymphocyte counts were significantly reduced. CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte levels were also markedly lower in diabetics (760 ± 170 cells/µL) than in controls (900 ± 150 cells/µL), suggesting impaired adaptive immunity. FBG demonstrated positive correlations with WBC, neutrophils and monocytes, but negative correlations with lymphocytes and CD4⁺ counts, with the strongest negative association observed between FBG and CD4⁺ cells (r = –0.52/ p= 0.0001). These findings collectively indicate that diabetes in this population is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and suppression of adaptive immune responses. The study concludes that poor glycaemic control contributes significantly to immune dysregulation in diabetic patients and recommends the integration of immunological monitoring alongside routine metabolic assessment to improve clinical outcomes. This work highlights the need for strengthened diabetic management strategies that address both metabolic and immunological dysfunction.