Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia on Blood Glucose and Insulin Resistance in Women with Type II Diabetes: A Single-group, Clinical Interventional Study

Abstract

Aims: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the disorders recently associated with an increase in insulin resistance (IR) and, consequently, diabetes mellitus (DM) affection by causing oxidative stress. In this study, we look at how IDA may contribute to developing type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), controlling diabetes, and reducing IR in women with T2DM.

Methods: In this single group, clinical interventional study, we enrolled 40 women with T2DM and IDA. Before and after intervention with ferrous sulfate tablets, their blood glucose (BG) levels and IR levels were evaluated. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Qom University of Medical Sciences (ethics code: IR.MUQ.REC.1397.031) and registered at the Iranian Center for Clinical Trials (No. IRCT20170215032587N3). A significant level was considered p <0.05.

Result: The mean age of patients was 48.18 ± 4.6 years, with 5.3-5.8 years duration of T2DM. After the intervention, the mean fasting blood glucose (FBG) level reached 198.53 ± 48.11 to 170.93 ± 37.41, which was significant (p <0.0001). Also, hemoglobin A1C level reached from 8.49 ± 0.9 to 7.96 ± 0.58, which was significant (p <0.0001). Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) demonstrating a significant reduction of IR levels after intervention with ferrous sulfate tablets (p <0.018).

Conclusions: IDA treatment in patients with T2DM can significantly reduce the BG and IR levels. To better control BG, checking iron status and its correction may provide better clinical outcomes in these patients.

Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia; fasting blood glucose.; hemoglobin A1C; insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes mellitus.