Percentage of T Cells in Diabetes Mellitus Patients Managed with Different Treatment Modalities

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is managed by insulin (type-I diabetes) and oral hypoglycemics (type-II diabetes). Oral hypoglycemics prevent T cell proliferation. It was hypothesiszed that oral hypoglycemics decreases number of T cells. A cross sectional study was undertaken to determine frequency of T cells in DM patients being treated with oral hypoglycemics and with insulin. Study included 80 subjects and their blood sample was analyzed for T cells by four color FACS caliber, using fluorescein isothiocyanate tagged monoclonal antibodies against CD3 and PerCP against CD45. Mean±SD of T cell percentage of patients on oral hypoglycemics was high (61.11±8.68 %) compared to insulin therapy (60.80±11.91 %). On comparison there was no statistically significant difference. No significant difference in percentage of T cells but significant difference was observed in age, BMI, systolic and diastolic BP of DM patients on oral hypoglycemics and insulin therapy.