Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder marked by insulin resistance and persistent hyperglycaemia. Increasing evidence indicates that low-grade systemic inflammation contributes to its development and progression. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine, serves as a potential marker of metabolic and vascular complications. Similarly, elevated Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) reflects ongoing inflammation and correlates with poor glycaemic control. Aim: To assess and compare serum IL-6 and ESR levels in patients with T2DM and healthy controls, and to evaluate their correlation with glycaemic indices and Body Mass Index (BMI). Materials and Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included 66 participants: 33 diagnosed T2DM patients (on treatment for 2-5 years) and 33 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), ESR, BMI, and serum IL-6 were measured. IL-6 levels were estimated using sandwich Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Essay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: T2DM patients showed significantly higher mean FBS (132.7 mg/dL), HbA1c (7.56%), ESR (25.76 mm/hr), IL-6 (103.0 pg/mL), and BMI (25.70 kg/m2 ) compared to controls (p<0.001 for all). A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was found between IL-6 and BMI (ρ=0.38, p=0.03). HbA1c also showed a positive trend with ESR. Although IL-6 levels were higher in patients with longer diabetes duration, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: To conclude, IL-6 and ESR levels were significantly elevated in T2DM, indicating a strong inflammatory component in the disease. IL-6 showed a positive correlation with BMI, supporting its role in obesity-related inflammation. These findings highlight the potential utility of IL-6 as a biomarker for monitoring inflammation and disease progression in T2DM.
Johnachan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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