Correlation Between Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) and Serum Ferritin Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with an increasing global prevalence, particularly in India. Iron metabolism has been “implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with evidence suggesting a correlation between elevated serum ferritin levels and impaired glycemic control. Understanding this association could provide novel insights into the metabolic disturbances underlying T2DM. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and glycemic control in T2DM patients, with a specific focus on its correlation with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and disease duration. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Department of Biochemistry, Patna Medical College, India, including 76 participants (38 T2DM cases and 38 age-matched healthy controls). Serum ferritin and HbA1c levels were measured using Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) and Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0, employing Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation. Results: T2DM patients exhibited significantly higher serum ferritin levels (528.46 ± 142.30 µg/L) compared to controls (178.62 ± 94.75 µg/L) (p < 0.0001). A positive correlation was observed between serum ferritin and HbA1c levels (r = 0.621, p < 0.0001), suggesting that higher ferritin levels are associated with poorer glycemic control. Additionally, a weak but significant correlation was found between serum ferritin and diabetes duration (r = 0.278, p = 0.047). Conclusion: Elevated serum ferritin levels are significantly associated with impaired glycemic control and disease progression in T2DM. These findings underscore the role of ferritin as a biomarker for metabolic dysregulation in diabetes management.