Insulin Resistance in Patients of End Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis - Effect of Short Term Erythropoietin Therapy

This was a prospective case control study carried over a period from May 2010 to September 2011. It included 30 patients of end stage renal disease (both diabetic and non diabetic) on regular twice weekly hemodialysis. Inclusion criteria were patients with end stage renal disease who were receiving regular Hemodialysis. They included diabetic and non diabetic patients. The exclusion criteria were factors or diseases affecting fasting insulin levels like congestive heart failure, patients on corticosteroids, patients on drugs like beta blockers, biguanides, ACE inhibitors, patients with end stage pulmonary disease & cancer. A total of 45 patients were enrolled for study, out of which 30 patients completed the study. 15 patients could not complete the study due to reasons like death before the completion of study, non compliance with the treatment or refusal to give informed consent etc. The remaining 30 patients were divided into two groups; Group I -Study group (n=20) consisted of patients (10 diabetics and 10 non diabetics) with ESRD who were on regular Hemodialysis & were given subcutaneous erythropoietin in a dose of 80 to 120kg/