Annual Research & Review in Biology

Aims: To assess the renal function among type 2 diabetics in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Study Design: The cross-sectional study involved 100 diabetic patients and 50 apparently healthy (normoglycaemic) controls.

Place and Duration of Study: General Out Patient Department (GOPD), Specialist Hospital, Sokoto and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, between April, 2015 and September, 2015.

Methodology: Serum glucose was estimated using glucose oxidase method, serum urea using diacetylmonoxime method, creatinine using Jaffes’ method, potassium and sodium using Flame photometry (Jenway).

Results: Our results showed that, diabetic subjects were 69 (69%) males and 31(31%) females with mean age of 49.32±1.10 and controls (normoglycaemic) subjects with 26.28± 0.68. The mean values for urea and creatinine, was significantly higher (p<0.05) in diabetics than in controls (4.30±0.20, 1.02±0.068) and (3.61±0.12, 0.76±0.05) respectively. No statistically significant difference observed (p>0.05) in serum levels of potassium and sodium in the diabetics compared to controls. However, no statistically significant difference observed in BMI (p>0.05) of the patients (21.14±3.0) compared to controls (22.03±0.02).

Conclusion: It has been observed from this study that, there is a deranged renal function among type 2 diabetics attending Specialists Hospital, Sokoto. It is therefore recommended that assessment of renal function be included in the routine assessment of the diabetics. Hence, clinicians could make treatment and/or preventive measures even before it becomes clinically evident.