Evaluation of Total White Blood Cells Counts of Diabetic Patients Attending Maragua District Hospital Diabetic Clinic in Kenya

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic glucose metabolism disorder marked with hyperglycemia which is associated with health complications both short and long term. Diabetes affect people of all ages with several types of diabetes being identified and categorized. Understanding the dynamics of diabetes could not only improve on the course of management but also improved life expectancy and quality of life
Methods: A cross sectional study involving a total of 138 diabetic patients, enrolled at Maragua district hospital diabetic clinic attending routine clinic checkup. There total white blood counts and random blood glucose status were analyzed.
Result: Among 138 respondents who were sampled 72 (52.2%) were female while 66(47.8%) were male. The age range was 18 to 82 years. Of all the 138 respondents 38.4 % had controlled blood glucose level while 61.6% had uncontrolled glucose level. The controlled blood glucose level group had a white blood cell count (WBC) mean of 6.84*103cells/ul while the group with uncontrolled blood glucose level had a WBC mean of 7.87*103cells/ul this gave a P. Value of 0.007.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrated existence of a positive correlation relationship between WBC counts and Blood Glucose control Level of the respondents, it is therefore important to incorporate these tests as part of regular checkup among diabetic clinic patients.