Evaluation of Semen Quality in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Sudanese Patients Compared to Non-Diabetic Subjects

Background: Diabetes leads to metabolic abnormalities. These abnormalities produce problems in a variety of organ systems such as ophthalmopathies, neuropathies, nephropathies, and vasculopathies. Infertility is common in diabetic patients, caused by abnormal semen. Objectives: This study was conducted to check semen quality in diabetic Sudanese patients. Method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional designed study. The data were collected in a period from January 2015 to February 2017. A total of 600 individuals was included, 300 with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 300 apparently healthy as a non-diabetic. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO criteria. Results: Significant lower results were found in diabetic patients compared to non diabetic regarding the following parameters: volume of ejaculation (p = 0.047), percent motility (p = 0.001), percent normal morphology (p = 0.000), while there was no difference in the sperm count between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Conclusion: Semen of types 2 diabetes mellitus patients is of low volume, abnormal motility and morphology compared to non-diabetic subjects.

Estimation of Prolactin and HbA1c among Type 2 Diabetic Male with Retinopathy in Khartoum State

Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the long-term complications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and constitutes the leading cause of blindness in working-age individuals. Prolactin (PRL) is a peptide hormone that is linked with lactation but many studies have demonstrated that PRL could have protective value against DR. Aim: To evaluate the role of prolactin in pathophysiology of DR. Methods: This study is designed to find an association between PRL level and DR. In this case-control study, a total of 300 subjects were recruited to participate in the study, 150 subjects apparently healthy as control group and other 150 patients were diagnosed with type 2 DM who were classified into diabetic patients with DR (75) and diabetic patients without DR (75). Serum PRL was measured by autoanalyzer (TOSOH AIA system), HbA1c was measured by another automated chemical analyzer (Cobas c system). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 using an independent samples T-test and Pearson's correlation. Results: Independent samples of T-test analysis show a significant decrease in PRL level in the diabetic patients with DR in comparison to the diabetic patients without DR (p˂0.05). Person's correlation revealed that there was an insignificant correlation between PRL level with duration of DM and patients age. Conclusion: These findings suggest that low PRL level might be associated with DR.

Glucose Control in Diabetic Patients Attending Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Zimbabwe

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease whose prevalence is increasing even in low-income countries like Zimbabwe. It is usually diagnosed late when complications are already present mainly due to slow onset of disease, low accessibility to healthcare facilities and socio-economic hardships. Poor glycaemic control in diabetics is associated with the development of long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications such as nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, cardiovascular disease and diabetic foot syndrome. Therefore, good glycaemic control is essential to prevent complications, to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients and to reduce healthcare costs. Objectives: This study sought to find the status of glycaemic control and to identify factors that are associated with poor glycaemic control among diabetic patients attending Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Diabetic Clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe. Method: A cross-sectional study involving a total of 182 diabetic patients was carried out. Demographic data (age and gender) and clinical information (hypertension, duration, height, weight and lipid therapy) were retrieved from patients’ clinical records. Blood samples from participating diabetic patients were analysed for HbA1c on the Mindray® BS 400 Analyser. Measurement of HbA1c was done enzymatically using the International Federation of Clinical Chemists (IFCC) method. Result and Discussion: A total of 182 patients (30.2% men, 69.8% women) were enrolled whose mean (SD) age in years was 55 (9.0). The glycaemic status was generally poor with a prevalence of poor glycaemic control as high as 58.2%. This prevalence is higher than that previously obtained at the same hospital in 2013 thus presenting a major health challenge. This also means the burden of diabetic complications is likely to increase. Poor glycaemic control was significantly associated with gender and duration of diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: We conclude that in order to improve glycaemic control among diabetic patients, primary healthcare facilities need to focus on patient education and should facilitate early diagnosis through routine medical check-ups.

The Effect of Lycopene Treatment on Oxidative DNA Damage of Experimental Diabetic Rats

Objective: Lycopene is a carotenoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lycopene on oxidative DNA damage levels in experimental diabetic rats. Subjects and Methods: Four experimental groups, each consisting of 7 rats, were prepared as Controls, Diabetes (D), Lycopene-treated diabetes (DL) and Lycopene (L). STZ (45 mg/kg) was administered to the diabetic groups intraperitoneally in a single dose. Lycopene was administered to the L and DL groups (10 mg lycopene/kg/day). The test procedure continued for four weeks. To understand the occurrence of diabetic conditions, serum glucose and HbA1c% in the whole blood were determined. The 8-OHdG levels, a marker of oxidative DNA damage, were determined in the blood serum. Results: Blood glucose and HbA1c% were higher in the DL group than in the control group and L group (p <0.05) and lower in the D group (p <0.05). 8-OHdG levels were higher in D group than the other groups (p <0.05) while 8-OHdG levels in DL group were lower than D group (p <0.05) and approximated to the control group. Conclusion: It can be suggested that lycopene may be described as a protective agent to prevent oxidative DNA damage originated from diabetes.