Random Blood Sugar, Glycated Hemoglobin, and Zinc Deficiency in Predicting Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Predicting Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder, is commonly associated with impaired insulin action and regulation of glycemic markers such as HbA1c, random blood glucose, and zinc. The association of glycemic markers, zinc deficiency, and insulin resistance was investigated in type 2 diabetes patients via a case-control study.

Methods. A study in Erbil, Iraq, from July to December 2023, enrolled 206 type 2 diabetes patients and 202 healthy controls at the Leila Qasm diagnostic center. Serum markers from collected blood samples were analyzed via Cobas Integra.

Results. In contrast to healthy controls, individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus exhibited significantly reduced serum zinc levels (p < 0.001) and elevated random blood glucose (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001). In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, serum zinc had a negative correlation with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r = –0.462, p < 0.001), as per correlation analyses, while random blood sugar (r = 0.414, p < 0.001) and glycated hemoglobin A1c (r = 0.351, p < 0.001) had a positive correlation with insulin resistance. Analysis using multiple linear regression showed that serum zinc deficiency and elevated HbA1c levels significantly predicted higher insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in type 2 diabetes patients.

 Conclusion: Low serum zinc, random blood glucose, and HbA1c levels predict higher insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.