Background: Type-2 diabetes is considered as a life-long disease which increases morbidity, mortality and decreases the quality of life. Diabetes is a pro-thrombotic state associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and inflammation. MPV is an indicator of the average size and activity of platelets. MPV reflect the state of thrombogenesis deducing an easy way of predicting vascular complications of Type 2 DM and would help in preventing it.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 patients in the hospitals attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI). To assess vascular complications, patients were subjected to fundoscopy, urine examination, 2D echo, ECG, CT scan of brain, doppler of arterial and venous systems. And diabetic neuropathy was evaluated clinically. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The mean platelet counts and MPV were higher in diabetics with vascular complications compared to those without complications, 9.16 ± 0.86 fl versus 7.7 ± 0.6 fl (P< 0.001), respectively. MPV showed a positive correlation with fasting blood glucose (regression (r) = 0.30)(P=0.0013), post prandial glucose (regression (r) = 0.31)(P=0.0009) and HbA1C levels (regression (r) = 0.26)(P=0.0058) which were significant. Although glycemic status of the patient did not correlate with the duration of diabetes, MPV showed positive correlation with duration of T2DM (regression(r)= 0.19)(P=0.045) which was significant.

Conclusion: Our results showed significantly higher MPV in diabetic patients with vascular complications and longer duration. Hence, platelets may play a role and MPV can be used as a simple parameter to assess the vascular events in diabetes.

ROHITH M G