Association of the Red Cell Distribution Width With the Glycemic Index and Lipid Profile in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background The aim of this study was to assess the association between the red cell distribution width (RDW) and the hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Materials and methods This case-control study included 130 individuals with T2DM disease who were admitted to the Diabetic Center in Taif, Saudi Arabia, between August and December 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: pre-diabetic (45 patients) and diabetic (85 patients). A total of 65 healthy people were included in the study as controls. The (HbA1c) level, lipid profile, and complete blood count (CBC) were determined for each participant, and differences in those parameters between the groups were evaluated using the one-way ANOVA test or Kruskal-Wallis test. The association between different parameters, including the RDW, was evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results Both the pre-diabetic and diabetic patients were obese and had high concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). None of the diabetic patients had anemia of any type. However, the RDW was higher in the diabetic group than in the healthy controls and a significant difference was detected. A positive correlation was detected between the RDW and the HbA1c levels and lipid profiles. Discussion The size of the red blood cells varied in patients with T2DM, as demonstrated by the high RDW values. The RDW showed a positive correlation with the glycemic index and with the lipid profile in patients with T2DM, suggesting that it is a useful prognostic marker for managing patients with T2DM.