Background: Diabetes is a global public health problem and associated with metabolic, cellular, and blood disturbances. The red cell distribution width (RDW) is an index of heterogeneity & has been recently recognised as an inflammatory marker for various diseases. In this study, we assessed the relation between RDW with HbA1C and vascular complications and to find the correlation between RDW and glycemic control (HbA1c) as well as vascular complications in patients with Type 2 DM

Material and Methods: Present study was single-center, prospective, observational study, conducted in patients of either gender, age >20yrs with diagnosed case of Type 2DM, levels of Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) and RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width) were measured.

Results: Among 100 patients, majority were from > 60 years age group (35 %), followed by 51-60 years (28 %) & mean age of study group was 55.3 ± 7.51 years. Male patients (54 %) were marginally more than female patients (46 %). Majority of patients had duration of DM of 0-5 years (47 %) & 22 % had duration of DM of >10 years. In majority of patients HbA1C was ≥ 8.5 % (82 %).Mean RDW values in patients with HbA1C ≥ 8.5 % was 14.31 ± 2.45 as compared to .patients with HbA1C ≥ 8.5 % as 13.56 ± 2.11, difference was significant statistically (p value- 0.039).We compared RDW values in patients with & without vascular complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, ischemic heart disease,  cerebro-vascular accident & peripheral arterial disease) &, difference was not significant statistically (p value- >0.05).

Conclusion: RDW was significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled sugars, As RDW is an inexpensive, noninvasive, and convenient indicator, RDW can be used as a surrogate marker for HbA1C in assessing glycemic control.

Keywords: red cell distribution width (RDW), HbA1C, glycemic control, diabetes mellitus.

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Dr S. Senthilnathan

Professor, Department of General Medicine, Annapoorana Medical College and Hospitals, Salem