Biochemical and hematological indices of normal human subjects, pre-treatment, and combined therapy (semi-vegan diet and metformin)-administered diabetic patients of Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of the use of biochemical, and hematological indices as 
diagnostic parameters of type 2 diabetes mellitus disease, useful for monitoring recovery from the disease. 
The experimental units were twenty (n=20) pre-treatment diabetic patients (pre-treat D patients); the same 
twenty pre-treat D patients administered with metformin (glucophage: dose ≈1250 mg/day) and balanced 
semi-vegan diet (met-AD patients) for a six-week treatment period;  and twenty normal human subjects 
(Norm-H subjects). The mean values (± standard error) of fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum glycated 
albumin (GA), fasting serum insulin (I), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum cholesterol (C), 
serum triglyceride (TG), glycated hemoglobin (HbAc1), serum Ca2+ were significantly higher (p<0.05), 
(p<0.01, for Ca2+), in the pre-treat D patients compared with the met-AD patients (73.98±1.15mg/dl , 
15.8±0.5%, 8.2 ±0.9 mU/L, 9.9 ±1.0 U/l, 172.5 ± 11 mg/dl, 80.1±1.5 mg/dl, 5.25±0.8%, and 2.29±0.10 mmol/l, 
respectively)  and Norm-H subjects. The mean values of Mg2+ and Na+ were significantly lower (p<0.01) in 
the pre-treat D patients compared with the met-AD patients (0.99±0.05 mmol/l and 142.5±0.2 mmol/l), 
respectively, and Norm-H subjects. Multiple regression studies revealed that FBS regressed significantly 
(p<0.05) with C, TG, GA, and HbAc1 of met-AD patients. The correlation statistical analysis between C and 
TG of pre-treatment D patients was significant (p<0.05), r = 0.985. Analyzed indices are effective and 
sufficient for the diagnosis, and post-treatment monitoring of recovery from type 2 diabetes mellitus. 
Prognosis studies show that a combined semi-vegan dietary and drug (metformin/glucophage) therapy  is  
very efficient and useful in the management and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.