Abstract
Background and objective
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. It is linked with an increase in morbidity (e.g., blindness, kidney failure, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, limb amputations), premature mortality, high healthcare costs, and is quickly becoming a global epidemic disorder. Several studies have shown that vitamin D supplements reduce insulin resistance in T2DM and improve insulin secretion and sensitivity. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in T2DM patients in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at the King Faisal University Health Centre in Saudi Arabia. The study used patient data during the period from October 2014 to January 2021. After obtaining approval from the King Faisal University Polyclinic Administration, we collected patient data from the King Faisal University Health Centre. The Ethics and Research Committee at the College of Medicine of King Faisal University granted ethical approval with the approval number (2020-11-82). The relevant patient data were collected, including age, gender, nationality, and blood test findings (vitamin D and HbA1c levels).
Results
A total of 191 T2DM patients participated in this study. The mean age of the patients was 56.1 ± 11.4 years (range: 21-85 years); 107 (56%) patients were females, and 137 (71.7%) were Saudis. There were 134 (70.2%) patients with vitamin D deficiency, 53 (27.7%) with vitamin D insufficiency, and only four (2.1%) with normal vitamin D levels.
Conclusion
Based on our findings, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among T2DM patients is highly associated with poor diabetic control.