Aim:  To  determine  indices  of  insulin  sensitivity  and  oral  disposition  index  (DIo)  derived
from  30  min  of  glucose  challenge  in  adults  with  sickle  cell  anaemia;  a  group  in  whom
there is chronic inflammation.
Study Design: Case-controlled study.
Place  of  Study:  Department  of  Chemical  Pathology  and  Department  of  Haematology,
University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Methodology: Twenty five (25) adults with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in steady state and
25  age,  sex  and  body  mass  index  (BMI)  matched  healthy  individuals  with  HbAA
genotype  were  recruited  into  this  study.  After  an  overnight  fast  of  about  10  hr,  5  ml  of
venous  blood  was  obtained  from  each  participant  for  the  determination  of  plasma
glucose  and  serum  insulin.  Thereafter,  each  subject  underwent  a  75-g  oral  glucosetolerance test and at 30min, 5ml of venous blood was obtained for the determination of
plasma glucose and serum insulin. Serum insulin was determined using ELISA while the
plasma  glucose  was  estimated  using  glucose  oxidase method  and  indices  of  insulin
sensitivity  and ?-cell  function  were  calculated  appropriately.  Differences  between
variables with Gaussian distribution were determined using independent Student’s t-test
while Mann-Whitney U was used for the non-Gaussian variables. P-values less than 0.05
were considered significant.
Results:    The  mean  fasting  plasma  glucose  (FPG)  was  within  the  normal  limit  but  was
significantly  lower  in  subjects  with  SCA  compared  with  controls.  All  other  indices  of
insulin sensitivity (insulinogenic index, fasting insulin resistance index, modified Matsuda
index  of  insulin  sensitivity  and  insulin  secretion/insulin  resistance  index)  and  oral
disposition index (DIo) were similar in both groups.
Conclusion:  It  could  be  concluded  from  this  study  that  SCA  subjects  have  a  similar
insulin sensitivity status with HbAA subjects. This suggests that SCA subjects might not
be  more  predisposed  to  the  development  of  type  2  diabetes  mellitus  than  those  with
HbAA despite the chronic inflammation associated with the former.