Analysis of Biochemical Markers in Diabetic Hemodialysis Patients on Conventional or Intensive Insulin Therapy

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare intensive and conventional insulin therapies with regards to HbA1c, serum lipids, and other biochemical markers.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study investigating data from 44 insulin-dependent diabetic hemodialysis patients followed in our hemodialysis unit. Fifteen of the patients were on conventional therapy and 29 were on intensive therapy.

RESULTS: Of the patients 34% were women, the mean age was 60±10 years, duration of diabetes 18±8 years and dialysis duration 3±2 years. Weight gain between dialysis sessions was 2570±768 g and dry weight was 64.6±1.3 kg. There was no significant difference between the two treatments in terms of HbA1c, CRP, hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, albumin and electrolytes (p>0.05). Although total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were lower in the intensive treatment group than that conventional treatment grap the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). LDL and HDL levels were not statistically different between the study groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference between conventional and intensive insulin treatments in terms of HbA1c or other biochemical markers.