Niveles de leptina sérica como indicador del control metabólico en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2

Leptin is a protein secreted mainly by adipose tissue, which sends signals to the central nervous system in order to modulate the size of fat deposits, and to regulate the body’s energy balance. Changes in blood leptin concentration are related to obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Monitoring and metabolic control of patient with type-2 Diabetes Mellitus involves some preventive actions against the progression of the disease, and also avoiding both chronic microvascular and macrovascular complications. In this study, silken leptin levels were compared as indicators of metabolic control in 40 type-2 DM patients attending the endocrinology practice at Maracay’s Central Hospital with 40 seemingly healthy individuals. Glycemia, lipids, and HbA1c levels were determined for both groups. Leptin levels were 29.9 ng/mL for type-2 DM patients, and 35.42 ng/mL for individuals in the control group. The correlation between leptin levels and biochemical indicators for patients with type-2 DM were: glycemia r = -0.33, HbAc1 r =0.08. Results showed a statistically significant difference (p=0,05) in silken leptin levels between patients with type-2 DM and healthy individuals. In this study, metabolic control of DM turned out to be independent from leptin levels.