White blood cell subtypes and risk of type 2 diabetes

It is reported that total white blood cell is associated with risk of diabetes mellitus. The present study is to investigate the relationship of white blood cell subsets with incidence of type 2 diabetes at baseline and 3year follow-up.

We chose individuals without diabetes history as our study population; 8991 individuals were included at baseline. All of the participants underwent a 75-g OGTT at baseline. White blood cell count including all the subsets were measured along with all the other laboratory indices. The participants who were not diagnosed with type 2 diabetes according to the WHO 1999 diagnostic criteria underwent another 75-g OGTT at 3year follow-up.

The total WBC count, neutrophil count, and lymphocyte count were significantly increased in subjects newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus compared to non-DM subjects at baseline (all p<0.001). The ORs for DM were increased from the 1st to the 4th quartiles at both baseline and follow-up (both p<0.001 for trend). At baseline, in the highest WBC quartile, the adjusted OR of DM was 2.51 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.09 to 3.02). In the highest neutrophils quartile, the adjusted OR of DM was 2.11 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78 to 2.51). In the highest lymphocytes quartile, the adjusted OR of DM was 1.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56 to 2.18). At follow-up, in the highest WBC quartile, the adjusted OR of DM was 1.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38 to 2.33). In the highest neutrophils quartile, the adjusted OR of DM was 1.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23 to 2.03). In the highest lymphocytes quartile, the adjusted OR of DM was 1.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37 to 2.22). HOMA-IR and HbA1c correlated to elevated levels of WBC count, neutrophils and lymphocytes significantly (all p<0.001).

Increased levels of WBC count, neutrophils and lymphocytes are all predictors for incidence of type 2 diabetes.