Distribution of Blood Groups among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and their Secretor Status

Variety of diseases has been studied in relation to ABO blood groups and secretor status of blood group antigens. There is ample justification for probing into relation between blood groups, secretor status and diabetes mellitus because genetic, environmental factors etc. play important role in etiology of diabetes mellitus. Number of workers have tried to study the relationship between diabetes mellitus, secretor status and blood groups, but results have been variable. Although some workers have found definite preponderance of particular blood group, it has been concluded that so far no convincing association between blood groups, secretor status and diabetes mellitus has been established. There are few studies involving Indian origin on distribution of blood groups and secretor status among patients with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, distribution of blood groups (ABO) and secretor status were studied in 105 diabetic patients and compared with age and sex matched normal healthy controls. Only confirmed diabetic patients were included in this study. Blood group was determined by slide agglutination method. Secretor status was determined by haemagglutination inhibition technique using saliva. The study showed no statistically significant correlation in distribution of blood groups (ABO) and secretor status among diabetics as compared to controls.