Hyperuricemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Recently there has been a growing interest in the association of uric acid levels with hyperglycemia. Insulin deficiency or subnormal functioning of insulin may induce possible alterations in purine nucleotide metabolism, specifically uric acid turnover. Studies have indicated that a close relationship do exists between plasma uric acid levels and glucose utilisation in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Though there are reports showing elevated plasma uric acid levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus but the origin of raised uric acid is still obscure. Hence a study was undertaken to assess the origin of raised plasma uric acid levels in diabetes mellitus. The type 2 diabetic subjects attending the OPD of Subbaiah Medical College Hospital, Purale, Shimoga were randomly selected. A fasting Blood sample was collected and the plasma samples were employed for estimation of glucose, uric acid, adenosine deaminase and 5'-nucleotidase levels. The results indicate a parallel raise in the plasma levels of adenosine deaminase and in 5'nucleotidase along with plasma uric acid levels in type 2 diabetic subjects suggesting the raised plasma uric acid in type 2 diabetic subjects is due to increased purine catabolism.