Background: Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(NLR) is an indicator of subclinical inflammation. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. One of the novel inflammatory markers is hemogram derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio. There are very few studies which are directly accessing the relation between NLR and HbA1c, so in the present study our aim was to correlate neutrophil lymphocyte ratio with glycemic control in patients having type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Hospital based observational cross section study was carried out in the Department of Medicine, Pt JNMMC and Dr BRAM Hospital, Raipur, between September 2018 to August 2019. 105 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus according to ADA criteria and were aged more than 18 years were included in the study. Relevant investigations and complete blood count were performed. Microsoft excel and SPSS version 25 were used for collection and analysis of the data, in statistical analysis p<0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: Out of 105 patients who participated in the study, the ratio of male to female was 1:0.98, and mean age was 51.77±10.56 years, mean neutrophil lymphocyte ratio among the patients was 6.30±2.646, HbA1c more than ≥9 was found in 54 (51.27%). NLR had a positive correlation with HbA1c in the study population with a p<<0.001 and was foundto be an independent predictor of poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion: Increased NLR is associated with elevated HbA1c and poor glycemic control. NLR should beused as a marker of diabetic control level in addition to HbA1c in type 2 diabetic subjects.

Keywords: NLR, HbA1c, Glycemic control