White blood cell subtypes and risk of type 2 diabetes

Objective: 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 3 year follow-up. Methods: We chose individuals without diabetes history as our study population; 8991 individuals were included at baseline. All of the participants underwent a 75-g OCIT 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 3 year follow-up. Results: 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 HbAlc correlated to elevated levels of WBC count, neutrophils and lymphocytes significantly (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased levels of WBC count, neutrophils and lymphocytes are all predictors for incidence of type 2 diabetes. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.