This study aims to examine the effects of anemia on patients with diabetes mellitus type II (DM). The cross-sectional study included 75 patients with (DM). They were divided into two groups according to the presence of anemia. The first group includes 50 diabetic patients suffering from anemia, while the second group contains only 25 patients with diabetes only. There was no specification in gender; the patients included both sexes and their ages were above 20 years. A blood sample was collected from each patient to measure (fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, and ferritin). The results revealed an increase in anemia in females with diabetes mellitus more than males while the levels of HbA1c was on the contrary; it increased in males and decreased in females. A significant negative correlation is confirmed between ferritin and HbA1c in anemic diabetic women. Diabetic patients suffering from anemia recorded a sharp decrease in the levels of ferritin compared with patients with diabetes only. In conclusion, the incidence of anemia increase in diabetic patients with increased levels of HbA1c.

Background: Vitamin C is a well-known powerful water soluble antioxidant and very powerful iron absorption enhancer. It was used for a long period in the management of thalassemia major (TM) patients hoping to decrease the oxidative stress initiated by iron overload resulted from hemolysis of erythrocytes and frequent blood transfusions (BT). Iron overload from BTs may be exacerbated in patients due to increased absorption of iron from the diet in response to ineffective erythropoiesis or vitamin C supplementation. Aim: To evaluate the impact of vitamin C supplementation on the iron overload and oxidative stress in beta thalassemia major patients Methods: Fifty five children were investigated in this study. Thirty two of them were patients with TM on frequent BTs and oral chelating drug (deferasirox), they were diagnosed by hemoglobin electrophoresis with a mean age of 9±4.3 y. Patients were attendees of the Blood Disease and Thalassemia center in Maysan Province-Iraq in the period between November 2013 and November 2014. Twenty three apparently healthy children with a mean age of 8±3.2 y were included as a control group. Patients were subjected to vitamin C supplementation (200mg/day) for 2 months. Serum; vitamin C, iron, malondialdehyde (MDA), ferritin and UIBC and complete blood count were determined. Results: There were significant increases of serum iron (P<0.05) and ferritin (P<0.05) levels with insignificant increase of serum MDA levels in samples of patients before supplementation when compared with those of the control groups. However, a significant decrease in serum vitamin C levels (P<0.05) and serum UIBC values (P<0.05) were evident during a similar comparison. The results of second samples, in comparison with the results of first samples referred to a statistically significant increase in serum vitamin C and serum iron (P<0.05), non-significant increase in serum ferritin and MDA and non-significant decrease in UIBC. The complete blood count remained the same in both samples. Conclusion Vitamin C is a powerful enhancer of iron absorption from GIT and releaser from intracellular stores than antioxidant agent. Vitamin C must be given with caution and continuous supervision to TM patients. Recommendation: It is essential to study both smaller and larger doses than 200mg with a longer periods and expanded age groups.