This review was designed to discuss the rare occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) with a particular focus on factors, such as life expectancy, body weight, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, glucose buffering property of haemoglobin, and microRNAs (miRNAs), aiming to stimulate research which will fill the existing knowledge gaps regarding the interplay between SCA and DM. Additionally, possible pharmacotherapeutic approaches to DM were also highlighted in the review. Google Scholar and PubMed search engines were used to search for the relevant keywords, such as sickle cell trait, sickle cell disease, sickle cell anaemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus. SCA patients appear to have β-cell dysfunction with a reduced insulin secretion, but present a similar insulin sensitivity status as other patients without haemoglobinopathy. Glucose buffering property of haemoglobin and the possible DM-protective roles of miRNAs in the sickled erythrocytes constitute some of the potential factors protecting SCA patients from developing DM. Sickle cell anaemia is associated with several complications and endocrinopathies, nevertheless, its coexistence with DM continues to be a rare observation. Proper elucidation of the mechanisms which seemingly confer ‘protection’ against DM in patients with SCA may provide some therapeutic insights regarding DM.

Background Adequate provision of safe blood through voluntary non-remunerated donation (VNRD) is critical to the delivery of quality health care. Understanding the factors affecting blood donation and addressing them would lead to an improvement in blood donation in Africa. The objective of this study was to determine factors affecting VNRD among culturally diverse Nigerian students.Methods In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 840 students were selected by a stratified random sampling technique and given a pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire which included questions on knowledge, attitude, and perception of respondents towards voluntary blood donation. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 18Á6 years (SD 1Á8). The male-tofemale ratio was 1:1Á5. More than half (54Á5%) of the respondents had good knowledge about blood donation with those of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) contributing the most to the knowledge base [p < 0Á001, OR-2Á0, CI 95 = 1Á3, 3.0]. About 62% showed a willingness to donate blood, and the highest proportion were from the CMHS [v2 = 29Á62, p < 0Á001]. Of those that had donated at least once in the past, males are more likely to donate than females [37 (60Á7%) vs. 27 (39Á3%)] (p = 0Á001, OR 2Á5 CI 95 = 1Á5-4Á3).Conclusions Our study demonstrated that the knowledge about blood donation is inadequate among the population studied although most of them were willing to donate blood. Efforts to increase the pool of VNRD should focus on young people and especially females. We recommend that student's societies be engaged with activities aimed to improve their knowledge of blood donation and demystify erroneous beliefs hindering blood donation. These engagements may take place at orientation programmes for fresh students, exhibitions at student unions events, and during the commemoration of the World Blood Donor Day.

Background The burden of Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is huge in Sub Sahara Africa as it affects 1–2% of the population. HbSS impacts negatively on the quality of life of the sufferers. The clinical manifestations start between 3 and 5 months of life as a result of reduction in foetal hemoglobin. Objectives This study describes the clinical and laboratory characteristics of HbSS patients at presentation in steady state, vaso-occlusive and hemolytic crises states. Material and method This was a cross sectional, analytical study. Ninety HbSS participants were divided into three groups; steady state, hemolytic and vaso-occlusive crises with 30 individuals in each group. The survey contained sections on bio-data and past medical history obtained from the patients’ notes and results of laboratory tests. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results were considered statistically significant if p < 0.05. Results Ninety participants were analysed in this study. The mean age of the participants was 29.4 ± 8.9 years. Only one-third of the participants were diagnosed within the first year of age. Forty-seven (52.2%) participants have steady state haematocrit in the range of 21–25%. All the participants experienced bone pain in a year, about 25% of these participants had more than three episodes of pain per year. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean values of PCV ( p < .001), WBC ( p < .001), platelet ( p = .008), ANC ( p < .001), ALC ( p < .001), AMC ( p < .001), reticulocyte count and ISC % among the different categories. Conclusion This study established the fact that only a minority of the SCD patients are diagnosed in the first year of life and vaso-occlusive crisis is the most frequent reason for hospital presentation. We therefore recommend the institutionalisation by government policy, neonatal screening programme in Nigeria. KEY MESSAGES The study highlight delay in early diagnosis of SCA due to unavailability of neonatal diagnosis program in our setting. Bone pain remains the major cause of presentation for SCA and most patients presented after a day of onset of pain to the hospital.