title: Does Sickle Cell Disease Protect Against Diabetes Mellitus?: Cross-sectional study.
abstract: The co-existence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and sickle cell disease (SCD) is rare. This study aimed to explore whether SCD patients have the same DM prevalence as the general population in a country with a high prevalence of DM.
  This cross-sectional study included all SCD adult patients admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain, between 2003 and 2010 (n = 2,204). A random sample (n = 520) was taken to establish the prevalence of DM. Laboratory records were examined to determine the presence of DM.
  There were 376 SCD patients with complete records; of these, 24 (6.4%) had DM. The age- and sex-standardised prevalence of DM was 8.3%.
  While the prevalence of DM in SCD patients in Bahrain was high, it was lower than expected in this population. SCD may have a protective effect towards DM development. However, the impact of these two conditions on vascular diseases suggest a need for screening and aggressive treatment in this population.
authors: School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain.
authors: Ali A
authors: AA
authors: Suwaidan
authors: Department of Haematology, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors: Fathia
authors: F
authors: Al-Qurashi
authors: Department of Family & Community Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain.
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Whitford
keywords: Bahrain; Comorbidity; Diabetes Mellitus; Epidemiology; Prevalence; Sickle Cell Disease; Vascular Diseases