Recent studies have identified a set of serological markers for telomere dysfunction and DNA damage. In
the present study, the levels of 2 serological markers of telomere dysfunction namely chitinase and Nacetylglucosaminidase (NAG) were studied in type2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients. The possibility that
genomic damage, accumulation of reactive oxygen species and shorter telomeres may be linked to the
onset and progression of diabetes and it is complications A total of 38 patients with T2DM together with 15
healthy persons comparable in age and sex with patients were included, the serum samples were used for
determination of chitinase, NAG and lipid peroxide (LPER) by colorimetric methods, and homocysteine by
ELISA. methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism was determined by
polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Serological chitinase, NAG, LPER and homocysteine were significantly
increased in T2DM compared with controls and correlated significantly with age. Moreover, in T2DM
showed that the genotype frequencies were CC (36.48%), CT (39.47%) and TT (23.68%). Patients with mutant
gene, CT, TT showed significantly elevated indices compared to CC type. Serological chitinase and NAG
were the recent markers of telomere dysfunction and DNA damage were found to be markedly increased in
T2DM.