Can diabetes make your WBC high?

White blood cells are mobile and assist the immune system in warding off diseases. White blood cells are created by stem cells in the bone marrow. White blood cells are released by the body in response to an infection or inflammatory condition to aid in the fight against the illness.

Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes, and lymphocytes are different types of white blood cells (T cells and B cells). A complete blood cell (CBC) test often includes checking the blood’s white blood cell count. It may be used to look for illnesses such as infection, inflammation, allergies, and leukemia. Leukocytes and WBC are other names for white blood cells.

Learn more about white blood cells in this article, including their types, purposes, and whether or not having diabetes can cause them to be elevated.

White blood cells

The type of blood cell known as a white blood cell is produced in the bone marrow and is present in both blood and lymphatic tissue. White blood cells are created by stem cells in the bone marrow. The remainder, roughly 80–90% of white blood cells, are kept in the bone marrow.

As previously mentioned, there are three different categories of white blood cells: lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) (T cells and B cells).

A complete blood cell (CBC) test often includes checking the blood’s white blood cell count. It can be used to check for diseases including leukemia, allergies, inflammation, infection, and so forth.

Types and functions of white blood cells

Granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes are the three primary classifications of white blood cells according to medical experts. These are covered in more detail in the sections below.

Granulocytes

White blood cells called granulocytes have tiny granules that carry proteins. Granulocytes come in three different varieties:

Eosinophils

These are in charge of responding to infections brought on by parasites. They also contribute to both the body’s inflammatory response and general immunological response.

Basophils

Less than 1% of the body’s white blood cells are basophils, which are often found in higher concentrations following an allergic reaction.

Neutrophils

The majority of the body’s white blood cells are neutrophils. As scavengers, they assist in encircling and eliminating bacteria and fungus that could be present in the body.

Lymphocytes

The following white blood cells are one of them:

B cells

B cells, also referred to as B lymphocytes, are immune system cells that assist the body to generate an immunological response to an infection.

T cells

T cells, sometimes referred to as T lymphocytes, are white blood cells that aid in identifying and eliminating infection-causing organisms.

Natural killer cells

These cells are in charge of destroying cancer cells as well as virus cells.

Monocytes

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell that accounts for 2-8% of the body’s overall white blood cell population. When the body fights off chronic infections, these are present. They hunt down and eliminate infection-causing cells.

High level of white blood cells

Leukocytosis is the medical term for when the body produces more white blood cells than it should.

The following medical issues may be indicated by a high white blood cell count:

• events that could result in cell death, like burns, heart attacks, and trauma
• inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel illness, vasculitis, or rheumatoid arthritis
• leukemia infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites
• allergic reactions, such as those brought on by an asthma attack

A high white blood cell count can potentially be a side effect of surgeries that kill cells.

White blood cell count is low.

Leukopenia is the term used by doctors to describe a condition when the body produces fewer white blood cells than it should.

The following circumstances can result in leukopenia:

• damage to the bone marrow caused by chemicals, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment
• bone marrow conditions
• leukemia
• lymphoma
• Sepsis is a serious form of infection.
• B-12 vitamin deficiency
• autoimmune diseases like HIV and lupus

In order to establish if the body is mounting an immune response to an infection, doctors may continuously monitor white blood cells.

Normal white blood cell ranges

In accordance with an article in American Family Physician, the average number of white blood cells per cubic millimeter, adjusted for age, is as follows:

Age	Normal range
Newborn infant	13,000–38,000
2-week-old infant	5,000–20,000
Adult	4,500–11,000

In the third trimester, a pregnant woman’s typical range is 5,800–13,200 per cubic millimeter.

Can diabetes make your WBC high?

Yes, diabetes can make your WBC high. Some studies conducted demonstrated that there is a relationship between diabetes and white blood cells. In one study, results of the study showed a significant association between WBC count and diabetes. This association remained significant after adjustment for all possible confounder variables.

Another study conducted in Korea which was observed for 10 years showed that found that a higher WBC count was positively and independently associated with incident T2DM among community-dwelling non-obese Korean adults.

Their findings were also consistent with the results of previous studies showing that an increased WBC count is positively associated with incident T2DM.

Test for white blood cells

A doctor may run a blood test to determine the white blood cell count (WBC) as part of a medical checkup. To check for or rule out other illnesses that might affect white blood cells, they might order a WBC.

The most typical way to check for white blood cells is with a blood sample, but a doctor can also check other body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, for the presence of white blood cells.

A physician may instruct a WBC to:

• examine your allergies
• checking for infections
• take a leukemia test
• track the development of specific conditions
• track the results of specific therapies, including bone marrow transplants

Factors that impact white blood cells

The following illnesses may have an effect on a person’s body’s white blood cell count.

Leukemia

a specific kind of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. When white blood cells produce quickly and are unable to combat infections, leukemia develops.

Anemia aplastic

This illness causes the bone marrow’s stem cells to be destroyed by the body.

White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are produced by stem cells.

Evans disease

The immune system of the body attacks healthy cells, including red and white blood cells, in this autoimmune disorder.

HIV

HIV can reduce the number of CD4 T cells, which are a type of white blood cell. A physician may identify AIDS when a patient’s T cell count falls below 200.

First-stage myelofibrosis

The body overproduces some types of blood cells as a result of this disorder. In the bone marrow, it results in scarring.

How to change the level of white blood cells

Depending on the diagnosis, a person may need to change their white blood cell count.

They should speak with a doctor about the goals for their white blood cell count, depending on their current treatment plan, if they have a medical condition that affects the number of white blood cells in their body.

By using drugs like hydroxyurea or having the process of leukapheresis, which filters the blood using a machine, a person can lower their white blood cell count.

A doctor could advise staying away from bacteria-containing foods if a patient’s white blood cell count is low as a result of cancer therapies like chemotherapy. This might shield against illnesses.

Summary

White blood cells can be affected by diabetes. The body’s immune response relies heavily on white blood cells. White blood cells come in various varieties, and each one serves a particular purpose in the body.

The number of white blood cells in the body can be too high or too low due to certain situations. A person can take medicine to change their white blood cell count if necessary.