Glycosylated Hemoglobins and Long-Term Blood Glucose Control in Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The glycosylated minor hemoglobin components Hb A_la+b and Hb A_lc are elevated in insulin-dependent juvenile diabetic patients, 3.2 ±0.7 (±1 SD) and 10.0±1.9% of total hemoglobin, respectively, versus 2.1 ± 0.4 and 4.9 ± 0.7%in a normal non-diabetic control population. Total glycosylated hemoglobin components, Hb A_la+b+C)correlated with the degree of diabetic blood glucose regulation as measured by antecedent 24-h urinary glucose excretion determined in 220 diabetic patients immediately before, 1, 2, and 3 months prior to the Hb A_1a+b+c measurement. This assay for longterm blood glucose regulation was utilized to determine the effect of hyperglycemia on plasma cholesterol levels in 112 diabetic patients. Hb A_1a+b+c levels correlated with plasma cholesterol levels, suggesting that long-term hyperglycemia is associated with hypercholesterolemia. It is suggested that glycosylated hemoglobin measurement is a good index of long-term blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.