Hemoglobin Components in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

An increase in a minor hemoglobin component closely resembling hemoglobin AIc in which one or more hexoses are bound to the beta-polypeptide chains was observed in a previous study of diabetic patients. In the present study the proportions of chromatographically rapid (fast) minor components of hemoglobin, 75 to 80 per cent of which is accounted for by hemoglobin AIc, were quantified by a modified Chromatographic method in 20 normal and 100 diabetic subjects. Mean values for the proportions of fast hemoglobin components (glycohemoglobin) in diabetes showed a nearly twofold increase over values found in normal subjects. The increased proportions of these fast components did not appear to be related to the age of the patients, or to the duration, therapy or complications of diabetes. The increase in proportions of glycohemoglobin in diabetes mellitus appears to be another example of increased glycoproteins in this disorder.