INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF POORLY CONTROLLED DIABETES-MELLITUS ONERYTHROCYTE LIFE

Erythrocyte half-life (E(t-1/2)) has been measured in 11 patients with poorly controlled blood sugar levels and compared with a normal contr ol group to determine whether decreased red cell deformability, which occurs in diabetic patients, causes shortening of erythrocyte life or not. No difference was seen (E(t-1/2) = 28.1 days in diabetic patients and 28.5 days in controls). There was also no correlation between E(t -1/2) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1)) levels. It has been conclud ed that poorly controlled diabetes mellitus has no effect upon erythro cyte life.