Leukocyte protein-bound carbohydrate components in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

The protein bound components [hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid] in the leukocytes of type I type II diabetic patients and age and sex matched non-diabetic subjects were determined. The mean values of plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin of type I patients were 201 +/- 39 mg/d1 and 11.7 +/- 2.48% respectively. The repective values of type II patients were 176 +/- 39 mg/dl and 11.34 +/- 2.1%. The levels of hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid were significantly higher in diabetic patients than those of age and sex matched non-diabetic control subjects. The increased protein bound carbohydrate components may cause an increase in the levels of glycoprotein material which might result in the thickening of the basement membranes characteristic of diabetes mellitus