Are hemoglobin levels elevated in type 1 diabetes?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

While lower hemoglobin is generally associated with adverse events in diabetes, we have recently observed in type 1 diabetes that those with overt nephropathy had hemoglobin levels as high as 18.8 g/dl. We thus explored whether hemoglobin concentrations are generally higher in type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:

Baseline (1986-1988) hemoglobin levels from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study (EDC) of type 1 diabetes were compared with general population data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III in the same age range as the EDC population (aged 8-48 years).

RESULTS:

Both male and female EDC study participants had significantly higher hemoglobin levels than their NHANES III counterparts (men: 16.0 vs. 15.1 g/dl, P < 0.0001; women: 14.1 vs. 13.3 g/dl, P < 0.0001). The difference between the two populations was greatest in adolescent female subjects.

CONCLUSIONS:

Hemoglobin levels may be higher in type 1 diabetes than in the general population, which may have important clinical implications.

• Authors: Baqiyyah N Conway, Rachel G Miller, Trevor J Orchard
• Journal: Diabetes care (Diabetes Care) Vol. 33 Issue 2 Pg. 341-3 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1935-5548 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19918013 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Glycated Hemoglobin A
• Hemoglobins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Albuminuria
• Child
• Cohort Studies
• Diabetes Complications (blood, epidemiology)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (blood)
• Diabetic Nephropathies (blood, therapy)
• Female
• Glycated Hemoglobin (metabolism)
• Hemoglobins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nutrition Surveys
• Prospective Studies
• Reference Values
• Renal Replacement Therapy
• Sample Size
• Sex Characteristics
• United States (epidemiology)
• White People (statistics & numerical data)