Parameters of altered plasma glucose levels during short intervals in diabetic patients.

The percentages of glycosylated proteins or albumin, or glycohemoglobin A1 (HbA1) in sera from patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were measured to elucidate whether such measurements are useful for evaluation of the mean levels of blood glucose during short intervals in these patients. Forty patients with NIDDM and twenty healthy adults were examined. The percentages of glycosylated proteins or albumin were quantitated by a Glyc-Affin system and those of HbA1 were measured by electrophoresis. It was indicated that the percentages of glycosylated proteins or albumin, and HbA1 in sera from patients with NIDDM were significantly higher than those in sera from healthy adults. There was a significant correlation between the percentages of HbA1 in sera and the mean levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS) during short intervals in patients with NIDDM. It was concluded that the measurement of HbA1 is a useful method for evaluation of the mean levels of blood glucose during short intervals in patients with NIDDM compared with those of glycosylated proteins or albumin.