Potassium transport through the erythrocyte plasma membrane in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: Effects of insulin therapy

Plasma membrane potential and function of Ca2+-activated K+ channels of erythrocytes are studied in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A significant increase in membrane potential and in the degree of opening of Ca2+-activated K+ channels is revealed in comparison with erythrocytes of healthy donors. The degree of channel opening is higher in patients with nephropathy than in those with retinopathy, in which this parameter is normal. Insulin therapy normalize the erythrocyte plasma membrane potential in the patients and has no effect on the degree of channel opening. Ion transport disturbances and modulations of Na+, K+, and Ca2+ levels in erythrocytes may impair their function in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.