Summary
Fasting blood glucose, erythrocyte counts hemoglobin levels of 131 Libyan diabetic women of Tripoli, Libya were determined. The respective mean values were 223±7 mg·dl−1, 4.97±0.034× 106·mm−3 and 14.4±0.127 g·dl−1. Sixty-five percent of these diabetic women were obese. The highest percent of diabetics belong to the age group 46–55 years. The increase in prevalence of diabetes correlates with an increase in obesity.
A significant positive correlation was found between body surface area and fasting blood glucose levels (r=0.65;P<0.001). Elevated levels of erythrocyte count and hemoglobin were present in these diabetic patients. Significant correlations were found between body surface area and erythrocyte count, as well as between fasting blood glucose levels and erythrocyte count, indicating the effect of obesity and diabetes on erythrocyte numbers.
A significant correlation was found between fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin (r=0.35;P<0.001). The elevated levels of hemoglobin present in these patients may be the result of haemoconcentration due to polyuria, which is always present in poorly controlled diabetic patients.
The results suggest a close relationship between diabetes and obesity. Regulation of body weight/surface area is an important factor in the control of diabetes. The elevated levels of erythrocyte count and hemoglobin reflect poor control of blood glucose levels in these diabetic patients.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arturson A, Garby L, Robert M, Zaar B (1974) Oxygen affinity of whole blood in vivo and under standard conditions in subjects with diabetes mellitus. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 34: 19–22
Atkinson JL Jr, Bray GA (1978) Energy balance in obesity and its relationship to diabetes mellitus In: Katzen AM, Mahler RJ (eds) Diabetes, obesity and vascular disease, vol 2. Hemisphere Publ. Corp., Washington
Bagdade JD, Bierman EL, Porte D (1971) Influence of obesity on relationship between insulin and triglyceride levels in endogenous hypertriglyceridemia. Diabetes 20: 664–672
Berger M, Muller WA, Renold AE (1978) Relationship of obesity to diabetes: Some facts and many questions. In: Katzen HM, Mahler RJ (eds) Diabetes, obesity and vascular disease, vol 2, part 1. Hemisphere Publ Corp, Washington
Bray GA (1976) The obese patient. In: Major problems in internal medicine, vol 9. Saunders, Philadelphia
Ditzel J, Andersen J, Peters ND (1975) Oxygen affinity of hemoglobin and red cell 2,3-DPG in childhood diabetes. Acta Pediatr Scand 64: 355–361
Graham JJ, Ryall RG, Wise PH (1980) Glycosylated hemoglobin and relative polycythaemia in diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia 18: 205–207
Hewing R, Liebermeister H, Daweke H, Gries FA, Gruneklee D (1973) Weight regain after low calorie diet — Longterm pattern of blood sugar, serum lipids, ketone bodies and serum insulin levels. Diabetologia 9: 197
Kannel WB, Brand N, Skinner JJ, Dawler TR, McNamara PM (1967) Relation of adiposity to blood pressure and development of hypertension. Ann Int Med 67: 48
Keen H (1975) The incomplete story of obesity and diabetes In: Howard A (ed) Recent advances in obesity research, vol 1, Newman, London
Kosaka K, Hagura R, Odagiri R, Saito F, Kazuya T (1972) Effect of weight changes on serum insulin response in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 35: 655
Medalie JH, Papier CM, Goldbourt N, Herman JD (1975) Major factors in the development of diabetes mellitus in 10,000 men. Arch Int Med 135: 811–817
Miale JB (1972) Laboratory medicine: Hematology, 4th edn. C. V. Mosby Co, St Louis
Montoye HT, Epstein FH, Kjelsberg MO (1966) Relationship between serum cholesterol and body fatness — An epidemiologic study. Am J Clin Nutr 18: 397
Olefsky J, Farquhar JW, Reaven GM (1974) Effect of weight reduction on obesity — Studies of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in normal and hyperlipoproteinimic subjects. J Clin Invest 53: 64–76
Rao GMM (1982a) Erythrocyte count changes in obesity and diabetes. Indian J Zool 10: 1–6
Rao GMM (1982b) Studies on diabetes in Libya, Report forwarded to the General People's Committee for Health, Libya
Rao GMM (1984) Hemoglobin A1c levels in diabetes. Biomedicine [in press]
Rao GMM, Morghom LO (1983a) Serum cholesterol levels in diabetes. Horm Metab Res 15: 404–405
Rao GMM, Morghom LO (1983b) Relationship of serum albumin and hemoglobin levels in diabetes. Metabolism (in press)
Smith M, Levine R (1964) Obesity and diabetes. Med Clin North Am 48: 1387
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rao, G.M.M., Morghom, L.O. Erythrocyte count and hemoglobin levels in diabetic women. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 52, 272–275 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01015208
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01015208