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.

SUBMITTER: Conway BN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2809278 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature