Abstract
The importance of good glycemic control is the presumed prevention of the long term sequela of diabetes. Sorbitol is the product of an insulin-independent pathway of carbohydrate metabolism that has been implicated as etiologic in the complications of diabetes. The polyol pathway producing sorbitol is active in human erythrocytes. Fasting blood samples were collected from 62 children with diabetes. Serum glucose and red cell sorbitol were measured by specific enzymatic assays. Hemoglobin Alc was measured spectrophotometrically after column separation on Bio-Rex 70.
Results:
The correlation of fasting glucose and sorbitol was significant. r=0.26p<.05. The correlation of fasting glucose & HbAlc was not significant r=0.1. Elevated HbAlc in vivo remains unchanged after 24 hrs. of glucose concentrations <150 mg/dl but sorbitol concentrations reflect hourly changes in glucose concentration. RBC sorbitol directly quantitates a mediator of cellular pathology in diabetes as it reflects the mean blood glucose levels. RBC sorbitol is therefore the most useful indicator of effective diabetic management
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Malone, J., Simons, C. & Barness, L. 313 RED CELL SORBITOL AN EFFECTIVE INDICATOR OF DIABETIC CONTROL. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 416 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00318
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00318
