Erythrocyte sorbitol content in diabetic patients: relation to metabolic control.

Since intracellular sorbitol is considered a factor perhaps involved in the pathogenesis of some diabetic complications, erythrocyte sorbitol content was measured in diabetics (IDDM and NIDDM) and in a control group and its relation with metabolic control was investigated. The erythrocyte sorbitol content was significantly increased in diabetic population (p less than 0.001) as compared to the controls. In newly diagnosed IDDMs the erythrocyte sorbitol content changed in parallel with the blood sugar level indicating that the accumulation can be reversed in erythrocytes. In a cross-sectional study a significant positive correlation existed in IDDMs between the concentration of red cell sorbitol and the plasma glucose concentration (r = 0.45; p less than 0.001). Also the HbA1 values correlated (r = 0.44; p less than 0.001) with the erythrocyte sorbitol content. In NIDDMs no correlation with metabolic control could be demonstrated.