Erythrocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate concentrations and haemoglobin glycosylation in normoxic Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Increased erythrocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate concentrations are associated with increased haemoglobin glycosylation in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus who have no cause or symptoms of hypoxic stress. This change in 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate metabolism is additional to its response to changes in circulating haemoglobin concentration. Statistical analysis of data showed that erythrocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate concentration did not correlate with the absolute concentration of circulating haemoglobin A1c, but with the proportion of haemoglobin glycosylated. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that it is changes in the position of the erythrocyte oxygen dissociation curve which modulate the increase in 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthesis upon haemoglobin A1c formation.