diabetes mellitus (DM) define as a group of metabolic diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose).
It occurs either when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (type 1) or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin (type 2). Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. In addition, gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is often solved after childbirth.
Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels (1, 2).
Effect of high blood glucose level on the red blood cells of the diabetic individual
Erythrocytes are the most abundant cells in circulation and are the first to perceive changes in plasma composition. They lose all organelles when they mature, and as a result, have only a few metabolic pathways for obtaining energy. This makes erythrocytes highly sensitive to any disorder (4).
Glucose metabolism disorders in patients with diabetes profoundly affect the morphological structure and physiological functions of erythrocytes, including:
· increased red blood cells count
· increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
· increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
· increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
Therefore, we can’t neglect the effect of high blood glucose levels on the red blood cells of the diabetic individual. Actually, hyperglycemia has an imposing effect on RBC count and its physiological function and can be normally effectively with good glycemic control (3).
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