Objective: Hyperglycemia has an effect on all body tissues; one of them is the bone marrow. This effect is related to protein glycation and other chemical and physiological changes of red blood cells (RBCs). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hyperglycemia on different RBCs indices along with evaluating these changes in the normal physiology and chronic diabetes complication pathology.
Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional hospital-based study of 1000 type 2 Saudi diabetic patients without any hematological diseases. Patients were fully evaluated clinically and biochemically with full blood hematological parameters assessment. The studied cohort matched the general characteristics of Saudi type 2 diabetic patients.
Results: This study shows that hyperglycemia increases the red blood cells count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) was negatively correlated with poor glycemic control. Concurrently, the presence of micro and macroangiopathies with hyperglycemia shortens the lifespan of RBCs.
Conclusions: We conclude that hyperglycemia has an imposing effect on RBCs count and its physiological function, which can be normalized effectively with good glycemic control.