title: Associations between hemoglobin concentrations and the clinical characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many studies have demonstrated an association between hemoglobin levels and cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between hemoglobin concentrations and various clinical parameters, including metabolic factors, plasma C-peptide response after a meal tolerance test, and microvascular complications, in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 337 male patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited. All subjects were subjected to a meal tolerance test and underwent assessment of hemoglobin levels, fasting and postprandial β-cell responsiveness, and microvascular complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with lower hemoglobin concentrations had a longer duration of diabetes, a lower body mass index, and lower concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. They also had lower levels of postprandial C-peptide, Δ C-peptide, and postprandial β-cell responsiveness. They had a higher prevalence of retinopathy and nephropathy. In multivariate analyses, there was a significant association between nephropathy and hemoglobin concentration. Also, hemoglobin concentrations were independently associated with Δ C-peptide levels and postprandial β-cell responsiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemoglobin concentrations are associated with postprandial C-peptide responses and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ook
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Dong Hyeok
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dong Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Min Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019518:Postprandial Period; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D006454:Hemoglobins; D008055:Lipids