Determining the time of diabetes mellitus onset by the level of glycosylated keratin in hair

: The levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glycosylated keratin were studied along the hair length in 17 patients with newly detected insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) aged 7 to 33, in 14 patients with newly detected noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) aged 46 to 73, and in 41 healthy subjects. The level of glycosylated keratin in healthy hairs along the entire length varied within 0.094-0.124 mumol of fructosamine per 100 mg of hair. In 10 of 17 patients of the IDDM group measurements of glycosylated keratin levels made it possible to determine the time of appearance of diabetes mellitus, in 13 patients of the NIDDM group these levels along the entire hair length were elevated. The determination of these levels permitted the estimation of the time of appearance of IDDM. Its manifestation followed a long period (1-2 yrs.) of latent derangements of carbohydrate metabolism. In NIDDM patients the time of appearance of disease is difficult to determine because of the limited hair length and a long latent period of disease (over 2-3 yrs.).