Serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol in normal subjects and in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The serum levels of 1,5-anhydroglucitol were measured by gas chromatography in normal subjects and in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and compared with those found in some other common diseases. The identity of the compound was checked by thin-layer chromatography and by means of mass fragmentography. The mean level was 81 mumol/l (range 10-146 mumol/l, n = 139) in normal subjects and comparable levels were found in patients with rheumatic disease (n = 20) and in several patients with circulatory diseases. The level was less than 10 mumol/l in 44 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, both in newly diagnosed cases and in patients with a long history of the disease with or without nephropathy. The compound did not appear in serum during near normoglycaemic periods elicited by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy, nor after successful kidney transplantation.