Diabetes

Adult hemoglobin (Hb) is composed of HbA (97%), HbA2 (2.5%), and HbF (0.5%). HbA consists of two α chains and two β chains, which are easily glycated by glucose, fructose 1,6-diphosphate, glucose 6-phosphate, and pyruvate. HbA1c and other glycated hemoglobin products are collectively referred to as total glycated hemoglobin (GHb). GHb or HbA1c is measured clinically. Since HbA1c is a product of glucose-glycated hemoglobin and accounts for most of GHb, HbA1c directly reflects the level of blood sugar in the body. HbA1c is an indicator that can better monitor the blood sugar control level of diabetic patients than total GHb.

Adiponectin (ADPN) is a protein hormone mainly secreted by adipocytes and is abundant in the circulation, accounting for about 0.01% (5-30 μg/ml) of the total plasma protein in humans. It plays an important role in regulating insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Human adiponectin monomer consists of 244 amino acids, including four regions: N-terminal signal peptide, non-homologous region, collagen repeat sequence, and globular carboxy-terminal; the collagen repeat sequence is highly correlated with species evolution. Adiponectin exists in multiple subtypes in the blood. Monomeric adiponectin (28kDa) first aggregates into biologically active trimers (65 kDa) in adipocytes, and then aggregates into hexamers (150 kDa) and asymmetric bouquet-like high molecular weight (18-36 monomers, >280 kDa) adiponectin based on this to secrete into the circulation. The properties of plasma adiponectin in normal people are stable, and several subtypes of adiponectin do not convert to each other. Adiponectin is a new indicator that can predict the risk of type 2 diabetes early. Unlike the two diabetes diagnostic indicators of blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin, adiponectin is a risk prediction indicator for diabetes. Through adiponectin, high-risk populations with normal blood sugar but abnormal physiological metabolism can be screened out. Adiponectin can dynamically reflect the level of insulin resistance in the body and is closely related to individual metabolic health.