Glycated proteins

Glycation is a biological reaction that occurs in all proteins. This reaction proceeds more slowly in healthy subjects and more rapidly in patients suffering from a hyperglycemia. Glycated proteins cannot fulfill their functions that could lead to metabolic disorders. The process of glycation leads to building of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). The structure of AGEs has not been fully researched yet. Glycated proteins have diagnostic meaning in different health conditions and not only in patients with diabetes mellitus. Determination of glycated proteins level (hemoglobin and plasma proteins) in diagnostics of diabetes mellitus and the effectiveness of its treatment; measurements of glycated proteins could be used as a predictor of different illnesses and their complications. Glycated hemoglobin was researched in children with diabetes mellitus of different severity. It has been shown that the level of glycated proteins does not always correlate with blood sugar level. Results of glycated proteins measurements in patients with thyroid disorders shows that the glycation takes place not only in patients with diabetes mellitus, but also with other illnesses without hyperglycemia. Our research in patients with diabetes mellitus has shown that the measured level of glycated proteins and plasma proteins could be more significant in the course of disease than the level of blood sugar. Compensation of diabetes mellitus in children in regard of the blood sugar level does not always correlate with the level of glycated proteins. This assumption could lead to the conclusion that only the combination of measurements like blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin and glycated proteins could give a full picture of disease compensation.