[Hemoglobin A1 in a diabetic with thalassemia minor]

HbA1 levels of 22.6% were found in a 67-year-old woman with type II diabetes mellitus. Haemoglobin electrophoresis and peripheral blood count proved the diagnosis of thalassaemia minor (HbF thalassaemia). The coincidence of diabetes mellitus and increased haemoglobin F is rare (0.01 per 1000 or less) in Central Europe, with the exception of the southern mediterranean countries. In the reported case the levels for HbA1, measured by the colorimetric thiobarbiturate method, and the difference both between HbA2 (micro-column chromatography) as well as HbF values, corresponded to the blood sugar concentrations. These methods are thus suitable in the rough estimation of long-term metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus and increased haemoglobin F, such as HbF thalassaemia.