[Erythrocyte deformability in diabetics. Effects of insulin. Relation to platelet aggregation]

Erythrocyte deformability is abnormal in diabetics and is closely related to the equilibrium of diabetes : in insulin dependent diabetics connected to an artificial pancreas, the alterations of erythrocyte deformability are quickly corrected after the administration of insulin. The study of platelet aggregation in whole blood, demonstrated that the impaired deformability of red cells was able to induce an hyperaggregability of platelets, phenomenon which vanished after correction of the erythrocyte abnormality. A good equilibrium of diabetes appears fundamental to avoid such abnormalities of erythrocytes and platelets and to prevent the microangiopathic disorders.