Hemoglobin glycation increases the electric charges on red blood cells: Effects of dielectric polarization

It is generally accepted that the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is an efficient marker of glucose accumulating during certain period in order to efficiently detect diabetes disorder. We have, experimentally, estimated the HbA1c level using broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BBDS) on human, normal and diabetic, blood samples (NGBSs). This technique has achieved a better understanding to the glycation processes on both the academic and the medical applications as well, e.g., we draw the attention to search for new way of diabetes treatment by eliminating the extra electric charges created due to glycation processes. The dielectric properties of NGBSs are studied using BBDS, systematically studying the dependence of BBDS on glycation growth rate GG. We have covered a frequency range from 101 Hz to 3.2 × 107 Hz. Strong Debye-relaxation (beta-relaxation) arising from RBCs forced-oscillations in that frequency range has been clearly detected. In addition, we present a theoretical model to explain the experimental results. So, we have got some theoretical relations (supported by experimental data) describing the growth rate of HbA1c as function of time: The ac-electrical conductivity and dielectric constant as function of frequency for different HbA1c concentrations during 140 days. The experimental data confirm an increase of electric charges on RBCs with glycation. The broad frequency range presents valuable new information on the dynamic processes in NGBSs; and it opens a possible way for new technique to treat glycted blood by eliminating the extra charges accumulated on the RBC due to glycation, that would eliminate the glycation at all.