Platelet function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the effect of glycaemic control.

In the present study the effects of a short term intensive glycaemic control obtained with subcutaneous insulin therapy on lipids and apoprotein levels, platelet aggregation, platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin and platelet thromboxane production were investigated in 20 patients with type 2 diabetes and vascular disease. In 11 out of the 20 patients there was a significant improvement of glycaemic control (fructosamine reduction). Only with tight improvement of glycaemic control there was significant change in the concentration of ADP and collagen required to produce 50% of the maximum aggregation wave response, in the responsiveness of platelet to PGI2 and in the TxB2 synthesis. Lower Apo B levels were also shown in the tight control group suggesting that Apo B changes may have influenced platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis.