Post-mortem glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c): evidence for a history of diabetes mellitus.

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels on blood obtained from 28 cadavers were compared with that of healthy volunteers and patients with diabetes mellitus. Levels of HbA1c did not correlate with post-mortem intervals of four to 36 hours, suggesting that HbA1c is stable under these conditions. All deceased with a history of diabetes mellitus, five cases, had an elevated post-mortem blood HbA1c. Twenty-three deceased had a negative history for diabetes mellitus and seven of this group had an elevated HbA1c. These seven cases had diagnosis of malignancies and a history of prolonged exposure to steroids in excess compared to the remaining 16 cases.