THE URINARY-EXCRETION OF HEPARAN-SULFATE BY JUVENILE-ONSET AND ADULT-ONSET DIABETIC-PATIENTS

The daily urinary excretions of total polymeric glycosaminoglycans and of polymeric heparan sulfate were measured in the urine of juvenile-onset and adult-onset diabetics of both sexes and in those of normal controls. Diabetic patients may excrete more polymeric heparan sulfate than their controls, either in an absolute amount or as a percentage of the total glycosaminoglycans excreted. In the course of diabetes there is evidently an increased degradation of heparin sulfate to large oligosaccharide fragments. These are excreted before being completely degraded to monosaccharides and inorganic sulfate.