Oxidative Stress and Red Blood Cell Membrane Damage in Diabetes Mellitus

Ivan Mutebi

Department of Pharmacognosy Kampala International University Uganda

Email: ivan.mutebi@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

                                                                                    ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia and disturbances in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. Beyond its established effects on vascular endothelium, nerves, kidneys, and the retina, diabetes causes substantial structural and functional changes in red blood cells. Red blood cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative injury because they continuously transport oxygen, contain high concentrations of iron-rich haemoglobin, and possess membranes enriched in oxidation-sensitive polyunsaturated fatty acids. Chronic hyperglycaemia increases reactive oxygen species formation through glucose autoxidation, protein glycation, activation of the polyol and protein kinase C pathways, advanced glycation end-product formation, and impaired antioxidant defence. In diabetic red blood cells, excessive reactive oxygen species promote lipid peroxidation, membrane protein oxidation, spectrin–cytoskeleton disruption, phospholipid asymmetry, ion imbalance, and depletion of endogenous antioxidants. These changes reduce membrane fluidity and cellular deformability while increasing osmotic fragility, aggregation, phosphatidylserine exposure, microparticle release, eryptosis, and premature clearance from the circulation. Damaged erythrocytes may consequently impair microvascular blood flow and tissue oxygen delivery and may contribute to endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, thrombosis, anaemia, and diabetic vascular complications. This review examines the biochemical origins of oxidative stress in diabetes, the mechanisms through which oxidative injury damages the red blood cell membrane, the resulting rheological and clinical consequences, relevant laboratory biomarkers, and current therapeutic perspectives. Although antioxidant interventions are biologically plausible, effective protection of red blood cells
depends primarily on sustained glycaemic control, management of cardiovascular risk factors, and therapies that reduce the metabolic sources of oxidative stress.

Keywords: oxidative stress; diabetes mellitus; red blood cells; membrane lipid peroxidation; erythrocyte deformability.

CITE AS: Ivan Mutebi (2026). Oxidative Stress and Red Blood Cell Membrane Damage in Diabetes Mellitus. IDOSR JOURNAL OF APPLIED SCIENCES 11(2):15-20.
https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAS/2026/1121520