The significant inverse association between HbA1c with MCV and MCH as presented in this study is important for two reasons: the first is that a relative decrease in insulin may affect erythropoietin or other factors that are important to erythropoiesis, and the second is that MCV and MCH could be useful for better prediction of the time to type 1 diabetes in children with multiple islet autoantibodies. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.