Issue 43 May 2012
1. Quick increase in HbA1C predicts diabetes a year before

Japanese researchers observed that HbA1c levels rise rapidly in the year before a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The study looked at 1,722 individuals aged 26–80 years without diabetes and measured fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c annually for a mean of 9.5 years.

A diagnosis of diabetes was made in 193 people (FPG ≥7.0 mmol/L, self-reported clinician-diagnosed diabetes, or HbA1c ≥6.5%), who had a mean HbA1c level of >5.6% each year before diagnosis. Average blood glucose and HbA1c values throughout the observational period were significantly higher in incident cases compared with non-cases. From 3 years to 1 year pre-diagnosis, HbA1c increased 0.09% (SE 0.01)/year, reaching 5.90% (5.84–5.96) 1 year pre-diagnosis. In the entire group, marked increases in HbA1c of 0.3% (SE 0.05%)/year and FPG of 0.63 (0.07) mmol/L/year predicted diabetes.

Professor Hirohito Sone, diabetologist at the University of Tsukuba Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba, Japan, said their findings showed the importance of regular screening in those at risk of diabetes .

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