Clinical significance of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) over fasting blood sugar for monitoring metabolic control in diabetic patients with or without complications.

ABSTRACT

Glycosylated haemoglobin was studied in 30 cases of mild to severe diabetes in the age group 12-60 years. Ten patients were keto-acidotic. Glycosylated haemoglobin and fasting blood sugar levels were studied in patients with various complications of diabetes like neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, keto-acidosis, cardiac and respiratory complications. There was a significant correlation between fasting blood sugar and glycosylated haemoglobin in normal subjects as well as in diabetic patients. There was a significant correlation between levels of glycosylated haemoglobin and blood sugar over preceding 4-6 weeks. Most frequent complication being retinopathy and keto-acidosis was associated with maximum glycosylated haemoglobin with poor metabolic control.