The use of haemoglobin A1 in the evaluation of diabetic control in adult Ethiopian diabetics
Mengistu, M.
Ethiopian Medical Journal 26(3): 127-132
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-1755 PMID: 3416844 Document Number: 317983
In 69 non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) and 54 insulin-dependent (IDDM) consecutive diabetics and 70 healthy controls, all Ethiopians, diabetic control was initially assessed in an Addis Ababa hospital by the traditional method (TM), and later glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb) A1 was checked, to assess the diabetic control and also to evaluate the TM's usefulness. There were 65 NIDDM patients on oral agents, and 4 on diet control. The majority of the IDDM patients required more than 40 units of Lente insulin. The mean HbA1 for the IDDM, NIDDM and controls was, respectively, 11.3% .+-. standard deviation 3.1, 9.6% .+-. 1.9 SD, and 6.9% .+-. 1.6 SD. The overall concordance rate between the two methods of assessment was 57%; concordance was better in the IDDM (66.7%) than in the NIDDM (49.3%). Of 74 diabetics judged as poorly controlled by the TM, only 51 (68.9%) had HbA1 over 10%, and 9 of 17 patients who had good control according to the TM had normal HbA1, indicating that the TM is not always reliable, and thus confirming other studies' observations. It is suggested that HbA1 assay should be available at least in major teaching and research centres, where many diabetics are being followed up.