Estimation of glycaemic control in the past month using ratio of glycated albumin to HbA.

AIMS

To evaluate comprehensively the use of the glycated albumin to HbA ratio for estimation of glycaemic control in the previous month.

METHODS

A total of 306 children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus underwent ≥10 simultaneous measurements of glycated albumin and HbA . Correlation and concordance rates were examined between HbA measurements taken 1 month apart (ΔHbA ) and glycated albumin/HbA ratio fluctuations were calculated as Z-scores from the cohort value at enrolment of this study cohort (method A) or the percent difference from the individual mean over time (method B).

RESULTS

Fluctuations in glycated albumin/HbA ratio (using both methods) were weakly but significantly correlated with ΔHbA , whereas concordance rates were significant for glycaemic deterioration but not for glycaemic improvement. Concordance rates were higher using method B than method A.

CONCLUSIONS

The glycated albumin/HbA ratio was able to estimate glycaemic deterioration in the previous month, while estimation of glycaemic improvement in the preceding month was limited. Because method B provided a better estimate of recent glycaemic control than method A, the individual mean of several measurements of the glycated albumin/HbA ratio over time may also identify individuals with high or low haemoglobin glycation phenotypes in a given population, such as Japanese children with Type 1 diabetes, thereby allowing more effective diabetes management.