Time in suboptimal glycemic control over 10 years for patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate time in suboptimal glycemic control among patients with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) over 10 years.

METHODS

We calculated percent of time in suboptimal glycemic control using three A1C thresholds (8%, 7.5%, 7%) following T2D diagnosis. Stratified analyses were conducted based on age and A1C levels at T2D diagnosis.

RESULTS

We identified 28,315 patients with incident T2D. Percent of time in suboptimal glycemic control increased with T2D duration. Mean percent time in suboptimal A1C control in the first 2 years following diagnosis was 30%, 34% and 40% for the 8%, 7.5%, and 7% thresholds, respectively. In the 6-10 years following T2D diagnosis, the percent time in suboptimal A1C control increased to 39%, 48% and 61%, for the 8%, 7.5%, and 7% thresholds, respectively. Time in suboptimal glycemic control was longer among younger patients aged 20-44 versus ≥65 years and those with higher A1C (>8%) versus lower A1C (<7%) at diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Over 10 years following diagnosis, T2D patients spent one-third to over one-half of their time in suboptimal glycemic control. Reducing time spent above desired A1C targets could lower risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications.