Fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels in the assessment of diabetic control in non-insulin-dependent diabetes in the young.

Response to diet and drug therapy was assessed in a group of 85 Indian patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes in the young (NIDDY). There was a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) values on therapy (pretreatment 13.3 +/- 0.5 mmol/l; post-treatment 9,7 +/- 0,4 mmol/l) (P less than 0,001). Prior to therapy the majority of patients had either moderate (40%) or severe (59%) diabetes; on therapy, the majority had either mild (21%) or moderate (62%) diabetes. Estimation of glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb A1) levels revealed that control was excellent (Hb A1 less than 10%) in 47% of patients and excellent or adequate (Hb A1 less than 12%) in 78%. Hb A1 levels correlated significantly with the FPG value (r = 0,78; P less than 0,001). In 8 patients with iron deficiency anaemia the HB a1 level did not fall within the correlation norms between Hb A1 and FPG. Treatment of the anaemia restored the correlative norms. Hb A1 levels were significantly higher in patients with microvascular complications (12,1 +/- 0,8%) than in those without any vascular complications (10,3 +/- 0,3%) (P less than 0,01).