Translating the HbA1c assay into estimated average glucose values in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Translating the HbA1c assay into estimated average glucose values in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Authors

  • Ahmed Sayed Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Center, Doha, Qatar
  • Fawzia Alyafei Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Center, Doha, Qatar
  • Vincenzo De Sanctis Quisisana Hospital, Ferrara, Italy
  • Ashraf Soliman Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Center, Doha, Qatar
  • Mona Elgamal Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Center, Doha, Qatar

Keywords:

type 1 diabetes mellitus, children, adolescents, glycated hemoglobin, continuous glucose monitoring system

Abstract

Objective: The A1c assay, expressed as the percent of hemoglobin that is glycated, measures chronic glycemia and is widely used to judge the adequacy of diabetes treatment and adjust therapy. Day-to-day management is guided by self-monitoring of capillary glucose concentrations (milligrams per decilitre or millimoles per litter) as well as by using continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS). We found a mathematical relationship between A1c and average glucose (AG) levels measured by CGMS over 5 days and determined the correlation between the variable CGMS parameters and HbA1c in 50 children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) on MDI therapy. Research design and methods: A total of 50 diabetic children randomly selected from a cohort of children with DM-1 were included in the analyses. A1c levels obtained at the end of 3 months and measured in a central laboratory were compared with the AG levels during the previous 5 days recorded by CGMS. AG was calculated by combining weighted results from 5 days of continuous glucose monitoring performed before measuring HbA1c, with 3-5 point daily self-monitoring of capillary (fingerstick) glucose. Results: Linear regression analysis between the A1c and AG values provided the tightest correlations HbA1c=0.0494 MG- 2E-14, R2=0.90, P<0.0001), allowing calculation of an estimated average glucose (eAG) for A1c values. Conclusions: Our study showed a linear relationship between HbA1C and AG values measured by CGMS for 5 days before HbA1c measurement. The AG can be easily calculated using a formula derived from linear regression analysis of HbA1c data obtained in our diabetic children.

 

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Published

23-05-2018

How to Cite

1.
Translating the HbA1c assay into estimated average glucose values in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Acta Biomed [Internet]. 2018 May 23 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];89(S5):22-6. Available from: https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/7357