Glycated Haemoglobin as an Index of Glycaemic Control: Ethnic Variation among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Malaysian Tertiary Hospital

Introduction: Previous studies have revealed ethnic differences in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) value at the same glucose concentration. This study aimed to determine variation HbA1c as an index of glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods: cross-sectional, retrospective recruited 293 T2DM patients by simple random sampling medical outpatient clinic a tertiary hospital. Results: Ethnicity was equally distributed with 33.4% Malays and Indians, respectively, 33.1% Chinese. Significant difference ethnicity noted between groups ≤6.5% >6.5%. Indians had highest median (8.3%), followed (7.7%) Chinese (7.2%) [p=0.004]. lower compared fasting plasma (FPG) whereas higher FPG, crossing over FPG 2.8 mmol/L. except cross-over 16 mmol/L where were than Indians. independent predictors HbA1c. An increase 1 resulted 0.44% 0.60% 0.47% HbA1c, Conclusion: pilot Malaysia examined relationship Since is any given hypoglycaemia risk may be increased when treatment strategies are focussed on using similar target values treat them.