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Effects of iron deficiency anemia on hemoglobin A1c in type 1 diabetes mellitus

O Tarim1, A Küçükerdoğan, U Günay

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey. tarim@superonline.com

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|August 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Iron deficiency is linked to higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in type 1 diabetes. Iron therapy improved HbA1c in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients, highlighting the importance of iron status in diabetes management.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Hematology

Background:

  • The interplay between iron status and glycemic control, specifically hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) remains underexplored.
  • Iron deficiency and insufficient iron stores are common comorbidities that may influence HbA1c levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of iron deficiency on HbA1c levels in patients with type 1 DM.
  • To assess the effect of iron supplementation on HbA1c in iron-deficient individuals with and without diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 37 patients with type 1 DM, categorized into iron-deficient (ID) and iron-sufficient (IS) groups.
  • Iron-deficient patients received iron therapy (6 mg/kg/day for 3 months).
  • Glycemic control was monitored at home, and HbA1c was measured pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

  • Patients with ID DM exhibited significantly higher HbA1c levels compared to controls (P < 0.001).
  • Iron supplementation led to a significant decrease in HbA1c in ID DM patients (10.1% to 8.2%, P < 0.05) and ID non-diabetic patients (7.6% to 6.2%, P < 0.05).
  • No significant changes in weekly average glucose concentrations were observed after iron therapy in ID DM patients.

Conclusions:

  • Iron deficiency anemia is associated with elevated HbA1c concentrations in type 1 DM patients with comparable glycemic levels.
  • Iron replacement therapy effectively reduces HbA1c in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals with iron deficiency.
  • Clinicians should consider iron status when interpreting HbA1c values in type 1 DM patients.
Abstract

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