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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

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Published on: February 28, 2013
The relationship between long-term glycaemic control and diabetic nephropathy
D R McCance1, D R Hadden, A B Atkinson
1Sir George E. Clark Metabolic Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Microalbuminuria in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients is linked to poorer glycemic control, but the association is weak and depends on urine collection methods. This highlights the importance of consistent measurement for assessing kidney health.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Diabetology
Background:
- Microalbuminuria is an early indicator of diabetic nephropathy.
- Glycemic control is a key factor in diabetes management and complication prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between urine albumin excretion and glycemic control in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
- To compare two methods for measuring albumin excretion and their correlation with HbA1 levels.
Main Methods:
- Studied 210 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
- Measured urine albumin excretion using 24-hour collection and timed overnight samples.
- Correlated albumin excretion rates with mean serial glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) measurements over 6 years.
Main Results:
- Microalbuminuria prevalence was 9.5% (24-hour) and 8.1% (overnight).
- Albumin excretion rate increased significantly with worsening glycemic control (mean HbA1), regardless of collection method.
- The correlation between glycemic control and microalbuminuria was weak and method-dependent.
Conclusions:
- Glycemic control is associated with microalbuminuria in diabetic patients.
- The strength of this association depends on the urine collection method used.
- Consistent measurement techniques are crucial for accurately assessing microalbuminuria in diabetes.
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