Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Characterization of Metabolic Status in Nonhuman Primates with the Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test
06:59

Characterization of Metabolic Status in Nonhuman Primates with the Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test

Published on: November 13, 2016

[Correlation between capillary fasting glucose and HbA1c: study on 181 type 2 diabetics patients in Democratic

J R Makulo1, N M Nseka, F B Lepira

  • 1Département de médecine interne, Cliniques universitaires, Kinshasa, RD Congo. Jrmakulo@yahoo.fr

Medecine Tropicale : Revue Du Corps De Sante Colonial
|April 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Average capillary fasting glucose (CFG) from four tests, spaced two weeks apart, strongly correlates with HbA1c for type 2 diabetes monitoring. This offers a viable alternative in resource-limited settings lacking HbA1c testing equipment.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Diabetology

Background:

  • Diabetic patient monitoring in Congolese hospitals is limited by equipment availability, relying on capillary fasting glucose (CFG) or plasmatic glucose.
  • HbA1c provides a long-term glycemic control measure, crucial for diabetes management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the correlation between HbA1c and CFG in type 2 diabetic patients.
  • To determine if average CFG can serve as a reliable substitute for HbA1c testing in resource-constrained environments.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 181 type 2 diabetic patients at the University Hospital of Kinshasa.
  • Four CFG tests were conducted bi-weekly, alongside one HbA1c test using an immunoassay method.
  • Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and simple linear regression were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

  • HbA1c showed the strongest correlation with the average CFG of four tests (r = 0.753, p < 0.001).
  • Correlation was weaker with individual CFG tests performed at different time points.
  • A linear regression model indicated that a 1.925 mmol/L increase in average CFG corresponds to a 1% increase in HbA1c.

Conclusions:

  • Average CFG, derived from four bi-weekly tests, is well-correlated with HbA1c in type 2 diabetic patients.
  • Average CFG presents a practical and effective alternative for monitoring type 2 diabetes in facilities without HbA1c testing capabilities.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes07:22

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes

Published on: March 7, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis01:25

Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus develops gradually and is often asymptomatic in early stages.Clinical ManifestationsWhen symptoms appear, they include fatigue, blurred vision, pruritus, delayed wound healing, and recurrent infections, particularly candidal infections. Peripheral neuropathy may present as numbness or tingling in the extremities. Classic hyperglycemia symptoms—polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia—are less common. Most patients are overweight and frequently have associated hypertension...
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is based on...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:26

Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

Type 1 diabetes mellitus arises from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. This process develops in genetically susceptible individuals when autoimmunity, environmental exposures, and immunologic dysregulation converge to trigger a targeted attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The β-cells are located within the islets of Langerhans and are essential for regulating blood glucose by facilitating cellular uptake of...