Features of glycemic variations in drug naïve type 2 diabetic patients with different HbA_1c values

To define the features of glycemic variations in drug naïve type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients with different HbA_1c values using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), a total of 195 drug naïve T2D patients were admitted. The subjects were divided into the following groups: lower HbA_1c values (≤8%), moderate HbA_1c values (>8% and ≤10%), and higher HbA_1c values (>10%). The patients underwent oral glucose tolerance tests and were then subjected to 3-day CGM. The primary endpoint was the differences in the 24-hr mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) in patients with different HbA_1c values. Patients with higher HbA_1c values had larger MAGEs than those in the moderate and lower groups (7.44 ± 3.00 vs. 6.30 ± 2.38, P < 0.05, 7.44 ± 3.00 vs. 5.20 ± 2.35, P < 0.01, respectively). The 24-hr mean glucose concentrations increased incrementally in the patients with lower, moderate and higher HbA_1c values. Moreover, the patients with higher HbA_1c values exhibited higher peak glucose concentrations and prolongation in the time to peak glucose. Patients with higher HbA_1c values had larger MAGE compared with those with lower and moderate HbA_1c values. Our data indicated patients with higher HbA_1c values should receive special therapy aimed at reducing the larger glycemic variations.