Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes
07:22

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

574

Is HbA1c an ideal biomarker of well-controlled diabetes?

Georgia Kaiafa1, Stavroula Veneti2, George Polychronopoulos2

  • 1First Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece gdkaiafa@yahoo.gr.

Postgraduate Medical Journal
|September 11, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is vital for diabetes management but can be affected by various health conditions. Alternative monitoring methods are crucial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Diabetes Mellitus Research

Background:

  • Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a key biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes mellitus.
  • However, HbA1c accuracy can be compromised by comorbidities like renal insufficiency, anemia, hemoglobinopathies, pregnancy, and certain medications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the limitations of HbA1c as a diagnostic and monitoring tool in diabetes.
  • To discuss alternative glycemic control assessment methods relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of factors affecting HbA1c.
  • Discussion of alternative diabetes monitoring techniques.

Main Results:

  • Comorbidities and specific conditions can significantly impact HbA1c test sensitivity and specificity.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for reliable diabetes management strategies.

Conclusions:

  • HbA1c is not a perfect biomarker for diabetes management due to potential interferences.
  • Alternative methods including fructosamine, glycosylated albumin, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offer valuable adjuncts for diabetes care, particularly in challenging circumstances.

Keywords:
AnaemiaDiabetes & endocrinologyGeneral diabetesHaematology

More Related Videos

Electrochemiluminescence Assays for Human Islet Autoantibodies09:15

Electrochemiluminescence Assays for Human Islet Autoantibodies

Published on: March 23, 2018

15.8K
Measurement of Differentially Methylated INS DNA Species in Human Serum Samples as a Biomarker of Islet β Cell Death10:34

Measurement of Differentially Methylated INS DNA Species in Human Serum Samples as a Biomarker of Islet β Cell Death

Published on: December 21, 2016

6.7K

Related Concept Videos

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...
1.8K
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...
4.1K
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy01:15

Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy

The therapy for diabetes aims to alleviate hyperglycemia-related symptoms, prevent acute metabolic decompensation, and reduce chronic end-organ complications. Glycemic control is evaluated through short-term (self-monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring) and long-term (A1c, fructosamine) metrics, enabling near real-time tracking of blood glucose levels and reflecting glycemic control over specific time frames.
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
763
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
4.6K
Carbohydrate Metabolism01:36

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrates are polymers composed of molecules containing atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. One gram of carbohydrate can provide four kilo-calories of energy, which makes it the most efficient instant energy source.
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
13.2K
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
668