[Haemoglobin A1c concentration in newly detected diabetes mellitus (author's transl)]

Using the Trivelli method haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentrations were determined in 7 patients with newly detected, non-insulin-dependent, diabetes mellitus before and after commencement of treatment with glibenclamide. Investigations were continued at weekly intervals over a period of 3 months. In all cases there was hardly any reduction of HbA1c values during the first 3 weeks of treatment. However, a continuous decrease of HbA1c values occurred thereafter. Nearly normal values were reached after patients had been adjusted to a considerably lower blood sugar level for more than 80 days. HbA1c concentration correlated significantly (p less than 0.001) both with the concurrently determined fasting blood sugar values as well as with fasting blood sugar values in each of the preceding 8 weeks.