Glycemic Control of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Managed in Tertiary Care Internal Medicine Clinics Using HbA1c

Background /Objective: The aim was to assess the glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using American Diabetes Association HbA1c definition of good control of ≤ 7.0%. Methods: This retrospective study conducted in internal medicine outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the clinic from August 2005 to January 2006 were evaluated. Patients with HbA1c measured regularly and under anti-diabetic therapy were included in the study. Last measured HbA1c was used to evaluate diabetic control. Results: Data for 968 (81.5%) patients out of 1188 were available for analysis. Only 211 (21.8%) patients had their HbA1c within the American Diabetes Association recommended target of HbA1c ≤ 7%. Mean HbA1c was 8.98%. Patients were stratified into groups of good (HbA1c £ 7%), average (HbA1c 7.1% - 9.9%) and poor diabetic control (HbA1c ≥ 10%) included 21.8%, 46.2% and 32.0% of the study population, respectively. Mean HbA1c in patients on diabetic diet only, oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin, and oral hypoglycemic agents plus insulin was 7.62%, 8.67%, 8.92% and 9.70%, respectively. Conclusion: Majority of patients in our study did not meet the American Diabetes Association recommended target HbA1c for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Causes for this failure need to be assessed in Saudi type 2 diabetes mellitus population.