DIABETES MELLITUS

SIGNIFICANCE OF HbA1c DETERMINATION IN PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: This study was done to find HbA1c levels in diabetes mellitus (DM)
patients presenting at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta and observe the effects of
antihyperglycemic treatment and physical exercise on HbA1c level. Study design: A cross
sectional comparative study. Patients and methods: One hundred (100) patients were selected
from Bolan Medical complex Hospital Quetta. Patients were divided in three groups. Group A
included the patients who were on antihyperglycemic drugs, following dietary restrictions and
doing physical exercises. Group B included patients who were on antihyperglycemic drugs
following dietary restrictions but not doing physical exercises. Group C included the patients
who were not using any antihyperglycemic drug, not following dietary restriction and not doing
any physical exercise. HbA1c of all patients was determined, data was analyzed using SPSS.
Anova was applied. Results: HbA1c of group A was higher than group B and group C. HbA1c
of group B was higher than group C. Conclusions: HbA1c is a valuable test for monitoring
glucose control over extended period of time and plays role in taking measures to avoid
diabetes mellitus complications, therefore it should be tested regularly.