High-Normal HbA1c a Predictor of Type 2 Diabetes

The ADA recently recommended HbA1c testing for the diagnosis of diabetes, but its value for predicting Type 2 diabetes is not well understood. Researchers measured HbA1c in more than 900 subjects, ages 40 to 79 years, and recorded new cases of Type 2 diabetes in 15 years of follow-up, using diagnosis by HbA1c. The authors concluded that HbA1c is an independent risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, and that individuals with high-normal HbA1c levels have a strong risk of developing the disease. Diabetes Care (02/11) Bonora, Enzo; Kiechl, Stefan; Mayr, Agnes; et al.