title: Is glycemic control in patients with type-2 diabetes in Rawalpindi improving?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glycaemic control is critical for managing diabetes and related complications. Considering high prevalence of Diabetes in Pakistan, our study aimed to assess the status of glycaemic control in Type-II Diabetics by measurement of HbA1c from 2005-2007 at Rawalpindi. We also evaluated changes in its trends in relation with sex and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a retrospective analysis of data from Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi during 2005-2007. A total of 2875 patients, aged 24-70 years, taking oral hypoglycaemic agents, were included. HbA1c was measured by using Human kit. International Diabetes Federation guidelines, < or = 6.5%, 6.6%-8.4% and > or = 8.5% were used to classify patients into good, fair and poor control categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients (n = 2875) tested for HbA1c increased from 904,974 to 997 during 2005-2007. The patients had an age of 48 +/- 13 years and comprised of 54% males and 46% females. Improvement in patient's glycaemic control among the three categories during 2005 to 2007 was as follows: good (41% vs 47%), fair (38% vs 40%) and poor (21% vs 13%) respectively. The average HbA1c values improved from 7.25 % in 2005 to 6.69% in 2007 (p < 0.05). Overall, males (45%) and youngest age group (53%) patients had good diabetic control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glycaemic control improved in diabetic patients from 41% to 47% during 2005-2007 at Rawalpindi. Males, especially the youngest patients comprised majority of good control population. For effective disease management and optimal HbA1c values, a combined effort by the patient and physician is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Army Medical College, National University of Science and Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. dilshad56@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dilshad Ahmed
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Farooq Ahmad
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin