title: The ratio of glycated albumin to glycated haemoglobin correlates with insulin secretory function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although glycated haemoglobin (A1c) levels are similar among patients with type 2 diabetes, the glycated albumin (GA)/A1c ratio varies considerably. On the basis of the hypothesis that endogenous insulin secretion might be correlated with the GA/A1c ratio, we investigated whether insulin secretory function or insulin resistance has different effects on the GA/A1c ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes using the standardized liquid meal test.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical, retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 758 patients with type 2 diabetes ingested a standardized liquid meal (i.e. 500 kcal, 17·5 g fat, 68·5 g carbohydrate and 17·5 g protein). The subjects were divided into two groups: those with GA/A1c ratio <2·5 (n = 414) and those with GA/A1c ratio ≥2·5 (n = 344). We compared the A1c and GA levels, and the GA/A1c ratio and evaluated the relationships between the glycaemic indices and other parameters. Effects of β-cell function [homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-β), insulinogenic index (IGI)] and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) on the GA/A1c ratio were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GA/A1c ratio was significantly correlated with HOMA-β, IGI and body mass index (BMI) but not with HOMA-IR. Furthermore, after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, haemoglobin and albumin levels, the GA/A1c ratio was still inversely correlated with both HOMA-β and IGI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GA/A1c ratio is significantly correlated with insulin secretory function but not with insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Daham
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwang J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Byung-Wan
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bong S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Hyun C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000093423:Glycated Serum Albumin
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D007328:Insulin; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000093423:Glycated Serum Albumin