Glycated Albumin and Glycated Hemoglobin Are Influenced Differently by Endogenous Insulin Secretion in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE - Glycated albumin (GA) relative to A1C is a useful marker of short-term glycemic control. We investigated whether endogenous insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes has different effects on GA and A1C levels. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A1C, GA, and GA-to-A1C ratio were compared in 202 type 2 diabetic patients by type of treatment. Effect of beta-cell function determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-%beta) on GA-to-A1C ratio was examined. In addition, GA-LO-A1C ratio was compared between type 2 diabetic patients and 16 patients with type I diabetes. RESULTS - in type 2 diabetic patients, GA-to-A1C ratio was significantly higher in those treated With insulin than in those treated With diet or oral hypoglycemic agents. HOMA-%beta showed a significant inverse correlation with GA-to-A1C ratio. This ratio was higher in type I diabetic patients than in type 2 diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS - in diabetic patients with decreased insulin secretion, serum GA levels are higher relative to A1C.