Diabetes Mellitus and HbA1c

Diabetes mellitus

What are the initial signs and symptoms of Diabetes mellitus?

The patient will have 3 P:

1. Polyphagia. The patient will have a frequent need to eat.
2. polydipsia. When there is an urge to drink water frequently.
3. Polyuria. There will be an increased frequency of urination.
4. Also, you can add intolerance to glucose.

What are the complications of Diabetes Mellitus?

1. Vascular diseases.
2. Neurologic diseases.
3. Optic (eye0 diseases.
   1. Damage to delicate blood vessels leads to vision problems (retinopathy).
   2. Damage to renal vessels impairs the filtration of harmful material from the kidneys.
   3. There will be neurological loss due to damaged blood vessels.
   4. Damaged blood vessels may cause blood clots, which may lead to a heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Diabetes mellitus introduction

What is the role of HbA1c in Diabetes Mellitus?

How will you define HbA1c?

1.  This is also called glycosylated hemoglobin.
2. It is Glycated hemoglobin where glucose attaches to hemoglobin.
3. We know RBC half-life is 120 days, so you can assess the glucose level over a 2 to 3-month period.
4. G;lucose attaches to the terminal valine amino acid of the beta-chain globulin.
5. Glycosylation takes place in the form of HbA1a, HbA1b, and HbA1c.
6. HbA1c accounts for 70% of glycosylation, so we need to measure it.

HbA1c structure and function

What are the advantages of HbA1c?

1. No fasting sample needed. Can be done on a random blood sample.
2. There is no variation from day to day.
3. It provides a glucose range over a 2- to 3-month period.

What is the diagnostic value of HbA1c?

What is the relation between HbA1c and the treatment needed?

What will be the glucose range and treatment recommendation?

What is the role of HbA1c in treating diabetes mellitus?

1. Your goal should be to keep HbA1c <7%.
2. For younger patients, keep HbA1c <6.5%.
3. For elderly patient try to keep HbA1c between <7.5% to 8%