Comparison of HbA1c in Adult Patients Taking Oral Medications and Insulin Dependent in Diabetic Clinic of Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: To compare the HbA1c levels in adult diabetic patients taking oral medications versus those on insulin therapy, to assess the effectiveness of these treatments in managing diabetes.

Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional study conducted from December 2018 to March 2019, at the diabetic clinic of Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi. Patients already diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and attending the diabetic clinic were included. Approximately 4-5 ml of blood was taken from anticubital vein and collected in EDTA tube for HbA1c measurement and in Fluoride tube for glucose measurement. All the samples were processed on the automated chemistry analyzer Beckman AU 300 for the glucose. HbA1c measurement was taken on WONDFU machine and finally results were taken as final measurement.

Results: In this study, 100 samples of diabetic patients were taken that were taking insulin and oral medication for their diabetic control. However, among patients taking insulin, there is a weak negative correlation (r = -0.40), and among those taking oral medication, there is a weak positive correlation (r = 0.40), but both of these results are not statistically significant (p = 0.69). This suggests that while overall blood sugar control is closely linked with HbA1c, the type of treatment alone may not strongly influence this relationship.

Conclusion: HbA1c level was observed slightly improved in patients who were taking oral medication than those who were on insulin.

Keywords: HbA1c levels, Diabetes mellitus, Oral medications, Insulin therapy, Glycemic control