Introduction and Aim:
HbA1c is a standard method for the clinical evaluation of diabetes. SMBG enables better HbA1c level. The factors affecting HbA1c are not well known yet (1,2). In this study we investigated the relationship between SMBG frequency and HbA1c.
Materials and Methods:
94 patients were asked to fill in a survey about their SMBG frequencies. Their SMBG frequencies were compared with diabetes year, sex, and HbA1c level.
Results:
The HbA1c level of patients who measure their blood glucose on a daily basis was found to be significantly lower compared to the ones who do not measure their blood glucose or perform SMBG only on a weekly or montly basis (p<0.01). The SMBG frequency of female patients was found to be significantly higher than the SMBG frequency of male patients (p<0.01). The SMBG frequency of patients with diabetes year less than five, was significatly higher than the ones with greater diabetes years (p<0.01). HbA1c level of patients with diabetes year less than five was found to be significantly lower compared to the ones with greater diabetes years (p<0.01). The increase in frequency of SMBG leads to a significant decrease in HbA1c levels.
Conclusion:
HbA1c level is affected by SMBG frequancy.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, self monitoring of blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c