BMJ 1994;309:1511 (3 December)

Letters

Standardisation is essential

Standardisation is essential

EDITOR,--Eric S Kilpatrick and colleagues' observations regarding the problems of assessing control of blood glucose concentrations in diabetes mellitus are important. We agree that standardisation of assessment of glycated haemoglobin concentration is essential for appropriate interpretation of this test. Not only should haemoglobin A1c be specifically measured but normal ranges need to be standardised nationally.

Important developments in diabetes care include the development of local and national registers comprising data conforming to an agreed national dataset. Such registers will be important for comparative analysis to assess success in achieving the objectives of improving metabolic control and monitoring the rates of development or progression of complications of diabetes. Measurement of glycated haemoglobin is essential to assess metabolic control, and its standardisation is therefore essential to permit meaningful comparisons.

We must remember that it is the person with diabetes to whom the result is of primary importance. Different . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Glycated haemoglobin values: problems in assessing blood glucose control in diabetes mellitus
E S Kilpatrick, A G Rumley, M H Dominiczak, and M Small
BMJ 1994 309: 983-986. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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