Aiming for better glucose control: is HbA(1c) of 7% the 'holy grail'? The clinical approach or seven clinical questions about 7.

The diabetes epidemic imposes a substantial burden on health systems and economy all over the world. Over the last two decades, many health systems adopted health care quality and performance measures for diabetes mellitus, most notably haemoglobin A(1c). This article raises concerns regarding the significance of HbA(1c) as a performance measure and emphasizes the need for individualized therapy.