Haemoglobin A1: An indicator of the metabolic control of diabetic patients.

The level of the minor glycosylated haemoglobins (HbA1) in ambulatory diabetic patients correlated closely with their physicians' ratings of the degree of control and their fasting plasma-glucose levels. In patients admitted to hospital for more detailed study, HbA1 correlated significantly with the mean fasting glucose, mean daily glucose, and highest daily glucose values. HbA1 measurement is a simple, rapid, and objective procedure to assess diabetic control and may serve both as a screening test for uncontrolled diabetes and as an indicator of the efficacy of various therapeutic regimens.