Glucoregulatory function among African Americans and European Americans with normal or pre-diabetic hemoglobin A1c levels

Metabolism. 2014 Jun;63(6):767-72. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2014.03.002. Epub 2014 Mar 5.

Abstract

Objective: A hemoglobin (Hb) A1c range of 5.7%-6.4% has been recommended for the diagnosis of prediabetes. To determine the significance of such "prediabetic" HbA1c levels, we compared glucoregulatory function in persons with HbA1c levels of 5.7%-6.4% and those with HbA1c<5.7%.

Methods: We studied 280 nondiabetic adults (142 black, 138 white; mean (±SD) age 44.2±10.6 years). Each subject underwent clinical assessment, blood sampling for HbA1c measurement, and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at baseline. Additional assessments during subsequent outpatient visits included insulin sensitivity, using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR and the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp; insulin secretion, using HOMA-B and frequently samples intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) and disposition index (DI); and measurement of fat mass, using DXA.

Results: Compared to subjects with HbA1c<5.7%, persons with HbA1c levels of 5.7%-6.4% were older, and had higher body mass index (BMI) and insulin secretion but similar insulin sensitivity. When the two groups were matched in age and BMI, persons with HbA1c 5.7%-6.4% were indistinguishable from those with HbA1c <5.7% with regard to all measures of glycemia and glucoregulatory function.

Conclusions: Unlike glucose-defined prediabetes status, an HbA1c range of 5.7%-6.4% does not reliably identify individuals with impaired insulin action or secretion, the classical defects underlying the pathophysiology of prediabetes. Thus, HbA1c cannot validly replace blood glucose measurement in the diagnosis of prediabetes. If utilized as a screening test due to convenience, aberrant HbA1c values should be corroborated with blood glucose measurement before therapeutic intervention.

Keywords: A1C; Insulin secretion; Insulin sensitivity; Prediabetes diagnosis; Race/Ethnicity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Glucose Intolerance*
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prediabetic State / blood*
  • Prediabetic State / diagnosis
  • Prediabetic State / ethnology*
  • Prediabetic State / metabolism
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Insulin
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human