HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: between global standardization and the need for local adaptation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47196/diab.v60i2.1356Keywords:
HbA1c, diagnosis, diabetes mellitus, global standardization, local adaptationAbstract
The incorporation of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a diagnostic criterion for diabetes mellitus (DM) has represented one of the most significant conceptual advances of recent decades. Its adoption, backed by international consensus, addressed the need for a stable, reproducible, and clinically significant marker. HbA1c values play a role of great clinical importance not only in the diagnosis of the disease but also in its monitoring. However, as noted by Forte et al. 1 , this apparent robustness faces challenges when applied to real-world, heterogeneous contexts such as those found in Latin America.
References
I. Forte MN, Costa LD, Elgart JF, Flores LE. Utilidad diagnóstica de la determinación de hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c) en prediabetes y diabetes mellitus tipo 2: una revisión crítica de la evidencia y su aplicabilidad en contextos reales. Rev Soc Arg Diab; 2026(60)1.
II. Nathan DM, Genuth S, Lachin J, Cleary P, Crofford O, Davis M, et al. The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of long-term complications. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:977-86.
III. UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment. Lancet. 1998;352:837-53.
IV. American Diabetes Association. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(Suppl 1):S15-S33.
V. Davidson MB, Schriger DL. Effect of age and race/ethnicity on HbA1c levels. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2010;87:415-21.
VI. Gagliardino JJ, Elgart JF, Bourgeois M, et al. Diabetes primary prevention program: new insights. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2018;34:e2943.
VII. Bennett CM, Guo M, Dharmage SC. HbA1c as a screening tool for detection of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. Diabet Med. 2007;24:333-43.
VIII. Battelino T, Danne T, Bergenstal RM, et al. Clinical targets for continuous glucose monitoring data interpretation: recommendations from the international consensus on time in range. Diabetes Care. 2019;42:1593-603.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 on behalf of the authors. Reproduction rights: Argentine Diabetes Society

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Dirección Nacional de Derecho de Autor, Exp. N° 5.333.129. Instituto Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial, Marca «Revista de la Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes - Asociación Civil» N° de concesión 2.605.405 y N° de disposición 1.404/13.
La Revista de la SAD está licenciada bajo Licencia Creative Commons Atribución – No Comercial – Sin Obra Derivada 4.0 Internacional.
Por otra parte, la Revista SAD permite que los autores mantengan los derechos de autor sin restricciones.













