Gender: does it have role has a role in glycaemic control in Caucasians with wellcontrolled type 2 diabetes?

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes is costly to manage and thus it is important to know if management of blood glucose and HbA1care meeting clinical targets in both men and women. There is conflicting published data on the gender equality of bloodglucose and HbA1c management in type 2 diabetics. Objective: The purpose of this work was to review the literature ongender equality in blood glucose management and to test the hypothesis that management of blood glucose and HbA1c wouldmeet clinical targets in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, irrespective of gender in well controlled Caucasian type 2 diabetic patients.Design, Setting and Participants: Fasting serum insulin and insulin sensitivity levels were determined in order to assist in theexplanation of the glucose and HbA1c results in people with diabetes. Patients were asked to give a fasting blood sample oneach of two occasions three months apart. Results: There were no differences between males and females in each of fastingserum glucose (FSG) and HbA1c levels as well as fasting serum insulin concentrations and in insulin sensitivity at visit 1 or 2.However, each of FSG and HbA1c levels were slightly higher than clinical targets. Modestly elevated serum insulin and lowerinsulin sensitivity were consistent with the FSG and HbA1c levels. This contrasts with some of the existing literature pointingout the need for a much larger study to be done in Cape Breton. Conclusion: It is concluded that blood glucose managementamong people with well controlled type 2 diabetes in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia may be close to clinical targets irrespectiveof gender. A further lowering of HbA1c and FSG may be in order. However, this was only a very small study and a muchlarger one would answer whether there is gender equality in FSG and HbA1c among persons with well controlled type 2diabetes on Cape Breton Island.