J Korean Diabetes.  2012 Mar;13(1):1-6. 10.4093/jkd.2012.13.1.1.

Review of the Potential Glycemic Markers Glycated Albumin and 1,5-anhydroglucitol

• Kim WJ
• Park CY

• KMID: 1436179
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/jkd.2012.13.1.1

Abstract

The measure of HbA1c is the gold standard index of glycemic control in clinical practice for diabetes treatment and is well known as a risk marker for diabetes complications. However, HbA1C does not accurately reflect glucose fluctuations or the actual status of glycemic control for several days or weeks. HbA1c measurement can be confounded in the anemia, hemoglobinopathy, or renal impairment. In comparison, glycated albumin (GA), a ketoamine formed by binding of albumin and glucose, more accurately reflects short-term changes in plasma glucose and postprandial plasma hyperglycemia (PPH). GA is not affected by hemoglobin or dialysis. 1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), another glycemic marker, structurally resembles glucose and decreases with spikes of hyperglycemia exceeding the average renal threshold for glucose. Especially, 1,5-AG level is reflective of PPH or glycemic variability and becomes an increasingly important contributor in a moderately controlled glycemic state, even when HbA1c level is within the target range. Herein, the usefulness of and recent studies on GA and 1,5-AG are summarized. Further investigations about the associations between these glycemic markers and diabetes complications are needed.

Keyword

Glycosylated hemoglobin A; Glycosylated serum albumin; 1,5-anhydroglucitol; Diabetes mellitus

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Deoxyglucose
Diabetes Complications
Diabetes Mellitus
Dialysis
Glucose
Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated
Hemoglobinopathies
Hemoglobins
Hyperglycemia
Plasma
Serum Albumin
Deoxyglucose
Glucose
Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated
Hemoglobins
Serum Albumin