Self-awareness of HbA1c and its association with glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes: A multicenter study

OBJECTIVES: To measure the self-awareness of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) prevalence among type 2 diabetic Saudi patients and its association with glycemic control, thereby identifying those factors that might affect their glycemic control. METHODS: This multicenter study was carried out in outpatients’ diabetes clinics in tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Qassim, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data was collected using questionnaires. The subject’s self-awareness on the HbA1c test was assessed based on the combined score of 4 questions. The latest HbA1c result before the time of data collection was obtained from medical records. Data was analyzed using bivariate and multivariate statistical methods. RESULTS: The prevalence of HbA1c self-awareness was approximately 44.5%. A total of 4 participants characteristics (glycemic control, education level, monthly income and number of follow-up visits) were associated with awareness of HbA1c. Whereas for better glycemic control; type of treatment, duration of diabetes, and self-awareness of HbA1c were independently statistically significantly associated. CONCLUSION: There is a positive association between HbA1c self-awareness and glycemic control. Glycemic control was good among those who were educated on the meaning of the test, their levels, and their target goal. Awareness among health care providers regarding the role of the patient’s education regarding their condition might help in providing the patient with optimal care. Further studies with different experimental designs are needed to study this association, which will contribute to the development of a structured educational program.