Racial Differences in Diabetes Markers

Original Article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/19322968231199113

Not all people with diabetes are the same.

The study aimed to understand the relationship between a marker called HbA1c and blood sugar (glucose) levels in young people with type 1 diabetes. In this study, the researchers comparednon-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white individuals. The goal was to figure out how HbA1c relates to the glucose levels measured using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices.

Comparing different races with type 1 diabetes

The study involved 33 black and 85 white young people with type 1 diabetes. The researchers found that Black individuals had higher levels of HbA1c, mean blood glucose (MBG), and other blood sugar markers than White people. Even after adjusting for different factors like age and insulin delivery methods, black patients still had higher HbA1c levels. This suggests that at the same blood sugar levels, black patients might have higher HbA1c.

HbA1c and race

These findings have important implications. It means that black individuals with diabetes might be at a higher risk of complications, even if their blood sugar levels appear similar to those of white individuals. This research highlights the importance of understanding how diabetes markers work in different racial groups to provide better care for everyone.