HbA1c: Gender Differences in Non-Diabetic Young Population

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a pathological condition that is increasingly more frequent in children and adolescents. The reasons for the onset of T2DM are the increasing levels of obesity and physical inactivity, with a consequent risk of developing metabolic disorders in early adulthood and a significant economical burden on public health. In this context, as part of a multicentric study to determine the reference values of Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the healthy population, we analysed 157 samples of healthy paediatric subjects to describe HbA1c trends by gender and age. Whole blood samples were collected in K2-EDTA tubes, stored at -80°C and subsequently analysed by capillary electrophoresis. There were no significant differences in children HbA1c average values according to age groups for the same gender, however we observed HbA1c average concentration was significantly higher in males than females in age group 10-14 years (p < 0.05). The results of this study probably reflect the transient change in insulin sensitivity at onset of puberty. HbA1c measurement is not sufficient for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, but it could help paediatricians for early detection of the disease in children, together with the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). The results underline a statistical significance in the paediatric age group in which the onset of diabetes mellitus is most common.