Are there better alternatives than haemoglobin A1c to estimate glycaemic control in the chronic kidney disease population?

BACKGROUND: Although measurement of haemoglobin A1c has become the cornerstone for diagnosing diabetes mellitus in routine clinical practice, the role of this biomarker in reflecting long-term glycaemic control in patients with chronic kidney disease has been questioned.

METHODS: Consensus review paper based on narrative literature review.

RESULTS: As a different association between glycaemic control and morbidity/mortality might be observed in patients with and without renal insufficiency, the European Renal Best Practice, the official guideline body of the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association, presents the current knowledge and evidence of the use of alternative glycaemic markers (glycated albumin, fructosamine, 1,5-anhydroglucitol and continuous glucose monitoring).

CONCLUSION: Although reference values of HbA1C might be different in patients with chronic kidney disease, it still remains the cornerstone as follow-up of longer term glycaemic control, as most clinical trials have used it as reference.