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Glucose variability, HbA1c and microvascular complications

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Abstract

Microvascular complications in diabetes are associated with poor long-term diabetes control as measured by HbA1c levels. Glucose fluctuations are related to oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation, factors traditionally associated with the pathogenesis of vascular damage. Glucose variability has been associated with macrovascular disease in some studies but any association with microvascular disease remains controversial. This overview summarizes recent findings in the field of glucose variability and its possible relationship with retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. It is concluded that randomized prospective follow-up trials could possibly help estimate whether short-term glucose variability should be considered as an independent risk factor for microvascular complications in diabetes.

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Acknowledgments

This review was supported the Czech Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic with grant Nr. 15-26705A and by research project P25/LF1/2 of Charles University, Prague.

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  1. 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Laboratory for Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, U Nemocnice 1, 12808, Prague 2, Czech Republic

    Jan Škrha, Jan Šoupal, Jan Škrha Jr & Martin Prázný

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  1. Jan Škrha
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Correspondence to Jan Škrha.

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Škrha, J., Šoupal, J., Škrha, J. et al. Glucose variability, HbA1c and microvascular complications. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 17, 103–110 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-016-9347-2

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