Vol 3, No 3 (2002): Practical Diabetology
Research paper
Published online: 2002-09-24
The postprandial hyperglycaemia and its role at the development of diabetic complications
Diabetologia Praktyczna 2002;3(3):167-172.
Abstract
Actually, the recommended goal of glycemic control in the treatment of diabetes mellitus is to approach
normoglycaemia, usually assessed by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The level of HbA1c) is a statistical measure and expresses a mean blood glucose concentration in time. It does not provide information on short-term fluctuations of blood glucose. For that reason measurements of fasting blood glucose and HbA1c as a routine do not reflect the glucose level after a meal. HbA1c is related to fasting plasma glucose
(60–80%) and postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) (20–40%). The elevated PPG contributes to overall glycemic control. Hyperglycaemia is independent risk factor for macro- and microvascular diabetic complications
and increased risk of death. Actual WHO
and ADA guidelinesrecommend fasting and preprandial glucose concentrations control as well as HbA1c.
The only setting in which PPG monitoring has been shown to improve out-comes is gestational diabetes.
There is lack of evidence in clinical trials on contribution of postprandial glucose to the long-term complications of diabetes and comparing PPG versus
HbA1c lowering therapy.
Keywords: diabetespostprandial hyperglycaemiaatherosclerosis