HbA1c Awareness in Turkish Diabetic Population at a Tertiary Setting

Objective: To assess the HbA1c awareness among Turkish diabetic patients examined at a tertiary eye center located in Izmir, Turkey. Material and Methods: A prospective, non-randomized study was carried out involving 750 consecutive diabetic patients examined at the Retina Unit of Dokuz Eylul University Ophthalmology Department. An oral questionnaire on HbA1c awareness and patients' general characteristics was read to the patients. Retinopathy status was evaluated by indirect ophthalmoscopy and contact lens biomicroscopy. HbA1c awareness was analyzed according to age, type and duration of diabetes, referral pattern, education level, diabetes care, severity of diabetic retinopathy and treatment type. Results: Overall, 109 of 750 patients (14.5%) acknowledged the importance of HbA1c. Statistically, patients under 40 years of age, type I diabetics, patients on insulin therapy, patients under supervision of an endocrinology department, patients with a higher education level and patients with no retinopathy had a higher level of awareness for HbA1c. Conclusion: Our study reflects that better strategies are necessary in Turkish diabetic patients to improve self-management in diabetes