Early Identification of Type 2 Diabetes Using Glycated Haemoglobin in Primary Care Medical Offices as a Proof of Feasibility in Austria

Numerous studies have been carried out on determination of glycated haemoglobin to diagnose type 2 diabetes (T2D), among them the manuscript by Selvin et al [1]. They have led the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to recommend haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurements to identify patients having diabetes in their 2010 position statement with a cut off of =6.5 % [2]. Nevertheless, there is some controversial discussion whether HbA1c should be the gold standard for diagnosis of T2D instead of fasting glucose or oral glucose tolerance testing with various arguments in favour of HbA1c [3].