Glycosylated haemoglobin levels in children with protein-energy malnutrition.

Fasting blood glucose, serum protein and glycosylated haemoglobin level (HbA1c) were determined in 50 children (aged 1-5 years) suffering from protein-energy malnutrition and in 25 healthy and nutritionally normal children of the same age group. It was observed that HbA1c correlated well with the blood glucose values of the children. It was also observed that they had significantly higher values of HbA1c than the controls, indicating the existence in them of glucose intolerance. Long-term monitoring of the glycaemic status is therefore suggested as a means of assessing any relationship between glycosylated haemoglobin and impaired pancreatic function in such patients.