Pre-stroke glycemia in patients with diabetes

Aims Hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) remains uncontrolled in approximately 50% of patients in the United States. Uncontrolled T2D is associated with various vascular complications, including stroke. We studied demographic and clinical factors association with pre-stroke glycemia, indicated by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in acute stroke patients with T2D. Methods Using a questionnaire, we collected demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical information from 300 acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients in one hospital. We analyzed factors associated with HbA1c in patients with history of T2D. Results There were 111 patients with history of T2D and HbA1c measured on admission. In multivariable analyses factors associated with higher HbA1c were treatment with insulin (p = 0.05), history of hyperlipidemia (p = 0.01), and total cholesterol level (p = 0.02). Poor adherence to T2D treatment was associated with higher HbA1c levels (p = 0.006) only in a subgroup of patients with HbA1c ≥8%. Conclusion Insulin treatment and hyperlipidemia are associated with higher HbA1c levels in acute stroke patients with T2D. Poor adherence to diabetes treatment is associated with higher HbA1c levels only among patients with HbA1c ≥8%.