Is Carotid Intima-media Thickness Affected by A1C Variability?

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of A1C variability on the progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetic patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• type II
• fluoroscopy in carotid once a year during 2 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• type 1 diabetes
• history or clinical evidence of coronary artery disease or cerebral or peripheral vascular disease
• the presence of albuminuria (defined as 24 hour urine albumin excretion ≥ 30 mg)
• renal dysfunction (defined as creatinine blood level ≥ 2.0 mg/dL)
• hepatic dysfunction (defined as alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase blood level ≥ 3 × upper normal limit)
• smoking within the past 3 months prior to commencement of the study
• use of any medication likely to alter IMT such as calcium channel blocker, thiazolidinedione, antiplatelet agent (clopidogrel, cilostazol)
• use of glucocorticoid
• pregnancy
• severe concomitant disease such as cancer
• infection
• Cushing's syndrome
• acromegaly, or any other disorder likely to alter glycemia
• primary hypercholesterolemia
• hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
• use of any hormonal drugs
• alcoholism or drug abuse