The global burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly. The Gulf region, especially the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most severely affected regions. Traditionally, diabetes has been diagnosed on the basis of plasma glucose levels. However, more recently, haemoglobin A1c has been added to recommended criteria as an alternative tool for diagnosis. This review highlights some of the arguments for and against the use of haemoglobin A1c as a diagnostic measure.
