HbA1c measurement – type 2 diabetes (PI05 and PI06)

Indicators related to HbA1c in the national Key Performance Indicators (nKPI) collection are:

  • HbA1c result recorded – type 2 diabetes (PI05): the proportion of First Nations regular clients with type 2 diabetes who had an HbA1c measurement result recorded within the previous 6 months or within the previous 12 months
  • HbA1c result – type 2 diabetes (PI06): the proportion of First Nations regular clients with type 2 diabetes who had an HbA1c measurement result recorded within the previous 6 months or within the previous 12 months as either (mmol/mol):
    • ≤53 (≤7%)
    • >53–≤64 (>7%–≤8%)
    • >64–<86 (>8%–<10%)
    • ≥86 (≥10%).

PI05 and PI06 are collected for males and females in age groups from 0–4 to 65 and over, and presented here for males and females in age groups:

  • under 35
  • 35–44
  • 45–54
  • 55–64
  • 65 and over.

Why HbA1c is important

The HbA1c (haemoglobin A1c or glycated haemoglobin) blood test gives an indication of whether blood glucose levels have been higher than normal over the preceding 6–8 weeks by looking at how much sugar (glucose) is bound in red blood cells. It is regarded as the gold standard for assessing glycaemic control.

People who have diabetes need this test regularly to see if their levels are staying within range and whether they need to adjust their diabetes management. The general glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) target in people with type 2 diabetes is ≤53 mmol/mol (≤7%) (RACGP 2020).

HbA1c result recorded – type 2 diabetes (PI05)

At June 2023, of First Nations regular clients with type 2 diabetes:

  • 50% (or around 25,400) had an HbA1c measurement result recorded within the previous 6 months
  • 66% (or around 33,200) had an HbA1c measurement result recorded within the previous 12 months (Figure 1).

Figure 1: HbA1c result recorded – type 2 diabetes – by reporting period and time period

HbA1c result recorded – type 2 diabetes - by reporting period and time period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of First Nations regular clients with type 2 diabetes who had a HbA1c measurement result recorded by time period of measurement (select for 6 months or 12 months), for reporting periods from June 2017 to June 2023, for either:

  • organisation type (ACCHO, non-ACCHO)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote)
  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT)
  • age/sex group (male, female with age group <35, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65+).

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Note: For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.

HbA1c result – type 2 diabetes (PI06)

At June 2023:

  • 41% (or around 10,500) of First Nations regular clients with type 2 diabetes had an HbA1c measurement result of ≤53 mmol/mol recorded within the previous 6 months
  • 42% (or around 13,800) had an HbA1c measurement result of ≤53 mmol/mol recorded within the previous 12 months (Figure 2).

Figure 2: HbA1c result – type 2 diabetes – by reporting period and time period

HbA1c result recorded - type 2 diabetes - by reporting period and time period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of First Nations regular clients with type 2 diabetes who had a HbA1c measurement result recorded by time period of measurement (select for 6 months or 12 months), HbA1C result in mmol/mol (select for ≤53, >53–≤64, >64–<86, or ≥86), for reporting periods from June 2017 to June 2023, with either:

  • organisation type (ACCHO, non-ACCHO)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote)
  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT)
  • age/sex group (male, female with age group <35, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65+).

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Note: For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.

For more information on HbA1c results see Data.

Reference

RACGP (The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) (2020) Management of type 2 diabetes: a handbook for general practice, RACGP, accessed 1 November 2023.