Proposed explanations for differences in HbA1c by race and the weight of evidence supporting those explanations
| Factors proposed to explain difference | Weight of evidence | References |
|---|---|---|
| Age, sex, education, income | Weak | 2,3,4 |
| BMI and/or insulin secretion/insulin sensitivity | Weak | 2,3,5 |
| Fasting or postprandial glucose levels | Weak | 2,3,21 |
| Diet and/or physical activity | Weak | 4,6 |
| Dietary fat | Moderate | 7 |
| Alcohol consumption | Moderate | 8 |
| Smoking | Strong | 9 |
| Insurance, access to care, quantity or quality of care | Weak | 4,5 |
| Antihyperglycemic therapy, treatment intensification, medication adherence | Weak | 4,5 |
| Diabetes distress, self-efficacy, depression | Weak | 4 |
| SNPs related to red blood cell biology | Strong | 10,11 |
| SNPs related to hemoglobin | Moderate | 12 |
| SNPs related to hemoglobin deglycation | Moderate | 11,13,14 |