Association Between Glycemic Control and Renal Biomarkers (Urea, Creatinine, and Microalbuminuria) in Libyan Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Chronic hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a key factor in the development of diabetic kidney disease. Blood urea, serum creatinine, and urinary microalbuminuria are commonly used markers to assess renal involvement. This study aimed to examine the relationship between glycemic control, assessed by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and these renal biomarkers among Libyan adults with T2DM. A retrospective cross-sectional study included 328 patients attending the Benghazi Diabetic Center between February and August 2024. HbA1c levels were categorized into three groups, and urea, creatinine, and microalbuminuria values were obtained from medical records. Associations were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Most participants were female (60.1%), aged 41–60 years (54.0%), and overweight (58.8%). Elevated urea was observed in 67.7% of patients, microalbuminuria in 22.0%, and proteinuria in 3.7%. However, HbA1c showed no significant correlation with urea (r = 0.02, p = 0.64), creatinine (r = 0.00, p = 0.99), or microalbuminuria (r = −0.06, p = 0.22). Most patients had a diabetes duration of 1–5 years (59.5%). In this cohort, HbA1c was not significantly associated with renal biomarkers despite frequent abnormalities. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify temporal relationships and improve early detection strategies.