Forbes A, et al. - Using The Health Improvement Network database, a 5-year retrospective cohort study was performed to examine the relationship between glycaemic control (mean HbA_1c) and variability (variability of HbA_1c over time) and mortality in older people with diabetes. Patients of either sex who were aged 70 years and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were included in this investigation. Researchers reported that both low and high levels of glycaemic control were linked with an increased mortality risk. In addition, the level of variability appeared to be an important factor, suggesting that a stable glycaemic level in the middle range was linked with lower risk. In understanding mortality risk in older people with diabetes, glycaemic variability as assessed by variability over time in HbA_1c could be an important factor.