OBJECTIVES: Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a well-established measure of glycemic control and evidence shows that maintaining an acceptable HbA1c level may be associated with lower rates of diabetic complications. Many countries have established specific HBa1c target values indicative of good glycemic control for patients with type-2 diabetes. This study examined the characteristics of patients with type-2 diabetes and investigated whether patients met the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended target. METHODS: Data were obtained from the UK Mediplus Database. Patients identified as having type-2 diabetes between Janyaury 1, 2004 and June 30, 2004 were included in the analysis. Comorbidities and complications were also examined. Use of antidiabetic medication between April 1, 2004 and June 30, 2004 was reviewed. A subset of the patients who recieved an HbA1c test was examined, as was their use of antidiabetic medications in the 90 days prior to their HbA1c test. All results are descriptive in nature. RESULTS: A majority of the patient population was male in their mid-60's. Hypertension (51%) and ischemic heart disease (19%) were commonly diagnosed comorbidities. Of patients with type-2 diabetes, 30% recieved no antidiabetic medications, 41% were treated with a single antidiabetic agent (e.g., metformin, sulfonylurea), while the remaining patients received combination therapy. Over half of the patients who received some antidiabetic medication had an HbA1c that did not meet the NICE recommendation of 7.5% or less. Interestingly, more than 70% of the patients who received either insulin alone or in combination with oral antidiabetic medications(s) had HbA1c values greater than 7.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent important advances in pharmacotherapy for type-2 diabetes, glycemic control remains suboptimal for a large percentage of patients in the UK. In order to adhere to NICE recommendations, healthcare professionals may wish to consider further additive or alternative treatment options.