The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is now urging physicians to consider using hemoglobin A1C levels to screen for diabetes. Hemoglobin A1C is a type of hemoglobin created when blood levels of sugar are too high. By measuring hemoglobin A1C, doctors can gauge a patient’s average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. As such, it’s historically been used to gauge a diabetic’s level of sugar control. However, because this test has become highly standardized from lab to lab, the ADA states it can now be a useful tool for detecting diabetes and pre-diabetes without the need to be fasting, which will make it easier and more convenient for more people to be screened. Generally, people without diabetes have an A1C level of less than 5%. The new guidelines call for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at A1C levels above 6.5%, and prediabetes if the A1C levels are between 5.7 and 6.4%. [via Health.com]
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Tags: A1C, ADA, American Diabetes Association, diabetes, hemoglobin, pre-diabetes, prediabetes
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Now, we’re getting somewhere. I have always contended that fasting glucose measurement was nothing more than a snapshot and provided nothing more than glimpse into the diabetic’s needs. Making decisions on fasting glucose and prescibing different medications is dangerous precedence, putting the diabetic at risk for heart and vascular disease.
Glad to see the AMA is finally seeing the light, patients will experience the difference,
January 5th, 2010 at 8:11 am
I again draw attention to the following article because of its relevance to this topic:
http://www.theheart.org/article/1012275.do
January 5th, 2010 at 9:06 am
I stop eating by 8:00PM the evening before testing and
test my glucose by 8:30AM the next morning and it reads
in the high 140’s. I eat breakfast around 9:30am or
10:00am. I do not eat any lunch so when I test again
around 3:00 pm my blood glucose reads around 110. Why
does this happen …why is it high at 8:30am and normal
around 3:00pm?
January 5th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
What happens if the A1c level stays around 7 percent?
January 5th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
A1C is the best for diagnose and to guage the blood sugar level of any person without keeping fasting. I used to check my blod sugar level by the A1C Test in Aga Khan Hospital Laboratory in Karachi, since last more then five years. And due to this A1C Test I am keeping my health very safe & sound. Because due to A1C test one could be gauge that sugar level of 2 to 3 months. A1C is the best Test for blood sugar.
January 6th, 2010 at 8:23 am
LGoldman, when you first awaken in the morning your liver is still resting until you begin to exercise your body through normal movements. Your liver awakens and starts to produce glucose from stored fats, thus your reading increases. When you eat breakfast the induction of new sources of glucose producing material is then rapidly processed by the liver, and unless curtailed by meds, increases very rapidly.
As I have stated in previous posts, its not the increase glucose which causes the most harm rather the increase in free flowing insulin due to insulin resistance. Insulin serves to move glucose into the cells where it can be burned for energy. If the cells are insulin resistant both the insulin and glucose remain in the blood stream. Bottom line is we must treat insulin resistance to solve both problems.
Personally, I use three products in varying dosages; first Biotin, second Vanadyl Sulfate, and Gymnema Sylvestre. Also I use Alpha Lipoic Acid for neuropothy which as a side effect reduces glucose. There are several natural products available, with no side effects, which are much better than pharmaceuticle meds. You have to find the products and combinations which helps you the most.
Good Luck
January 7th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Ken – that is a good summary article you pointed out. I agree, in general, that treatment should be tailored to the patient. Because it’s such a complex disease to deal with, for some patients an A1C of <8 would be a milestone, while for some <6.5 is an easily attainable goal. For now, the debate goes on…
January 7th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Steven-reading the study and all the comments to it, I recognized what I believe to be a major shortfall throuhout the entire study. First a little background on myself; I experienced severe expposure the the toxin Agent Orange which has been identified as a contributor to DM. I stayed on flight status for at least 20 years after exposure, undergoing annual class II flight phyicals. On my separation from service a glucose tolerance test was performed which raised the eyebrows of my Flight Surgeon. He cautioned me that I may have glucose intolerance and that I needed follow-up once separated from active duty. Needless to say, I developed into a full blown type II diabetic in 1992. Since that time I’ve studied everything I could find on the subject.
I have found numerous alternative approaches, mainly from Dr. Ron Rosedale, which helps me to keep my DM in check. Just recently I found another factor which, to me, is my most important finding, digestive enzymes. A ultrasound of my thyroid revealed a small benign growth on my thyroid and the subsequent lab report showed hypothyroid activity. I’ve since started taking a multi digestive enzyme formula, off the shelf which has drastically improved both fat and hydrocarb digestion and improved my A!Cs every three months.
I pass this along to you because you seem to have a medical interest in this subject.