Showing posts with label American Diabetes Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Diabetes Association. Show all posts
Friday, May 25, 2012
Suddenly All the Kids Have Diabetes
From the way diabetes gets talked about in the news, you'd think that everyone and their brother had it. Well, now it's looking more like everyone and their daughter has it. A new study has just been released which shows a pretty terrifying increase in the rate of diabetes and pre-diabetes among young people. In 2000, only 9 percent of teens were diabetic or pre-diabetic. By 2008, a whopping 23 percent of adolescents are. Jesus H. Christ on a cracker. That is a huge increase in just eight years. One small ray of hope is that the test they used, a fasting blood glucose test, doesn't give as accurate a picture of a person's health because it's a single snapshot of blood sugar rather than an average over time. So that number could be somewhat artificially high. Still, even considering that, this news is not good.
The author of the study, Ashleigh May, who is an epidemiologist for the CDC, calls the findings "very concerning." Pediatric endocrinologist Larry Deeb, who is also a former president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association, says other research shows there could be "a 64% increase in diabetes in the next decade. [...] We are truly in deep trouble. Diabetes threatens to destroy the health care system."
As if that wasn't bad enough, this study also found something else that's equally scary:
[H]alf of overweight teens and almost two-thirds of obese adolescents have one or more risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high levels of bad cholesterol. By comparison, about one-third of normal-weight adolescents have at least one risk factor.
While it was already clear that we needed to do something to protect the health of our kids, this data suggests we'd better do something quickly. Not that there's any easy way to fix this problem, especially among modern teens who already have so many other things to worry about, like being bullied and not getting caught in a sexting scandal. Perhaps it's time to call upon some kind of health superhero. Will Mr. Metabolic Syndrome save the day and defeat evil Dr. Diabetes? Blood Sugar Man to the rescue? Can we even just get Jack Black in a spandex suit doing PSAs? Someone? Anyone? Help.
By Cassie Murdoch
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
'Fat Chefs' and Diabetes: An Occupational Hazard?
Paula Deen's not alone. The new show 'Fat Chef' follows a dozen kitchen pros as they try to drop the pounds and reclaim their health.
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2012 — Have you ever heard the expression "Never trust a skinny chef?" Paula Deen isn't the only kitchen pro who's struggled with obesity — or with diabetes. Many men and women who make their living in the food industry, whether they're professional chefs, restauranteurs, caterers, or bakers, have issues with weight and compulsive eating. A new show, Fat Chef, which premiered on the Food Network this week, focuses on 12 of them as they embark on a 16-week plan to lose weight and get in shape.
One of the Fat Chef participants, 36-year-old Michael Mignano, is a bakery owner and pastry chef who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2009 after his weight reached 500 pounds. He told ABC News Nightline, "I allowed the stresses of work and life to just compound and just literally eat me alive," adding that when his blood sugar was finally checked by a doctor, it was "to the roof." But after four months eating lean protein and fiber and working out, Mignano has lost 100 pounds — going from a size 6X chef jacket down to a 2X. He also says he's "cured his diabetes" and hasn't taken any medication in three months.
Another Fat Chef participant, 41-year-old Ally Vitella, didn't know she had type 2 diabetes until she underwent a check-up for the show. Vitella, who weighed 345 pounds, says that her excess pounds affected her catering business, leaving her physically unable to carry equipment to her clients' locations. She told the Associated Press, "I was eating hors d'oeuvres for lunch and dinner. I would scoop up half a tray of food and eat it.…We cook things you're supposed to eat once in a while, but I was eating them every day." After doing the show, she's lost nearly 60 pounds and dropped from a size 28 to a size 16.
Another chef interviewed by the AP, Art Smith, was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago and says he reached 325 pounds on a diet of refined sugar and caffeine. Although he isn't one of the show participants, Smith, who was a former chef for Oprah Winfrey, has now lost 118 pounds and now runs marathons.
Mignano acknowledges the dangers of his chosen profession, telling the AP, "You have this abundance of food all around you…You're constantly tasting, working late hours, eating late." But the chef whose signature recipe is a "candy bar" loaded with caramel, nuts, and chocolate has no plans to find another line of work. "I love what I do, so for me to get another job and replace my profession is unfathomable," he told Nightline.
What can you do if you're surrounded by tempting, rich food all day long and need to watch your weight? One thing that may help is practicing mindful eating, which focuses on quieting the mind and tuning in to the body's hunger and fullness signals — both of which can stop that automatic hand-to-mouth motion. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition and Education Behavior found that using mindful eating techniques when eating out helped women lose weight, even when they weren't trying to.
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2012 — Have you ever heard the expression "Never trust a skinny chef?" Paula Deen isn't the only kitchen pro who's struggled with obesity — or with diabetes. Many men and women who make their living in the food industry, whether they're professional chefs, restauranteurs, caterers, or bakers, have issues with weight and compulsive eating. A new show, Fat Chef, which premiered on the Food Network this week, focuses on 12 of them as they embark on a 16-week plan to lose weight and get in shape.
One of the Fat Chef participants, 36-year-old Michael Mignano, is a bakery owner and pastry chef who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2009 after his weight reached 500 pounds. He told ABC News Nightline, "I allowed the stresses of work and life to just compound and just literally eat me alive," adding that when his blood sugar was finally checked by a doctor, it was "to the roof." But after four months eating lean protein and fiber and working out, Mignano has lost 100 pounds — going from a size 6X chef jacket down to a 2X. He also says he's "cured his diabetes" and hasn't taken any medication in three months.
Another Fat Chef participant, 41-year-old Ally Vitella, didn't know she had type 2 diabetes until she underwent a check-up for the show. Vitella, who weighed 345 pounds, says that her excess pounds affected her catering business, leaving her physically unable to carry equipment to her clients' locations. She told the Associated Press, "I was eating hors d'oeuvres for lunch and dinner. I would scoop up half a tray of food and eat it.…We cook things you're supposed to eat once in a while, but I was eating them every day." After doing the show, she's lost nearly 60 pounds and dropped from a size 28 to a size 16.
Another chef interviewed by the AP, Art Smith, was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago and says he reached 325 pounds on a diet of refined sugar and caffeine. Although he isn't one of the show participants, Smith, who was a former chef for Oprah Winfrey, has now lost 118 pounds and now runs marathons.
Mignano acknowledges the dangers of his chosen profession, telling the AP, "You have this abundance of food all around you…You're constantly tasting, working late hours, eating late." But the chef whose signature recipe is a "candy bar" loaded with caramel, nuts, and chocolate has no plans to find another line of work. "I love what I do, so for me to get another job and replace my profession is unfathomable," he told Nightline.
What can you do if you're surrounded by tempting, rich food all day long and need to watch your weight? One thing that may help is practicing mindful eating, which focuses on quieting the mind and tuning in to the body's hunger and fullness signals — both of which can stop that automatic hand-to-mouth motion. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition and Education Behavior found that using mindful eating techniques when eating out helped women lose weight, even when they weren't trying to.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Start Good Habits Early
Starting off with the right approach is really important for two reasons: First, it’s usually easier to get your diabetes under good control in the early stages of the disease, and secondly, clinical studies show that achieving good control early provides benefits to your body that can last for decades.
Also, the diabetes habits you develop now will stick with you in the long-run. Really, we all know how hard it is to change behavior once we’re set in our ways!
So for example, you might want to take some time to look at the user’s manual that came with your glucose meter in order to learn how to set the alarms that will remind you to test at different times of day: before meals, about two hours after, and at wake time and bed time. You want those test times to become habit!
You’ll also want to set up some kind of reminders to get your essential medical tests done regularly:
the A1c blood test - every three months
blood pressure - every six months at least (take advantage of every doctor’s appointment to have this checked, especially if it’s been elevated or you’ve had concerns)microalbumin, lipids, and eye exam—all annually (unless concerns call for more frequent checks)
Another “habit” that you’ll want to nurture early on is keeping an upbeat attitude. The voice in your own head is very, very important: you’ll want it to act as a “cheerleader,” rather than a negative force always telling you that you’ve failed.
There’s no question that it’s hard to stay upbeat when you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness.
You might be thinking: How do I stay positive when I feel like I’m being punished? Or when I feel so overwhelmed by having a disease that requires so much attention?
Taking care of yourself with diabetes is indeed a “mental game,” requiring you to learn to function comfortably on a number of levels:
Personal (Emotional)—fighting off negative thoughts
Social—interacting with others in social situations without stress
Behavioral—preventing yourself from doing things you wish you wouldn’t, sometimes even self-destructive things
If you do find that you’re experiencing a mental struggle with your diabetes, connecting with other people walking in your shoes is often very comforting – and helpful.
Connecting with other PWDs (people with diabetes) regularly, either online or offline, is a habit worth forming!
Also, the diabetes habits you develop now will stick with you in the long-run. Really, we all know how hard it is to change behavior once we’re set in our ways!
So for example, you might want to take some time to look at the user’s manual that came with your glucose meter in order to learn how to set the alarms that will remind you to test at different times of day: before meals, about two hours after, and at wake time and bed time. You want those test times to become habit!
You’ll also want to set up some kind of reminders to get your essential medical tests done regularly:
the A1c blood test - every three months
blood pressure - every six months at least (take advantage of every doctor’s appointment to have this checked, especially if it’s been elevated or you’ve had concerns)microalbumin, lipids, and eye exam—all annually (unless concerns call for more frequent checks)
Another “habit” that you’ll want to nurture early on is keeping an upbeat attitude. The voice in your own head is very, very important: you’ll want it to act as a “cheerleader,” rather than a negative force always telling you that you’ve failed.
There’s no question that it’s hard to stay upbeat when you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness.
You might be thinking: How do I stay positive when I feel like I’m being punished? Or when I feel so overwhelmed by having a disease that requires so much attention?
Taking care of yourself with diabetes is indeed a “mental game,” requiring you to learn to function comfortably on a number of levels:
Personal (Emotional)—fighting off negative thoughts
Social—interacting with others in social situations without stress
Behavioral—preventing yourself from doing things you wish you wouldn’t, sometimes even self-destructive things
If you do find that you’re experiencing a mental struggle with your diabetes, connecting with other people walking in your shoes is often very comforting – and helpful.
Connecting with other PWDs (people with diabetes) regularly, either online or offline, is a habit worth forming!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Meal Schedule for Type 2 Diabetes
Q: What’s the best meal schedule for a diabetic? When should snacks be included?
A: I recommend eating a meal or snack every four to five hours. This allows enough time for your blood sugar to come back down to a healthy baseline after eating, but it’s frequent enough to help you manage your appetite and keep hunger pangs at bay, which is especially important if you’re trimming calories to lose a few pounds. In general, you can meet this guideline by eating breakfast, lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, and dinner, evenly spaced throughout your day. At all meals and snacks, combine a small to moderate amount of high-quality carbohydrates (vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans/lentils) with a good dose of lean protein from foods like skinless turkey or chicken, egg whites, seafood, low-fat dairy, or beans/lentils (beans and lentils count as both a carb and a protein). The protein helps slow your body’s absorption of carbs and prevent spikes in your blood sugar. Here’s an example of an A+ day of eating designed for optimal blood-sugar control.
Breakfast:
Egg-white omelet with vegetables (spinach, mushrooms, peppers and/or onions)
One orange
Coffee with skim milk
Lunch:
2 cups hearty, low-sodium soup (lentil, black bean or minestrone) topped with ¼ cup shredded
reduced-fat cheese
Crunchy red-pepper sticks
Water
Snack:
Nonfat yogurt
1 apple
Dinner:
Homemade shrimp-and-broccoli stir-fry
¾ cup cooked brown rice
Zero-calorie seltzer
After Dinner:
Handful of almonds or pistachio nuts
Cup of decaf or herbal tea
A: I recommend eating a meal or snack every four to five hours. This allows enough time for your blood sugar to come back down to a healthy baseline after eating, but it’s frequent enough to help you manage your appetite and keep hunger pangs at bay, which is especially important if you’re trimming calories to lose a few pounds. In general, you can meet this guideline by eating breakfast, lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, and dinner, evenly spaced throughout your day. At all meals and snacks, combine a small to moderate amount of high-quality carbohydrates (vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans/lentils) with a good dose of lean protein from foods like skinless turkey or chicken, egg whites, seafood, low-fat dairy, or beans/lentils (beans and lentils count as both a carb and a protein). The protein helps slow your body’s absorption of carbs and prevent spikes in your blood sugar. Here’s an example of an A+ day of eating designed for optimal blood-sugar control.
Breakfast:
Egg-white omelet with vegetables (spinach, mushrooms, peppers and/or onions)
One orange
Coffee with skim milk
Lunch:
2 cups hearty, low-sodium soup (lentil, black bean or minestrone) topped with ¼ cup shredded
reduced-fat cheese
Crunchy red-pepper sticks
Water
Snack:
Nonfat yogurt
1 apple
Dinner:
Homemade shrimp-and-broccoli stir-fry
¾ cup cooked brown rice
Zero-calorie seltzer
After Dinner:
Handful of almonds or pistachio nuts
Cup of decaf or herbal tea
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Stop the Progress of Prediabetes
You can prevent this precursor to type 2 diabetes from developing into full-blown disease.
Nearly 24 million American adults are living with diabetes, according to figures released last month by the International Diabetes Federation. But what may be even more alarming is that there are also about 79 million Americans with a condition known as prediabetes — and many aren't aware of it.
Prediabetes means that while your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, that level isn’t high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. However, a prediabetes diagnosis means it is time for action to prevent diabetes.
"In simple terms, there is a gap between what we call diabetes, which is a fasting blood sugar of 126 and above, and normal, which is less than 100 fasting," explains Vivian Fonseca, MD, a professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of endocrinology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. "In between, you have impaired fasting glucose. If you do a glucose tolerance test, and you are in the gap, you have prediabetes. You are at risk for getting diabetes in the future and you are also at risk for heart disease."
Research has also found that prediabetes may be more common in men than in women.
Type 2 Diabetes: Prevention
If you are told your blood sugar is abnormally high, you’ve just had a red flag waved in front of you. You’re being warned that unless you make some changes in your life today, your future will probably include a diabetes diagnosis.
"Walking 30 minutes a day and reducing weight by 5 percent can decrease the risk [of getting type 2 diabetes] by 60 percent over three years," says Dr. Fonseca. While there are medications that have the same effect, lifestyle change is less expensive and has fewer side effects, Fonseca says.
Cutting your weight is crucial. "One of the links with obesity is that fat induces a mild low-grade inflammation throughout the body that contributes to heart disease and diabetes," Fonseca explains. Without making any changes, you could develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years of first developing prediabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes: Who Should be Tested?
Prediabetes is a "silent" condition, says Fonseca. While some people may experience symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue or increased urination, most people’s blood sugar rises without any outward signs at all. This means you might not know you need to be tested for prediabetes — and even if you are screened, your doctor might not give you all the information you need to prevent it.
For these reasons, diabetes experts developed criteria for those who should be tested. The American Diabetic Association recommends that any adult age 45 or older should be tested for diabetes and prediabetes.
The ADA also recommends that any adult under age 45 who is overweight and has at least one of the following risk factors should be tested:
Family history (especially parent or sibling with diabetes) Physically inactive lifestyle Native American, African-American, or Hispanic heritage Prior gestational diabetes diagnosis Birth of a baby over nine pounds in weight High blood pressure or treatment for high blood pressure Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis Dark, velvety rash around the armpits or neck History of heart disease If your test reveals that you have prediabetes, you should be tested again in one to two years, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.
Type 2 Diabetes: Types of Tests
There are two tests used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes:
Fasting plasma glucose: a test of your blood after you haven’t eaten for eight hours (usually overnight) Oral glucose tolerance test: a comparison of your blood taken first after eight hours without food (fasting) and then two hours later after you have consumed a sugary drink given to you by the lab technician. If you fit the screening criteria listed above, make an appointment to get tested as soon as possible. It could be the first step toward preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.
Nearly 24 million American adults are living with diabetes, according to figures released last month by the International Diabetes Federation. But what may be even more alarming is that there are also about 79 million Americans with a condition known as prediabetes — and many aren't aware of it.
Prediabetes means that while your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, that level isn’t high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. However, a prediabetes diagnosis means it is time for action to prevent diabetes.
"In simple terms, there is a gap between what we call diabetes, which is a fasting blood sugar of 126 and above, and normal, which is less than 100 fasting," explains Vivian Fonseca, MD, a professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of endocrinology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. "In between, you have impaired fasting glucose. If you do a glucose tolerance test, and you are in the gap, you have prediabetes. You are at risk for getting diabetes in the future and you are also at risk for heart disease."
Research has also found that prediabetes may be more common in men than in women.
Type 2 Diabetes: Prevention
If you are told your blood sugar is abnormally high, you’ve just had a red flag waved in front of you. You’re being warned that unless you make some changes in your life today, your future will probably include a diabetes diagnosis.
"Walking 30 minutes a day and reducing weight by 5 percent can decrease the risk [of getting type 2 diabetes] by 60 percent over three years," says Dr. Fonseca. While there are medications that have the same effect, lifestyle change is less expensive and has fewer side effects, Fonseca says.
Cutting your weight is crucial. "One of the links with obesity is that fat induces a mild low-grade inflammation throughout the body that contributes to heart disease and diabetes," Fonseca explains. Without making any changes, you could develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years of first developing prediabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes: Who Should be Tested?
Prediabetes is a "silent" condition, says Fonseca. While some people may experience symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue or increased urination, most people’s blood sugar rises without any outward signs at all. This means you might not know you need to be tested for prediabetes — and even if you are screened, your doctor might not give you all the information you need to prevent it.
For these reasons, diabetes experts developed criteria for those who should be tested. The American Diabetic Association recommends that any adult age 45 or older should be tested for diabetes and prediabetes.
The ADA also recommends that any adult under age 45 who is overweight and has at least one of the following risk factors should be tested:
Family history (especially parent or sibling with diabetes) Physically inactive lifestyle Native American, African-American, or Hispanic heritage Prior gestational diabetes diagnosis Birth of a baby over nine pounds in weight High blood pressure or treatment for high blood pressure Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis Dark, velvety rash around the armpits or neck History of heart disease If your test reveals that you have prediabetes, you should be tested again in one to two years, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.
Type 2 Diabetes: Types of Tests
There are two tests used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes:
Fasting plasma glucose: a test of your blood after you haven’t eaten for eight hours (usually overnight) Oral glucose tolerance test: a comparison of your blood taken first after eight hours without food (fasting) and then two hours later after you have consumed a sugary drink given to you by the lab technician. If you fit the screening criteria listed above, make an appointment to get tested as soon as possible. It could be the first step toward preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Almonds Can Improve Diabetes Control
Two new studies into the potential health benefits of eating almonds have supported evidence that they can help people with type 2 diabetes to maintain their blood glucose and cholesterol levels....
One of the studies, published in the journal, Metabolism, showed that consuming an ounce of almonds straight before eating a high-starch meal brought a 30 per cent reduction in post-meal glucose levels for patients with type 2 diabetes, compared with a 7 per cent reduction for non-diabetics. In addition, after overnight fasting, patients with type 2 diabetes whose meal contained almonds had a lowering of blood sugar levels after their meal.
The effect of regular almond consumption on blood glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes was also investigated, with the daily consumption of one ounce of almonds over a 12-week period being associated with a 4 per cent reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the same reduction in body mass index (BMI).
The second study, which was published in Diabetes Care, revealed that nuts such as almonds could help to maintain healthy levels of blood glucose and cholesterol for both men and post-menopausal women who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Karen Lapsley, chief science officer for the Almond Board of California, commented "Those with diabetes are faced with many challenges with their disease management, which is why we are always energized when new research is published that supports our understanding of almonds' role in helping alleviate some of the difficulties."
Diabetes UK, Diabetes Care, Oct. 2011
One of the studies, published in the journal, Metabolism, showed that consuming an ounce of almonds straight before eating a high-starch meal brought a 30 per cent reduction in post-meal glucose levels for patients with type 2 diabetes, compared with a 7 per cent reduction for non-diabetics. In addition, after overnight fasting, patients with type 2 diabetes whose meal contained almonds had a lowering of blood sugar levels after their meal.
The effect of regular almond consumption on blood glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes was also investigated, with the daily consumption of one ounce of almonds over a 12-week period being associated with a 4 per cent reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the same reduction in body mass index (BMI).
The second study, which was published in Diabetes Care, revealed that nuts such as almonds could help to maintain healthy levels of blood glucose and cholesterol for both men and post-menopausal women who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Karen Lapsley, chief science officer for the Almond Board of California, commented "Those with diabetes are faced with many challenges with their disease management, which is why we are always energized when new research is published that supports our understanding of almonds' role in helping alleviate some of the difficulties."
Diabetes UK, Diabetes Care, Oct. 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
American Diabetes Association's New Clinical Practice Recommendations Promote A1c as Diagnostic Test for Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes
Faster, easier test could help reduce number of undiagnosed with diabetes and pre-diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association's (ADA) new Clinical Practice Recommendations being published as a supplement to the January issue of Diabetes Care call for the addition of the A1c test as a means of diagnosing diabetes and identifying pre-diabetes. The test has been recommended for years as a measure of how well people are doing to keep their blood glucose levels under control.
"We believe that use of the A1c, because it doesn't require fasting, will encourage more people to get tested for Type 2 diabetes and help further reduce the number of people who are undiagnosed but living with this chronic and potentially life-threatening disease. Additionally, early detection can make an enormous difference in a person's quality of life," said Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, President-Elect, Medicine & Science, ADA.
"Unlike many chronic diseases, Type 2 diabetes actually can be prevented, as long as lifestyle changes are made while blood glucose levels are still in the pre-diabetes range."
A1c is measured in terms of percentages. The test measures a person's average blood glucose levels over a period of up to three months and previously had been used only to determine how well people were maintaining control of their diabetes over time. A person without diabetes would have an A1c of about 5 percent.
Under the new recommendations, which are revised every year to reflect the most current available scientific research, an A1c of 5.7 -- 6.4 percent would indicate that blood glucose levels were in the pre-diabetic range, meaning higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. That diagnosis would occur once levels rose to an A1c of 6.5 percent or higher.
The ADA recommends that most people with diabetes maintain a goal of keeping A1c levels at or below 7 percent in order to properly manage their disease. Research shows that controlling blood glucose levels helps to prevent serious diabetes-related complications, such as kidney disease, nerve damage and problems with the eyes and gums.
The A1c would join two previous diagnostic tests for diabetes, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), both of which require overnight fasting. Because the A1c is a simple blood test and does not require fasting, allowing patients this option could increase willingness to get tested, thereby reducing the number of people who have Type 2 diabetes but don't yet know it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-fourth of all Americans with diabetes, or 5.7 million people, don't realize they have it. Another 57 million have pre-diabetes and 1.6 million new diagnoses are made every year.
The American Diabetes Association's (ADA) new Clinical Practice Recommendations being published as a supplement to the January issue of Diabetes Care call for the addition of the A1c test as a means of diagnosing diabetes and identifying pre-diabetes. The test has been recommended for years as a measure of how well people are doing to keep their blood glucose levels under control.
"We believe that use of the A1c, because it doesn't require fasting, will encourage more people to get tested for Type 2 diabetes and help further reduce the number of people who are undiagnosed but living with this chronic and potentially life-threatening disease. Additionally, early detection can make an enormous difference in a person's quality of life," said Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, President-Elect, Medicine & Science, ADA.
"Unlike many chronic diseases, Type 2 diabetes actually can be prevented, as long as lifestyle changes are made while blood glucose levels are still in the pre-diabetes range."
A1c is measured in terms of percentages. The test measures a person's average blood glucose levels over a period of up to three months and previously had been used only to determine how well people were maintaining control of their diabetes over time. A person without diabetes would have an A1c of about 5 percent.
Under the new recommendations, which are revised every year to reflect the most current available scientific research, an A1c of 5.7 -- 6.4 percent would indicate that blood glucose levels were in the pre-diabetic range, meaning higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. That diagnosis would occur once levels rose to an A1c of 6.5 percent or higher.
The ADA recommends that most people with diabetes maintain a goal of keeping A1c levels at or below 7 percent in order to properly manage their disease. Research shows that controlling blood glucose levels helps to prevent serious diabetes-related complications, such as kidney disease, nerve damage and problems with the eyes and gums.
The A1c would join two previous diagnostic tests for diabetes, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), both of which require overnight fasting. Because the A1c is a simple blood test and does not require fasting, allowing patients this option could increase willingness to get tested, thereby reducing the number of people who have Type 2 diabetes but don't yet know it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-fourth of all Americans with diabetes, or 5.7 million people, don't realize they have it. Another 57 million have pre-diabetes and 1.6 million new diagnoses are made every year.
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