The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) have approved a new technique to diagnose diabetes. The AACE evaluated the use A1c for type 2 diabetes, which is less troublesome to patients who are otherwise forced to fast and undergo hours of glucose testing.
Researchers used percentages of A1c (glycated hemoglobin or glycosylated hemoglobin) because it's a good general basis for testing blood sugar. Standard blood glucose measurements only show blood sugar levels at the moment blood is drawn, but A1c offers glucose levels from the past few months.
The protein found inside red blood cells, Hemoglobin A, carries oxygen throughout the body. Glucose then attaches (glycates) to the hemoglobin A protein. Therefore, more glucose in the blood means more glucose sticks to hemoglobin. Since the lifespan of hemoglobin A can last up to 120 days, that gives testers up to 2-3 months of results.
When the percentage of glycated hemoglobin A proteins are measured, a person should be above 7 percent. Thus, having a 7 percent A1c means that 7 percent of the hemoglobin proteins are glycated.
However, the AACE recommends that individuals work with their doctors to find their own specific A1c target because it can vary.
Since retinopathy occurs in diabetics with an A1c level of equal or less than 6.5 percent, the AACE and ACE discovered that A1c rates of 6.5 percent and less are showing the same retinopathy rates as those diagnosed using the fasting and glucose criteria. "A 10 percent risk for retinopathy has historically served as the bench mark for diagnosing the presence of diabetes."
They're encouraging the A1c test be used as on option, rather than the only source for diagnosis but the technology could save those being diagnosed with diabetes from having to suffer through hours of fasting and glucose testing. Biotechnology companies are also pushing out new diabetes treatment drugs this year, with Victoza already having been approved by the FDA, and Byetta, which is under review. Both drugs are offering longer lasting insulin shots to relieve diabetics from having to take shots everyday by narrowing the treatment to only once a week.
Written by Amy Munday
Huliq.com
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