An A1c Test at Yearly Physicals Could Mean Less Undiagnosed Diabetes

Wednesday May 28, 2008

There are an estimated 6.2 million people in the U.S. who have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis and treatment keep blood glucose levels from being too high. The danger of having diabetes without knowing it is that complications could be occurring from high blood glucose levels. By the time it is diagnosed, the damage could already be done.

The Endocrine Society says, in a press release, that one of the reason so many American are undiagnosed, is because of the type of screening methods available. The standard tests are the Fasting Plasma Glucose Test and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. These are tests that are usually performed at yearly physicals. They are useful, but they are fasting blood tests and many times when people go to their doctor's office, they haven't fasted, so the tests aren't done.

An easy way to diagnose more people at the time of their physical is to add an A1c test to the diagnostic workup. An A1c test would show an average blood glucose level over a period of 2 to 3 months. No fasting is required for this test. The A1c could give a more accurate picture of whether someone has type 2 diabetes, or not.

Better detection means better and earlier treatment.