American Diabetes Association Meeting In Brief
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Diabetes diagnosis: A1C assays, which provide results reflecting average glucose levels over a 2-3 month period, should be the new standard test for making an initial diagnosis of diabetes, an international committee of experts recommended June 5 at the American Diabetes Association annual scientific sessions in New Orleans. A1C is a standard tool for monitoring and managing treatment for diabetes, but diagnosis is typically achieved with a fasting plasma glucose test, or, in some cases, an oral glucose tolerance test. The committee, assembled by ADA, the International Diabetes Federation and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, noted that A1C values vary less than the other tests and that A1C assays have technical and ease-of-use benefits. An A1C value of 6.5% or greater should generally be used for diagnosis, though it cannot be viewed as an absolute dividing line, the committee said. The three organizations have yet to officially endorse the recommendation. Bio-Rad, MEC Dynamics, Bayer and Roche are among dozens of A1C test kit manufacturers