XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
  Diabetes
   NIDDM
   Insulin Resistance
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
 
 India
Search

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2006 - 12:32:53 PM

Diabetes Channel
subscribe to Diabetes newsletter

Latest Research : Endocrinology : Diabetes

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Self monitoring and A1c should be used together in diabetes monitoring
Apr 15, 2006 - 6:11:00 PM, Reviewed by: Dr. Sanjukta Acharya

"Assessing glycemia in diabetes can be a challenge, but approaches are available that promote successful management of blood glucose and may lead to a significant reduction in incidence and in medical treatment of diabetes."

 
In a strongly worded review published in the recent edition of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the head of the Johns Hopkins Diabetes Center urges physicians and patients to better use the blood-testing tools at hand to manage the disease and prevent most of its dire impact on the heart, kidneys, nerves and vision.

"The message is, we have tools that are very accurate, but they don't work at all if they are not used properly," says Christopher Saudek, M.D., a former president of the American Diabetes Association and lead author of the article. "If the goal of treatment is to prevent morbidity and mortality, we need to do a better job of monitoring our patients, as well as advising them."

Saudek and colleagues reviewed data from studies conducted between 1976 and 2005 and concluded that both self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and more precise physician testing of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) can help diabetics take proper control of their blood sugar levels and successfully manage their disease.

"Used together, self monitoring and A1c do work," says Saudek, along with "consistent communication between the patient and health care professional."

According to the ADA, an estimated 14.6 million people in the United States have been given a diagnosis of diabetes, most of them with so-called type 2 or adult onset. Their disease is marked by the body's inability to respond to insulin to break down glucose, or sugar.

Saudek said SMBG conducted by patients, according to their condition and type of diabetes, gives an accurate reflection of immediate blood glucose levels. HbA1c, however, performed in a doctor's office or clinic, is a better measure of long-term blood glucose control, which can be influenced by a number of physiological and behavioral factors. Saudek also recommends that diabetics should get their physician to conduct the HbA1c test every three to six months. The frequency of self-monitoring depends on the individual case, but can be anywhere from once daily to more than six times per day. If they are taking insulin, their treatment changes or their blood sugar stays too high, the self-monitoring should be done more frequently.

"The first step in preventing or delaying the onset of complications associated with diabetes is recognizing the risk factors, including uncontrolled blood glucose," added Saudek. "Assessing glycemia in diabetes can be a challenge, but approaches are available that promote successful management of blood glucose and may lead to a significant reduction in incidence and in medical treatment of diabetes."
 

- The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
 

Johns Hopkins Medicine Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism

 
Subscribe to Diabetes Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 



Related Diabetes News

Diabetes is an independent predictor of acute organ failure and subsequent death
Insulin resistance in early teens may predict diabetes
Low-fat vegan diet rivals oral diabetes medications
Conjugated linoleic acids in dairy products targets diabetes
TrialNet - Can Type 1 diabetes be prevented?
Infections Link With diabetes
Netrins hold potential for treating diabetes
Coffee might reduce risk of type 2 diabetes
Race may be risk factor for insulin resistance
Impaired blood vessel responses seen in children of diabetics


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us