Study Shows Poor Glucose Control
A new study found that 2/3 of patients with type 2 diabetes donot have the disease under control. Because they are not properlymanaging their blood sugar levels, patients are putting themselvesat high risk for serious complications. The study analyzedA1C test scores—a measure of blood glucose control. Using alaboratory database of 157,000 individuals in 39 states during2003 and 2004, the researchers found that 67% of the participantstested higher than the target set by endocrinologists. Theprofessionals defined glucose control as an A1C level below 6.5.A survey, however, showed that 84% of patients with type 2 diabetesbelieved that they were properly controlling their bloodsugar, even though 61% said that they were unfamiliar with theA1C test. (The findings were presented at a recent meeting of theAmerican Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.)
