Lack of HbA1c testing increasing risk to diabetes sufferers

According to the results of a survey of health care professionals, presented at this year's European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, sub-optimal use of HbA1c testing is increasing the risk of long-term complications in millions of type 2 diabetes sufferers around the world.

The study, which was conducted by a 15-strong panel of diabetes experts working in association with Danish insulin giant Novo Nordisk, examined the experience of diabetes management of nearly 1,400 health care professionals and 1,000 patients, worldwide. A major aim of the program was to identify key barriers that prevent good glycemic control.

The results demonstrated some of the differing approaches to diabetes care used across the world. For example, patient awareness of the HbA1c assay was around 90% in Sweden, but less than 20% of diabetes sufferers in China and India knew about the test.