March 3, 2014
Updated diabetes care guidelines place emphasis on the A1C blood test when testing for diabetes, a shift that could help physicians standardize diabetes screening and prevention with the consistent use of one primary test.

The American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) updated Standards of Medical Care Guidelines explain that the A1C has advantages over other diabetes tests, including greater convenience and stability and fewer factors that can skew results.

The testing recommendations in the guidelines include:
• Testing should be considered in adults of any age with a body mass index of 25 or more, and one or more of the known risk factors for diabetes.
• Because age is a major risk factor for diabetes, testing should begin at 45 years old for those without these risk factors.
• Testing should take place within the health care setting because of the need for follow-up and discussion of abnormal results.
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