Latest News Around the World About Diabetes
New Diabetes Guidelines Adopted
The first-ever American College of Endocrinology (ACE) consensus conference has adopted new guidelines that redefine optimal diabetes care. The following are new guidelines established by ACE panel:
The age of Diabetes Screening has been lowered from 45 years to 30 years for high-risk groups. Recent clinical information indicates a 71% increase in the development of diabetes among adults age 30-39 years of age. Risks factors that determine high risk patient groups include:
Family history of Diabetes
Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease)
Overweight
Sedentary lifestyle (little or no exercise)
Being of Latino/Hispanic, African Americans, Asian American, Native American, or Pacific Islander heritage
Having been previously diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose
Hypertension
Increased triglycerides and/or low HDL cholesterol
Having a history of Gestational Diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy)
Delivery of a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
Polycystic Ovarian Disease
Fasting (before meals) Blood Glucose levels have been lowered from a range of 80-120mg/dL to 70-110mg/dL, which is normal for non-diabetes patients.
Blood Glucose levels measured 2 hours after a meal have been lowered from less than 180mg/dL to less than 140mg/dL.
The hemoglobin A1c test, which measures the amount of glucose attached to red blood cells giving a picture of glucose control over the past 3 months, has also been lowered from less than 7% to less than 6.5%. The panel also recommends that this test be performed at least twice per year in those patients at or below 6.5%. This test should be performed four times per year or more, in patients with values above 6.5% and/or undergoing a change in medication or therapy.
The decision to seek tighter blood glucose control is based on new clinical data from around the world. These clinical trials have shown that for each 1% reduction of Hemoglobin A1c, there is a 30% decrease in the likelihood of developing diabetes-associated eye, kidney, and nerve damage. These studies also demonstrated a 14% decrease in the likelihood of diabetes related heart and circulatory disorders for every 1% reduction in the Hemoglobin A1c value. The before and after meal blood glucose values were lowered because it was shown that even slightly elevated glucose levels can be damaging to body tissues over an extended period of time.
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