Regular Testing Can Help Detect and Control Type 2 Diabetes

In recent years, type 2 diabetes has become a serious problem.  According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million people in the United States—7.8% of the population—have diabetes.  About 0.22% of children and adolescents under 20 suffer from this chronic disease.  Among those 60 or older, the incidence rises to 23.1%, affecting both men and women.

Diabetes allows sugar levels to build up in the blood, which can lead to heart disease, blindness, and other serious complications including kidney failure.  Type 2 diabetes strikes people of all ages, and early symptoms are subtle.  In fact, a third of people with type 2 diabetes don't know they have it.  The hemoglobin A1C test, however, can detect the early signs of diabetes before any of its symptoms become evident.

Early diagnosis is important
The A1C test can be explained in relatively simple terms.  Sugar is sticky, and individual molecules of sugar, or blood glucose, stick to the surfaces of red blood cells known as hemoglobin, which live for about three months before they die. 
The test gives us an idea of how much sugar has been around for the preceding three months. 
Diabetic patients are usually required to conduct routine blood sugar tests at home to make sure their blood sugar levels are maintained within acceptable limits.  Since blood glucose levels can fluctuate widely, however, even frequent home glucose testing may not accurately reflect the degree of success in controlling blood sugar.  The A1C test provides a more accurate record of blood sugar levels over a three-month period of time.

Practicing Preventive Medicine
At Raritan Family Health Care, we strongly believe in preventive medicine, which is why we routinely recommend tests such as A1C.  If you share our belief in preventing problems before they occur, we invite you to come in for a consultation.

Raritan Family Health Care, 901 US Highway 202, Raritan, NJ 08869. Tel: 908-253-6640