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New Standardized Reference Measure a Useful Tool

Mike Mitka

JAMA. 2007;298(19):2252.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

A new worldwide standardized reference measure for glycemic control in patients with diabetes is expected to improve communication between patients and physicians as well as create a common language for researchers studying ways to treat and prevent the disease.

Maintaining glycemic control is important for patients with diabetes as high blood-glucose levels are associated with greater morbidity and mortality risk. Patients with diabetes typically self-monitor their blood glucose levels up to several times per day using a simple blood test that provides glucose readings measured in milligrams per deciliter. The measurement that is currently widely used by clinicians to assess patient glycemic control, glycated hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c), is a value based on a mixture of glycated hemoglobins and is expressed as a percentage. These differences in reporting can lead to miscommunication between patients and physicians, which will be clarified in the future by providing both of them . . . [Full Text of this Article]