Last Updated on November 15, 2024
As a type 2 diabetic, you could be wasting money by testing your A1c at the doctor. A study released by The BMJ released that some type 2 diabetics might be testing too much. Most physicians recommend testing A1C levels every 3 – 6 months.
The goal of the study was to define, “What is the extent and effect of excessive testing for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among adults with controlled type 2 diabetes?” The study was completed by lead author Rozalina G. McCoy, M.D. at the Mayo Clinic with other colleagues from the Clinic. The group looked at data from over 31,000 patients. The average of the patients was 58, and they have an average A1c of 6.2%. The data only included patients with two consecutive A1C results below 7% within a 2-year time span.
The study released surprising figures; around 6 in 10 diabetics that don’t require insulin have the A1C levels check more than recommended. Results from studying the data showed that 55% of patients were going to the doctor to test A1C more than guidelines suggest. 5% of the patients were testing their A1C levels “excessively”. The study defined excessive as have tested more than five times a year.
Many people will look at these study results and think, “Isn’t it better to test more frequently?” While it’s always a good idea to monitor your levels, testing your A1C too frequently could have several negative consequences. The most obvious side effect of these frequents testing is the impact it makes on the bank account. Going to the doctor and having these measurements done costs money. The more often patients have the test done, the more money they are spending.
Patients that tested their A1C more frequently are at a higher chance of having a misdiagnosis or being prescribed more medications. The more often patients went to test their levels, the higher their chance of being over-treated for their diabetes.
There are several factors that could contribute to the trend of over-testing in American diabetics. The first is that many people believe, “more is better.” These people believe that although the test represents a three-month average, the more often the test, the better management they have.
The other reason that the researchers contribute to the over-testing falls onto the poor performance of health care systems. One reason for some diabetics frequently testing their A1C levels is a misunderstanding of the information from the test.
A1C tests are vital in measuring the success of a patients’ diabetes treatment and is also a big part of their life insurance evaluation. The A1C test will show the average glucose levels for the past three months. These tests are usually performed using blood drawn from a vein, but they can be measured using a finger stick. A1C levels will vary depending on how well diabetes is managed. An A1C below 5.7% is considered normal, or non-diabetic. Someone with an A1C of 5.7% to 6.4% is classified as a pre-diabetic. Anything higher than a 6.5% is classified as a diabetes diagnosis. The goal for most diabetics is to have their A1C below 7%.
Results from the study could have a significant impact on the diabetic community. The information highlights the tendency to over-test and focus on numbers. These results might also impact the way that physicians handle diabetic patients. This will hopefully lead to doctors informing patients more clearly or more effectively.
As a type 2 diabetic, it’s recommended that you test your A1C levels at least once every 3 to 6 months. Don’t feel like you need to test more often than this. You should always pay close attention to your health, but testing too often does more harm than good.
