The American College of Physicians have now published their new guidelines regarding the desired blood sugar control levels for people with type 2 diabetes. The recommendations aim to change current therapeutic practices, and doctors should aim for a moderate level of blood sugar when treating their patients.
According to the most recent estimates, almost 30 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes, which amounts to over 9 percent of the entire U.S. population.Once diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, patients are often advised to take what is known as a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test in order to keep blood sugar levels under control.The test averages a person's blood sugar levels over the past 2 or 3 months, with an HbA1c score of 6.5 percent indicating diabetes.
Once diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, patients are often advised to take what is known as a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test in order to keep blood sugar levels under control.The test averages a person's blood sugar levels over the past 2 or 3 months, with an HbA1c score of 6.5 percent indicating diabetes.Patients who score over 6.5 percent would then be prescribed a daily insulin based treatment which they can inject themselves. Rapid-acting injections take effect within 5 to 15 minutes but last for a shorter time of 3 to 5 hours. Long-acting injections take effect after 1 or 2 hours and last for between 14 and 24 hours.But some studies have pointed out that the HbA1c test may currently be overused in the U.S., and they have suggested that such over-testing may lead to over-treating patients with hypoglycemic drugs.