Diabetes

Bayer Diabetes Care Launches New Monitoring System for HBA1c Testing

The monitoring system offers easy accuracy and reliable testing In the clinical setting

Bayer Diabetes Care announced the introduction of A1CNow, it's innovative, portable, hand-held, meter-based, monitoring system for in-office measurement of A1C (HbA1c) or glycated hemoglobin— an important indicator of long-term blood sugar control.

The reliable, pager-sized A1CNow device has single-use, disposable test cartridges and can be used for people with diabetes by their healthcare provider for monitoring of A1C, the clinically-accepted standard measure of overall blood sugar control. The A1CNow allows for fingerstick or venous blood draw testing and immediate, in-office A1C results as compared to more time-consuming lab analysis methods that require venous blood draws and additional follow up.

Studies show that rapid availability of A1C levels improves clinical decision-making and can significantly lower A1C levels. And, for every one-point reduction in A1C, the risk of serious complications is reduced by 40 per cent. To measure A1C using the A1CNow+ one basically needs five minutes and a five uL of fingerstick blood.

With an estimated 40.9 million people currently living with the condition, India leads the world in the prevalence of diabetes. In India's urban areas, approximately 12 per cent of adults live with diabetes, compared to only seven per cent in the United States (CDC data, 2005) and the United Kingdom. Inadequate control of diabetes can be associated with serious medical complications, including blindness, stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. In fact, diabetes is the second most common cause of blindness in India, surpassed only by cataracts. Additionally, a low-income Indian family with a diabetic adult may devote as much as 25 per cent of the family income to diabetes care.

"Point-of-care testing with the A1CNow+ lets the physician make on-the-spot treatment decisions and discuss them with his/ her diabetes patients face-to-face," said Rakesh Julka, Country Division Head.

A1C (HbA1c), also known as glycated hemoglobin, is a measure of a patient's blood sugar control over the last two to three months. According to Dr Vijay Vishwanathan of MV Diabetes Centre, Chennai, tight glycemic control sustained over time, as measured through HbA1c scores, slows the development of diabetic complications including heart, eye, kidney and nerve diseases and even a small reduction in HbA1c is important. It is used to assess the long-term glycemic status and to guide treatment of diabetes effectively. HBA1c testing should be performed routinely in all diabetic patients. The test provides feedback to both healthcare professionals and patients. The HbA1c value is an index of mean blood glucose levels over the past two to three months with significant changes in the HbA1c levels due to blood sugar variability over the last 30-40 days being detectable.

EH News Bureau