The American Diabetes Association due to its effectiveness is encouraging a prominent role for the hemoglobin A1C blood test. This test helps diagnosing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

The A1C blood test has been used since long now and for previous two to three months measures blood sugar levels.

Dr Richard Bergenstal, president-elect of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), said, “We’ve added another test that can make it easier to find out if you have diabetes.”

He added that the A1C is easier and convenient because it can be done without fasting however, it is not necessary that it would prove more superior to fasting blood sugar tests and the oral glucose tolerance test, the other methods used to detect type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

People who do not have diabetes have an A1C level of less than five per cent.

Rather than a point-of-care A1C test Bergenstal said the ADA recommends that A1C levels should be measured using a central lab.

The new guidelines will be published in the January issue of Diabetes Care.