In the first-ever American College of Endocrinology consensus conference, world diabetes experts have lowered the target HbA1c to 6.5% as an indicator of glucose control. People without diabetes have A1c values under 6%.

The group also called for lower target blood glucose levels: 110 mg/dL before meals, and 140 mg/dL two hours after eating.

Because diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, the panel said, people in high-risk groups should be screened for the disease at the age of 30; 45 was the previous recommendation. That’s because too many people are being diagnosed after damage has already been done. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of diabetes has increased 76% during the 1990s among those aged 30 to 39; it increased 33% in the general population.

It is important to note that these guidelines have been suggested by one organization and have not been adopted by other diabetes organizations such as the ADA or NIH. Until the diabetes community has time to consider these suggestions in detail, people with diabetes and their healthcare teams should continue to utilize existing guidelines and their own individual targets.

Related information More about HbA1c