HbA1c Levels May Overestimate Average Glucose Concentration In Black Patients, Compared With White Patients

reports the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test “used to diagnose and monitor diabetes may vary in accuracy based on...race and other factors, potentially influencing how aggressively” diabetes is monitored and treated, research suggests. In fact, individuals “of African, Mediterranean or Southeast Asian descent are particularly at risk of interference, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.” The findings, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, suggest that “hemoglobin A1c levels can overestimate the average glucose concentration in black patients, compared with white patients.” http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/12/health/diabetes-sugar-level-racial-differences-study/index.html