On December 29, 2009, the ADA revised its clinical recommendations related to the diagnosis of diabetes to promote the use of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a quick and easy test for diagnosis, which has the potential to reduce the number of undiagnosed patients and to better distinguish patients with prediabetes. The new recommendation (guideline) was published in the December 29th issue of Diabetes Care’s January supplement. ”We believe that because fasting is not required, the use of HbA1c will allow more people to be screened for type 2 diabetes, which in turn has the potential to reduce the number of people who are undiagnosed but have developed this potentially life-threatening chronic disease,” said ADA President Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, in a news release. “In addition, early detection can have a tremendous impact on a person’s quality of life. In fact, unlike many chronic diseases, type 2 diabetes can be prevented with blood glucose control at pre-diabetic levels and lifestyle changes.” The HbA1c test, a test that detects average blood glucose levels over multiple to three months, was previously used only to assess diabetes control. According to the (current) revised evidence-based guidelines, an HbA1c level below 5% indicates non-diabetes, an HbA1c level between 5.7% and 6.5% indicates pre-diabetes, and an HbA1c greater than or equal to 6.5% indicates the development of diabetes. For the majority of diabetic patients, the ADA recommends a goal of no more than 7% HbA1c for better control of diabetes. Achieving this goal is expected to improve the prevention of serious diabetes-related chronic complications, including nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and gum disease. Unlike fasting plasma glucose testing and oral glucose tolerance testing, HbA1c testing does not require an overnight fast. Therefore, the HbA1c test, a single non-fasting blood test, may improve patient compliance.