DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on
From 1 June 2009,
HbA1c (long term blood glucose levels) in all people with diabetes
will be measured in millimoles per mol as well as by percentage,
the Department of Health said today.
The UK is responding to the International Federation of Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) call for all countries to
adopt the same measurement to make it easier to compare HbA1c
results between laboratories throughout the UK and worldwide.
Both the old and the new measurements will be given for the first
two years of the change, until 31 May 2011 when people with
diabetes will receive their HbA1c measurement only in millimoles
per mol.
Dr. Rowan Hillson MBE, National Clinical Director for Diabetes, said,
"It is really important that people with diabetes keep their
blood glucose levels under good control. Controlling the glucose
in a way that is safe and appropriate for each person reduces the
risk of diabetic tissue damage. People with diabetes need HbA1c
blood tests to check their glucose is under good control. This
necessary change in the way that HbA1c is reported is being
introduced in a way that allows plenty of time for us all to get
used to it."
Simon O'Neill Director of Care and Policy at Diabetes UK said:
"Diabetes UK welcomes this change to the way HbA1c results
are reported
and we believe that this will have the additional
benefit of making
comparing results from international
laboratories and research trials
easier, as the new system
will be adopted worldwide.
"For a period of 2 years people with diabetes will get their
results in
both percentage and millimoles per mol which will
help them
get used to the new system. In addition, Diabetes UK
has designed a
convenient online HbA1c converter tool for
people with diabetes to help
them through the transition. To
use the calculator and for more general
information on the
changes and what they mean, people can visit
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/HbA1c."
Notes to editors:
1. HbA1c conversion table
Current HbA1c measure(%) New HbA1c measure (mmol/mol)
6.0 42 6.5 48
7.0 53 7.5 59
8.0 64 9.0 75
2. People with diabetes have higher blood glucose levels than
normal. This can cause thirst, frequent urination, tiredness and
weight loss. Over a long term, high glucose levels can cause
complications such as kidney damage.
3. Glucose lowering measures form an important part of the
treatment of diabetes. They include healthy eating, regular
exercise and tablets and/or insulin treatment. This treatment
must be tailored to the needs of each individual person with
diabetes so it is safe and appropriate for him or her.
4. The effects of treatment on long term glucose control are
monitored by the HbA1c blood test. HbA1c gives a measure of how
high or low the blood glucose has been over the previous 2-3
months. Reducing blood glucose levels safely towards the levels
found in people without diabetes can reduce the risk of diabetic
complications. Each person with diabetes must agree their own
target HbA1c with their doctor.
5. The National Diabetes Audit indicates that HbA1c levels in
England have improved over the past three years as shown by the
table below:
Treatment Targets Percentage Achieved
National Number of NICE NICE NICE NICE Diastolic
Values Registrations HbA1c HbA1c Cholesterol <=75 and
<6.5% <=7.5% <5.0 mmol/l Systolic <=135
mm Hg
2003-2004 195001 21.25 53.28 64.62 21.93
2004-2005 417175 21.08 56.16 71.49 24.93
2005-2006 559215 22.54 58.37 76.2 27.35
2006-2007 1181431 25.47 62.58 79.71 29.33