Physicians Move Beyond Traditional Tests to Better Manage Diabetes

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 30 million people in the United States suffer from the epidemic of diabetes.¹ However, nearly 40% of diabetes patients in "good control" have persistently elevated glucose levels (hyperglycemia) and significant glucose variability.² These patients are at high risk of developing serious complications, including cardiovascular events. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage and eye disease or blindness.³

As part of Diabetes Awareness Month, educators and clinical laboratories began a campaign to educate the public on an advanced diagnostic tool that provides a more complete picture of hyperglycemia. The GlycoMark test measures the 1,5-anhydroglucitol molecule in the blood, providing a clinically proven one- to two-week measure of glycemic excursions, often related to post prandial sugar spikes. This is in contrast to A1C, a test that reflects an average blood glucose levels over a two- to three-month time period.

Diabetes researcher Dr. Irl Hirsch, Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, explained that while A1C is helpful in tracking broad glucose targets, it only tells part of the story because it masks short term glycemic variability. "GlycoMark is a critical adjunct to A1C testing and presents a new paradigm for effective diabetes management."

GlycoMark has collaborated with 11 clinical laboratories throughout the country to help educate physicians and patients about the benefits of using A1C with GlycoMark in order to garner more information. As Medical Director of Clinical Practice for the Florida Hospital Diabetes Institute, Dr. Damon Tanton treats one of the largest patient populations of diabetes patients in the country. He is an active proponent of integrating GlycoMark into the standard of care. "A substantial level of variability can be hidden in an average," he explained. "Having GlycoMark allows us to provide more refined, individualized care. Having this test result enables my team to fine tune its treatment plan. It is a fantastic supplement to the A1C."

The ability to access critical information reflective of the prior two weeks is another advantage of the test, according to Dr. Tanton. "Because GlycoMark is a two-week test as opposed to a three-month average, we have much more current data. This allows us to make more relevant adjustments and tailor regimens more quickly."

Outreach programs such as GlycoMark's showcases the importance of assessing glucose peaks in a patient's blood in addition to knowing an A1C average. 2014 AADE Diabetes Educator of the Year Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, said GlycoMark provides additional context to help manage post-prandial sugar peaks. "Short of wearing a continuous blood glucose monitor, GlycoMark is the best tool we have of measuring glycemic variability," he said. "Patients may be achieving a good A1C, but having big spikes after meals and then lows later on, so we have to look in more detail about their therapy and what's really taking place."

About GlycoMark
GlycoMark, Inc. is a joint venture of Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (New York, NY), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), and Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). The GlycoMark test is an FDA-cleared for intermediate monitoring of glucose control in people with diabetes. The GlycoMark test is not intended to diagnose any specific diabetes state or disease. Physicians should use their clinical judgment when using the GlycoMark test. For more information, visit www.GlycoMark.com.

SOURCE GlycoMark