APRN: Diagnosing Diabetes with A1C

This activity is co-provided by American Nurses Association (provider) and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (co-provider).

 

Overview:

The ADA recently endorsed assessing the level of a patient's glycated hemoglobin A1C (A1C) as a method for diagnosing diabetes and discussed the value in estimated average glucose (eAG), hemoglobin variants, and the variability of lab testing versus point-of-care (POC) devices. 
APRN should understand the meaning of the test values as well as the accuracy level of the tests to make appropriate decisions when interpreting A1C as a diagnostic tool and indicator of glycemic control. As successful glycemic control is achieved in only about one third of all patients. APRN are in a key position to use the approved testing to facilitate an increase in successful treatment, which would lead to a reduction in cost and health burden of both microvascular and macrovascular diabetes-related complications. This would reduce preventable complications, injury, and premature death while improving the health and quality of life for individuals.

Purpose/Goal: To provide the APRN with information about the diagnosis and management of diabetes and the use of glycemic markers.


Objectives:

1. Outline the recommendations from selected professional organizations for diagnosing and treating diabetes.
2. Discuss the interpretation of glycemic markers in glycemic control.


Author:

Alethea N. Hill PhDc, MSN, RN, ANP-BC; Susan J. Appel PhD, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FNP-BC

The planners and author(s) of this continuing nursing education activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial companies pertaining to this activity.


Contact Hours: 2.4

Expiration Date: 12/31/2014

 

Member Price: $40.00
Non-Member Price: $60.00

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