Comprehensive Diabetes Care—HbA1c Testing

Measure Definition

The Comprehensive Diabetes Care—HbA1c Testing measure reports the percentage of members 18 through 75 years of age with diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) who had one or more HbA1c test(s) conducted within the last year.

Importance

Blood tests to measure HbA1c (A1c) levels (glycosylated hemoglobin levels) are critical for diabetics. Diabetics with a high A1c level are at an increased risk of

• Eye disease.
• Heart disease.
• Kidney disease.
• Nerve damage.
• Stroke.

These risks increase if A1c levels are not controlled.72 The reduction of A1c level by 1 percent, decreases the risk of

• Heart failure by 16 percent.
• Heart attack by 14 percent.
• Stroke by 12 percent.
• Diabetes-related death by 21 percent.
• Death from all causes by 14 percent.
• Amputation by 43 percent.
• Small blood vessel disease by 37 percent.

To see how Managed Care reported on Comprehensive Diabetes Care—HbA1c Testing, click here