Test predicts blood sugar levels in diabetics

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The average daily risk range, a measure computed from an individual's blood sugar readings, is useful in predicting both low and high blood sugar levels, according to a report in the journal Diabetes Care.

Maintaining well-controlled blood sugar levels is important, and there is a need for measures that accurately predict both high and low levels, the authors note.

Dr. Boris P. Kovatchev, from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, and colleagues created the average daily risk range after analyzing blood sugar data from 39 type 1 and 31 type 2 diabetics.

In their study, the team gives the formulas for computing the average daily risk range from 2 to 4 weeks of self-monitored blood sugar data, with readings obtained at least 3 times daily.

The average daily risk range was then tested in a group of 254 type 1 and 81 type 2 diabetics. In this group, the average daily risk range and standard predictive measures, such as the daily blood glucose range, were tested for their ability to predict blood glucose variability in the next 3 months.

The authors found that the average daily risk range was better than the other measures in predicting both high and low blood sugar levels.

Across the average daily risk range risk categories (low, moderate, and high), the likelihood of low and high blood sugar levels rose by 6-fold and 3.5-fold, respectively.

"As a measure of (blood sugar) variability that could be calculated frequently and tracked over time, the average daily risk range" may provide useful information to patients and their physicians, the authors state. Additional research is needed to determine if average daily risk range determination and feedback actually translates into improved control of blood sugar levels, they add.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, November 2006.