A recent report from Abbott Korea has shown that six out of 10 diabetes patients here experience difficulties receiving glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) tests.

Abbott Korea said that Afinion2, its rapid diagnostic device, can help improve the treatment of diabetic patients who want to manage their HbA1C levels appropriately. (Abbott Korea)

HbA1C management is an essential test to prevent complications in diabetic patients, and the Korean Diabetes Association recommends patients to measure their HbA1C level every two to three months.

Patients usually visit clinics to check their HbA1C, draw blood from their veins in the arm, and send the sample to an external laboratory. The process takes a few days for the patient to receive results and is inconvenient for patients as they have to revisit the clinic to check their results. This has led some diabetic patients to neglect the appropriate management of their HbA1C levels.

Abbot Korea’s survey confirmed a similar trend. Among 500 local diabetes patients who took part in the opinion poll, 37.6 percent answered that they did not know their target HbA1C levels.

To a multiple-reply question of why the respondents did not know their HbA1C levels, 55 percent said that it is difficult to go to the hospital for the HbA1C test, 49 percent answered that it was burdensome for them to take blood for the HbA1C test, and 34 percent replied that the testing process takes too long a time.

The survey also showed that 92 percent of respondents answered that they would be more willing to take the test if a rapid diagnostic platform is introduced. Similarly, 89 percent said that if rapid diagnostic testing is introduced, they will perform glycated hemoglobin tests more frequently to manage diabetes actively.

Citing such results, Abbott Korea claimed that Afinion2, its rapid diagnostic device for testing HbA1C, can be a solution for the patients.

“Using the test device, patients can check their HbA1C level at the treatment site within five minutes after taking a drop of blood from their fingertips,” the company said. “Afterward, patients can immediately consult a specialist to check their condition and receive the prescriptions that they need.”

Huh Jeong-sun, head of Abbott Korea’s Cardiometabolic Division, said, “Diabetes is a typical underlying disease in Korea, a chronic ailment that causes various complications.”

It is most important to follow the treatments suggested by physicians and to receive regular follow-up tests according to medical guidelines. Huh stressed that the company’s rapid diagnostic testing device is an innovative technology that can provide patients with quick test results and convenience.

It also helps physicians conduct quick and accurate tests to confirm the patient’s HbA1C, cholesterol, and kidney function in their office, Huh added.

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