New diagnostic test for diabetes OHIO (WOUB) - Here's a story that will be of interest to the many diabetes patients in our region: experts are recommending a switch to a new kind of diagnostic test for the disease.

It's a test that doesn't require fasting and Doctor Frank Schwartz of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine says that makes it more useful to doctors and more convenient for patients.

Schwartz says the new test will help with earlier detection of diabetes.

It's called the hemoglobin a1c assay.

In the past it's been used to monitor if diabetes treatment is working.

Now, however, an international committee says the test's long-term measurement of chronic blood sugar control problems provides a better diagnosis than current, so-called "snapshot" tests. © Copyright 2012, WOUB