"New research suggests that a single blood test could confirm type  diabetes saving patients time and health care costs. Currently its recommended that a blood test focused on elevated fasting levels of blood sugar glucose or a blood component called glycated hemoglobin HbAc be confirmed with a second blood test at a followup visit. But taking the test twice takes up time and money and could still result in missed diagnoses said a team from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. In the new study researchers led by Hopkins epidemiologist Elizabeth Selvin looked at data on more than  people in a longrunning U.S. heart disease study. The study began in the s and along the way has recorded valuable data from participants including diabetes test data. Selvins group analyzed that data and reported that a positive result for glucose and HbAc from just a single blood sample can confirm type  diabetes. This could change care potentially allowing a major simplification of current clinical practice guidelines Selvin said in a university news release. Doctors are already doing these glucose and HbAc tests together  if a patient is obese for example and has other risk factors for diabetes the physician is likely to order tests for both glucose and HbAc from a single blood sample. Its just that the guidelines dont clearly let you use the tests from that one blood sample to make the initial diabetes diagnosis she explained. Diabetes is treatable but about  million Americans with the disease dont know they have it. Im hoping that these results will lead to a change in the clinical guidelines when they are revised in early  which could make identifying diabetes a lot more efficient in many cases Selvin said. Diabetes experts welcomed the findings. Diabetes moves fast and the cost of diabetes has increased more than  percent since  noted Dr. Robert Courgi. The new study helps us move quicker to treat diabetes he said. By diagnosing diabetes quicker we can improve outcomes said Courgi an endocrinologist at Northwell Healths Southside Hospital in Bay Shore N.Y. The current standard is to delay diagnosis with repeat office visits and blood work. Now we can educate the patient sooner and start treatment earlier to prevent complications of diabetes such as heart attack dialysis and amputations. Dr. Gerald Bernstein coordinates the Friedman Diabetes Program at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He agreed that quicker diagnosis could mean better treatment and outcomes for patients. The CDC reports that greater than  percent of the U.S. population has either clinical diabetes or prediabetes Bernstein noted. Given these numbers any abnormality of glucose should be regarded as sufficient reason to start preventative treatment with an education program lifestyle change and firstline medication such as metformin. According to Bernstein if only one diagnostic test were needed this would mean that a followup visit would be a look at the treatment benefits  rather than a confirmation of an abnormal glucose. The study was published June  in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. More information The American Diabetes Association has more on type  diabetes http SOURCES Robert Courgi M.D. endocrinologist Northwell Healths Southside Hospital Bay Shore N.Y. Gerald Bernstein M.D. endocrinologist and coordinator Friedman Diabetes Program Lenox Hill Hospital New York City Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health news release June"