Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

What is the recommended frequency of A1C testing for patients with stable diabetes management?

1. Every 3 months

2. Every 6 months

3. Once a year

4. Every 2 years

The correct answer is: Once a year

The recommended frequency of A1C testing for patients with stable diabetes management is once a year. This guideline reflects the standard practice for individuals whose diabetes is well-controlled and stable, meaning their blood glucose levels are consistently within the target range and there haven’t been significant changes in their treatment regimen or health status. Annual testing is sufficient for monitoring long-term glucose control in these patients while reducing unnecessary laboratory visits and costs. It is important for healthcare providers to regularly evaluate patients’ overall diabetes care and education needs, but when stability is present, yearly A1C checks help ensure that patients receive adequate oversight without overburdening them with frequent testing. In contrast, more frequent testing, such as every 3 months or every 6 months, is typically reserved for patients whose diabetes is not well-controlled or those who are undergoing treatment changes. Testing every 2 years is generally not sufficient for monitoring purposes as it may miss trends in glucose levels that could require timely intervention.