WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Two thirds of the 18 million Americans with Type 2 diabetes do not have their blood sugar undercontrol and risk early death from the disease's complications including stroke, heart attack and kidney failure, showed a report released Wednesday.

    A survey during 2003 and 2004 on 157,000 Type 2 diabetics in the United States found 67 percent of the patients did not have an adequate level of A1C, a blood sugar reading. The survey was sponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists(AACE) and the American College of Endocrinologists.

    The A1C test indicates average blood sugar level over the past two months. A normal A1C level is 5, and an A1C level beyond 6.5 indicates that the blood sugar is generally not under good control.

    A separate AACE-commissioned survey of 501 adults with diabetes also showed that 84 percent believed they were doing a good job of controlling their blood sugar, and 61 percent did not know what the A1C test is.

    Type 2 diabetes is adult-onset and comes as a result of a gradual loss of the body's ability to use insulin, which is a hormone responsible for converting blood sugar into energy. The disease can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, blindness and amputations of feet and legs.

    Diabetes is the sixth-leading killer in the United States. The disease can be prevented and controlled through healthy diet and exercise. Serious cases also need medications for control. Expertson Wednesday also advised patients to get well informed of their A1C levels to strictly monitor their blood sugar. Enditem