An A1C test allows doctors to examine glucose levels over a two-to three-month period and can be a useful tool in judging the effectiveness of a treatment plan. Diabetics used to depend only on urine tests or daily finger sticks to measure their blood sugars.
The formal economy of this region depends on agricultural exports. For example, Ethiopia is a major coffee exporter (80% of its total exports) and Somalia is a major banana and livestock exporter (roughly half of its total exports). The majority of the economy of the Horn of Africa is informal.
With South Africa s economy built on gold and diamond mining, the sector is an important foreign exchange earner, with gold accounting for more than one-third of exports. In 2009, the country s diamond industry was the fourth largest in the world.South Africa is also a major producer of coal, manganese and chrome. Given its history and mineral wealth, it is no surprise that the country s mining companies are key players in the global industry.outh Africa s mineral reserves are well-mapped, but despite having the world s largest in situ value of mineral resources, the country only accounts for 3% of total greenfield mining projects planned for the next decade.