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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : May 21, 2014 1:01 PM IST
A simple blood test can reveal an individual's risk of developing type-2 diabetes much earlier - helping doctors provide earlier diagnosis and treatment. Researchers at Tel Aviv University's Sackler faculty of medicine found that 'A1c' test - performed to diagnose type-2 diabetes - can also be used at a much earlier stage to screen for the disease in high-risk population, like overweight patients.
'We were actually able to quantify how risk increases with A1c levels. This could allow doctors to make more informed decisions regarding diabetes prevention,' informed Nataly Lerner of Tel Aviv University. To evaluate the A1c test's ability to screen for diabetes in high-risk patients, the researchers analysed the medical history of over 10,000 patients. Read about the natural methods to keep diabetes at bay.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.
They found that overall, 22.5 percent of the patients developed diabetes within five to eight years. Every 0.5 percent increase in A1c levels up to 7 percent doubled the patients' risk of developing diabetes. Obesity also doubled patients' risk of developing diabetes, said the study published in the European Journal of General Practice. 'The study provides compelling new evidence that the A1c test can accurately gauge risk at an earlier stage than is currently recognised,' said Lerner. Read how diabetes is not a blood sugar disease it is a vascular disorder', says expert.
In some cases, lifestyle changes or medication could head off the disease which is difficult or impossible to cure once developed, added the study. In healthy people, glucose is absorbed from the blood for use by various tissues. But the cells of people with type-2 diabetes are resistant to insulin that is produced by the pancreas and is central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Read about the 10 resolutions every diabetic should take.
What is the HbA1c test?
The WHO estimates that nearly 30 million people suffer from diabetes world over, and the numbers are likely to double by the year 2030. With this statistic looming over us, it is only prudent to know about one important test that all diabetics should get once every six months HbA1c.
Also known as the Haemoglobin A1c, it is a blood test that tells you and your doctor how well your diabetes is managed over time. It is aimed at measuring your average blood sugar levels, and to see if it has stayed within the required range.
The test works by measuring the amount of glucose that gets attached to your red blood cells. When a glucose molecule gets attached to a red blood cell, the cell is said to be 'glycated'. This means that the higher the amount of glucose that gets attached to the cells, the lesser the amount of oxygen the cells can transport to your body and tissues. The average percentage of glycoslated cells directly translates to the HbA1c reading. The test is performed like any other blood test and does not require the patient to fast. Read about why keeping your blood sugar levels in check is so essential.
According to our expert Dr Rajiv Kovil, renowned diabetologist, 'A diabetic should get his/her HbA1c levels tested every six months, and the level should be below 7% to avoid any further complications.'
A normal person's HbA1c level is usually below 5%, but in a diabetic this level is increased because of the amount of glucose in their blood. An average above 7% is an alarm that you are more susceptible to diabetes related complications. Uncontrolled diabetes can raise the risk of you developing eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy by 76%, Kidney disease by 50% and nerve damage by 60%*.
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