Introduction
Diabetes risk is a major concern amongst Indian households. With India being termed as the “diabetes capital of the world” [1], taking the right blood test on a routine basis to understand your diabetes risk is necessary. Furthermore, anyone over the age of 45, along with factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, poor sleep and stress, is also at a high risk of diabetes. However, there are several tests available when looking to understand one’s sugar levels and risks. This includes the measurements of HbA1C and blood sugar. In this article, the parameters of each test are explained and how they should be understood in relation to diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
In simple terms, diabetes is a condition of one’s blood glucose (sugar) levels being too high. This can happen either because the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin or due to the inability to use insulin properly. Essentially, insulin is a hormone from the pancreas. Insulin helps glucose enter the cells of the body for energy. However, without enough insulin, glucose can build up in the blood. High blood sugar can impact one’s heart, eyes, kidneys and blood vessels. This is why understanding one’s risk of diabetes and regular measurement of the blood sugar level are necessary. Getting the right blood test to understand your risk of diabetes can help you make necessary lifestyle changes or get treatment.
How is Diabetes Diagnosed?
Diabetes, as well as the risk of pre-diabetes, is diagnosed using the method of blood tests. There are several types of blood sample tests that can be taken to assess the blood glucose levels of a person. This includes the Haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test, fasting plasma glucose test, oral glucose tolerance test, and random blood sugar test. A lot of these tests may require overnight fasting.
MedCab’s pathology services offer all of these tests at the convenience of your home. With various package deals, get your blood sugar levels tested at budget prices at the time and location of your choosing. MedCab’s sample collection professional will reach your location and collect the blood sample for the diabetes test with utmost precautions. Get secure and fast results for your diabetes test with MedCab.
Which Blood Test is More Accurate for Diabetes?
With a range of diabetes tests, understanding which test can accurately help in the assessment of diabetes or the risk of diabetes is important. The HbA1C test results will show the percentage of haemoglobin in your red blood cells that is coated with sugar. In contrast, the blood sugar tests, such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), will showcase the blood glucose levels at any specific time after a period of fasting.
To understand the long-term diabetes risk, the HbA1C test is better due to the following reasons –
- The HbA1C diabetes test provides an overview of one’s long-term risk. This is because it measures the average blood glucose level of the person over a timeline of the past 2 to 3 months. However, blood sugar tests, like a fasting plasma glucose test or random plasma glucose test, will only be able to provide an overview of the blood sugar levels at a specific moment in time.
- The HbA1C test can predict the risk of diabetes complications in the long run. The test is a better indicator of an individual’s chronic high blood sugar as it measures the glucose attached to the haemoglobin in red blood cells. As these blood cells have a lifespan of approximately three months, the test provides an overview of a longer time frame.
- The HbA1C test is not impacted by recent eating, illness, or stress. In contrast, the blood sugar tests can be impacted by acute illness, stress, or recent food intake.
- While the HbA1C test may be a better indicator of the long-term risk of diabetes, both diabetes tests are important in the management of diabetes. The blood sugar diabetes tests can help in the assessment of the current levels of blood sugar levels. This helps with real-time management of diabetes and provides immediate feedback of how one’s activities and lifestyle are affecting their blood sugar. Thus, both the blood tests can help with diabetes management.
Management of Diabetes (and Pre-Diabetes)
After the results of the blood tests and understanding the importance of each blood test, it is also important to take relevant steps to manage one’s diabetes or the risk of diabetes. Some ways for the management of diabetes are listed below –
- Medications – For diabetic individuals, insulin therapy may be important. Particularly for individuals with type 1 diabetes, lifelong therapy of insulin is important. In the case of type 2 diabetes, a number of oral and injectable medications may be used.
- Regular Monitoring of Blood Sugar – Regular monitoring of one’s blood sugar level can be done by booking blood tests with a pathology lab, such as MedCab. One can also monitor the levels at home using a blood glucose meter. This may be important for the management of treatment plans.
- Regular Physical Activity – This includes indulging in moderate-intensity exercises, such as brisk walking and strength training. Good physical activity can also help reduce the risk of diabetes in pre-diabetic individuals.
- Eating Habits – Eating whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables is important. Also, refined carbohydrates and saturated fats should be avoided by pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals.
- Sleeping Well – Getting 7-8 hours of regular daily sleep is important, so that mood, energy levels and blood glucose levels can be maintained.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a serious and common disease in India. However, with regular blood testing and lifestyle management, one can reduce their risk of getting diabetes. Understanding the right blood test for diabetes is important for everyone. Consider using rapid sample collection services, such as MedCab, for efficient and correct reports of Diabetes. MedCab also offers convenient testing from the comfort of your home, while providing various packages related to diabetes testing along with accurate results. Book your diabetes blood sample test today and take a step in protecting your health.
References
Kumar A, Goel MK, Jain RB, Khanna P, Chaudhary V. India towards diabetes control: Key issues. Australas Med J. 2013 Oct 31;6(10):524-31. doi: 10.4066/AMJ.2013.1791. PMID: 24223071; PMCID: PMC3821052. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3821052/
