Diabetes is a disease that affects millions, and can even be fatal if left untreated. Properly diagnosing it is critical to not just allow doctors and patients to begin treatment, but also to do so early enough to avoid patients suffering irreversible damage to their health. Standard testing for diabetes involves taking blood and examining the blood sugar level found in the sample.
A1c testing has generally only been done when doctors suspect diabetes may be present. Sometimes that’s too late, and damage has already been sustained. Researchers looked at adding blood sugar testing to the standard medical exam, as a way to make it part of the routine checkup process. While there can be physical symptoms and patient profiles that are more likely to have diabetes, not everyone can be seen with just the eye or a simple review of their lifestyle factors. The testing can confirm, conclusively, whether or not they have diabetes, or are at risk for it.
A1c over 6.5 % = Diabetes
A1c 5.9% to 6.4% = 8 times more likely to develop diabetes in the next 4 years.
A1c 5.7% to 5.9% – twice as likely to develop diabetes than those with lower A1c results.
Ten percent of the world’s population has diabetes. Medication can help manage the disease, but the most effective way to not only treat it, but also prevent or even cure it, is with lifestyle changes that increase exercise and change the dietary habits of the patient.
Early detection can help those who have diabetes, or might get it, do better with early treatment. #HealthStatus
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Key Points:
- 1Researchers think that by using someone’s blood type, they can predict whether the person will get diabetes.
- 2People with a high A1c reading got diabetes 2x more than people who did not.
- 3By assessing risk prior to developing the disease, many people can take steps to remain healthy.
