Why HbA1c Test May Give Wrong Results In Indians: The HbA1c test, which was till now considered the most reliable test for checking diabetes, can sometimes give wrong reports for Indian people. New research has revealed that many common blood related problems alter the results of this test, due to which the disease is not detected at the right time. This is the reason why doctors are now advising to conduct several tests simultaneously instead of relying on just one test.
Why is there a difference between the report and the body?
According to TOI report, Dr. Anoop Mishra, endocrinologist and diabetes specialist at Fortis C-Doc Center for Excellence, New Delhi, came across a case which forced even the doctors to think. The HbA1c level of a 45-year-old tribal patient from Madhya Pradesh was 5.8 percent. This is usually considered prediabetes, but his fasting blood sugar was consistently high and early signs of diabetic retinopathy were also beginning to appear in his eyes. That means the report was saying something else and the body was indicating something else.
Lack of these things can affect the report
After this, Dr. Anoop Mishra, Dr. Shambo Samrat Samajdar, Dr. Shashank R. Joshi and Dr. Naval K. Vikram did a research together, which was published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia. It revealed that in India and South Asia, anemia, thalassemia, G6PD deficiency and other blood-related diseases can make the HbA1c report inaccurate.
How does the report change?
Actually, the HbA1c test gives an idea of the average blood sugar of the last three months. But if the age of red blood cells changes then the report also changes. Iron deficiency anemia is very common in India and can lead to higher HbA1c. In conditions like G6PD deficiency, red blood cells break down quickly, causing HbA1c to appear low, while actual blood sugar may be high.
What needs to be checked?
Dr. Anup Mishra says that HbA1c is made from hemoglobin, hence any disease that affects hemoglobin can spoil the accuracy of this test. He clearly said that it is not right to depend only on HbA1C for diagnosing diabetes in Indians. Instead, it is necessary to use methods like oral glucose tolerance test, regular blood sugar testing and continuous glucose monitoring if needed.
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People are becoming victims at young age in India
Dr. Nishant Raizada, head of the endocrinology department of Amrita Hospital, also believes that people in India are becoming victims of diabetes at young age and underweight. In such a situation, proper investigation becomes very important. Research also revealed that in a study conducted in South India, oral glucose tolerance test detected prediabetes in about 88 percent of people, while HbA1c could detect only 45 percent of the cases. Experts say that in the coming time, the treatment of diabetes will move towards precision medicine, where the treatment will be decided after looking at the patient’s body, diet, genetics and lifestyle and not just a report. However, the biggest challenge is that such advanced tests are not yet within the reach of every common man.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.
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