NEW TEST EVERY PATIENT SHOULD HAVE

DIABETES is diagnosed in a number of ways, but traditionally this has been with a urine or blood test to check glucose levels.

The HbA1c blood test is a newer, more accurate test which can be used to diagnose the condition, though it’s more commonly given to monitor people already diagnosed with type 2 as it gives a picture of their blood sugar levels over 12 weeks.

When the body processes sugar, glucose in the bloodstream naturally sticks to a protein in red blood cells called haemoglobin, and the HbA1c test checks on how much of the haemoglobin has been ‘glycated’ in this way. The more glycated the haemoglobin, the higher blood sugar has been.

As red blood cells survive for eight to 12 weeks in the body before renewing, the test results give doctors a picture of a patient’s blood sugar levels over time.

A normal reading is 42; a reading of 48 means the patient has diabetes. The charity Diabetes UK says everyone in the UK with diabetes should be offered an HbA1c test at least once a year.