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Why HbA1c Test May Give Wrong Results In Indians: The HbA1c test, which till now was 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. Anup 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, if necessary, continuous glucose monitoring.

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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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Why HbA1c Test May Be Inaccurate In India: The HbA1c test most commonly used to diagnose and monitor diabetes is not always providing accurate results for millions of people in India. This has come to light in a new research published in the prestigious medical journal Lancet Regional Health- Southeast Asia. According to the study, in countries like India where anemia and blood-related diseases are common, relying solely on HbA1c can be misleading.

No accurate information in these cases

The HbA1c test measures the average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. Generally, a level less than 5.7 percent is considered normal, 5.7 percent to 6.4 percent is considered prediabetes, and 6.5 percent or more is considered diabetes. But research has shown that this test can give wrong results in people who have anemia, genetic disorders related to hemoglobin or deficiency of G6PD enzyme.

Professor Anoop Mishra, who is leading this study and Chairman of Fortis C-Doc Center of Excellence for Diabetes, says that HbA1c completely depends on hemoglobin. In such a situation, if the amount, structure or age of hemoglobin is affected, then the correct estimation of blood sugar cannot be done. He warned that relying only on HbA1c may lead to late diagnosis of diabetes in some patients, while others may also be misdiagnosed.

In many parts of the country, 50 percent of the population is iron deficient.

According to study co-author Dr. Shashank Joshi, problems related to red blood cells can affect HbA1c results even in urban hospitals. However, in rural and tribal areas, where anemia is very common, this problem becomes more serious. Research has also shown that in many parts of India, more than 50 percent of the population is suffering from iron deficiency, which can worsen HbA1c readings. In some cases, diabetes may be diagnosed up to four years late in men with G6PD deficiency, increasing the risk of complications.

What suggestions do experts give?

Experts suggest that in countries like India, HbA1c should not be used alone but in combination with other tests to detect diabetes. These include oral glucose tolerance test, regular monitoring of blood glucose, and basic blood tests. In severe cases, options like CGM and fructosamine may also be useful. This study emphasizes that HbA1c is no longer the ‘gold standard’ in anemia-affected populations and it is necessary to adopt a screening method according to the circumstances for the correct diagnosis of diabetes.

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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.

Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator