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Regular blood testing may help individuals avoid diabetes

Category: Diabetes

Providing regular HbA1c testing to patients may result in a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of diabetes, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are reaching epidemic proportions. The researchers said that up to one third of the U.S. population has pre-diabetes, which is characterized by growing insulin resistance. However, the majority don't know it. This stops them from making lifestyle changes that could enable them to avoid the condition.

However, after providing HbA1c testing to 1,750 adults, researchers from Indiana University found that the procedure accurately predicted an individual's diabetes risk. This allowed them to improve their diet and get more exercise, which has been shown to drastically reduce the chances of developing the condition.

"If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, or multiple other risk factors such as obesity, are over the age of 45, had a past episode of diabetes during pregnancy, or have a family history of the disease, your physician can administer a simple blood test which will show if you are pre-diabetic," said Ronald Ackerman, the study's lead author.