About
Diabetes is classified under 2 main types:
- Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) is characterized by insufficient insulin production.
- Type 2 diabetes (formerly known as non-insulin-dependent or adult diabetes) results from the body’s inadequate use of insulin. It is often the result of excess weight and physical inactivity.
Additionally
- Gestational diabetes (GDM) is the high blood sugar that is detected during pregnancy.
Individuals with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a number of serious health problems. Consistently high blood glucose levels can lead to irreversible complications affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and teeth. In addition, people with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing infections.
Diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputation.
Approximately 463 million adults (between 20-79 years of age) are living with diabetes; by 2045 this will rise to 700 million(1).
Diagnosis
Diabetes is identified by testing the blood sugar. This is achieved by measuring the concentration of the glucose by different analytical tests: mainly FPG (Fasting Plasma Glucose) and OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance test) or by measuring a specific fraction of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from patient whole blood sampling.
Hb A1c, is defined as the hemoglobin A which is irreversibly glycated at one or both N-terminal valines of the beta chain. It is a widely used biomarker in diabetes management, has a greater pre-analytical stability compared to glucose and does not require the patient to fast prior to testing. It also provides information on the monitoring of long-term glycemic control and an assessment of the risk of developing complications.
Furthermore HbA1c is a standardized parameter by the IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry) in harmony with the NGSP network.
Sebia's Expertise
Capillary electrophoresis is the next generation separation method that provides clear-cut and precise separation of the Hb A1c fraction with no altered results in the presence of the most frequent interferences (labile A1c, carbamylated Hb, Hb F, heterozygous S, C, D and E). The high-resolution power of the method allows the incidental detection of homozygous hemoglobin variants (sickle cell disease…) preventing HbA1c reporting in the absence of Hb A.
Featured resources on Diabetes diagnosis
See all resourcesEurA1c trial
The EurA1c trial, organized yearly, investigates the performance of HbA1c assays across countries and manufacturers.
The impact of red blood cell lifespan on HbA1c measurement
This article reminds the reader of the importance of detecting the Hb variants when measuring HbA1c for the labs and clinicians to better interpret the results and to ensure optimal management of the diabetic patient.
Effects of hemoglobin C, D, E and S traits on measurements of hemoglobin A1c by twelve methods
Hemoglobin C, D Punjab, E or S trait can interfere with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) results depending on the method of analysis used. Therefore, it is important to know the limitations of the method used for HbA1c determination.
HbA1c – The Hidden Factors
HbA1c is routinely used in the clinical laboratory to diagnose and monitor diabetes mellitus. Many methods have been standardized to provide precise and accurate results for normal patients. For the other common Hb variants, most of the methods are now relatively free of analytical interference.
Performance of HbA1c Assays in relation to clinical requirements for its use in diabetes
Educational Webinar with Dr. Cas WEYKAMP
Clinical and Operational Aspects of Measuring Hemoglobin A1c by Capillary Electrophoresis
Educational Webinar with David G. Grenache, PhD, D(ABCC)
Chief Scientific Officer, TriCore Reference Laboratories
Sebia USA Learning Series
Sebia specializes in providing testing solutions for a range of diseases, including Diabetes and Multiple Myeloma. Learn about the impact of these diseases and the medical solutions available.
To see or not A1c? HbA1c utilization in light of recent lab guidelines
Educational Webinar with Dr. Matthew C. Wagner
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(1) IDF DIABETES ATLAS – 9th edition 2019: https://www.diabetesatlas.org/
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