€35,00
Do you think you may have diabetes or pre-diabetes? Diabetes is a disease in which your body can’t make insulin or use it effectively to control blood sugar. While diabetes is a highly common disease, some people do not know they have it as they have no symptoms.
This test measures the HbA1c level in your blood, indicating your average blood sugar level over the past three months. If it is too high, this may indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes.
Test for: HbA1c
Test method: Finger prick dried blood spot test
How does a blood sugar test work?
The HbA1c test is a type of blood test that determines the average amount of blood glucose (sugar) over the previous three months. Glucose, a sugar circulating in the bloodstream, attaches itself to hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. The greater the amount of glucose in the blood, the higher the number of red blood cells with glucose-bound hemoglobin (HbA1c). Since red blood cells are regularly replaced in the body and live for about three months, this test provides a good indication of your average blood sugar levels during that period. The results of the test will show if your average blood sugar level for the past three months is within normal limits. A high HbA1c value could suggest the possibility of diabetes or prediabetes.
What is HbA1c?
HbA1c, short for ‘hemoglobin A1c’ or glycated hemoglobin, is a specific form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that gives them their red color and is essential for transporting oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. In addition to carrying oxygen, hemoglobin can also bind with glucose (sugar) in the blood, forming what is known as glycated hemoglobin. This means the more glucose present in the blood, the more glycated hemoglobin there will be. Since red blood cells—and thus the hemoglobin in them—have a lifespan of up to 120 days, the HbA1c measurement offers an average of your blood glucose levels over the past 10 to 12 weeks. A higher HbA1c value indicates that the glucose level in your blood has been elevated over the time leading up to the test.
What is the test process for Homed-IQ’s Blood Sugar Test?
Homed-IQ’s Blood Sugar Test comes with everything you need to successfully take a blood sample from home. Simply activate your test and follow the supplied instructions to collect the sample and then send it to our certified laboratory using the prepaid shipping label. The results will be available within a few days of arriving in the lab.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar (glucose). This condition arises either due to the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the body not utilizing insulin effectively. If diabetes is not properly managed, it can lead to severe health issues, including kidney damage, nerve damage (neuropathy), vision loss, and an increased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases.
There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must regularly administer insulin to maintain their blood sugar levels. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes develops when the body either doesn’t produce sufficient insulin or doesn’t use it effectively. Type 2 diabetes often develops more slowly than type 1, which can make its early detection challenging. Management of type 2 diabetes typically involves lifestyle modifications, such as changes in diet, increased physical activity, and weight loss, but it may also require medication. In some cases, individuals with type 2 diabetes might need to take insulin as well.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are elevated above normal but not enough to qualify as type 2 diabetes. This stage heightens the likelihood of progressing to type 2 diabetes and encountering other health issues like heart disease. A key indicator of prediabetes is an HbA1C level ranging from 6.0% to 6.5%, marking the phase preceding type 2 diabetes.
Without changes in daily habits, people with prediabetes are at risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes. At this stage, potential harm to vital organs like the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys due to diabetes might already have started. However, there is good news: implementing lifestyle changes such as regular physical activity and weight management, reversing prediabetes is possible.
How soon will I receive my test results?
Once you have collected your sample and then mailed it to our laboratory, it generally takes a few working days before you receive the test result. As soon as your test sample arrives at the laboratory you will receive a notification by email. Once your test result is ready, you will receive a text message and an email from us with a link to your test result. We will therefore keep you well informed throughout the entire testing process!
What does the result of this test mean?
The result of this test shows what your average glucose level has been over the past 3 months. If this value deviates from the target range, this may indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes. In this case, consult your doctor so that he or she can establish the diagnosis.
Which HbA1c value indicates diabetes?
Common symptoms of diabetes or pre-diabetes are:
Learn more about the symptoms of diabetes on our blog.
Why is diabetes or an elevated HbA1c level harmful to health?
Most of the food we eat is converted into sugar (glucose) and enters our bloodstream. When the amount of sugar in the blood rises, the pancreas is prompted to release insulin, enabling cells to utilize this blood sugar for energy. In diabetes, there’s either a deficiency in insulin production or a decreased cellular response to insulin over time. As a result, excess sugar stays in the blood and circulates throughout the body. Elevated blood sugar can lead to significant health issues, including heart disease, nerve damage, and vision complications. This is why it is very important to monitor blood sugar levels and recognize diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Who is this test suitable for?
This test is suitable for anyone who may recognize the symptoms in the “symptoms” section and thinks they have diabetes or pre-diabetes. The test is also suitable if you have diabetes in your family and would like to monitor your blood sugar, or if you have previously been diagnosed with diabetes and would like to know how well you have your diabetes under control.
An HbA1c level of between 5.7% and 6.5% often means that you have pre-diabetes. This is also called the preliminary stage of type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes means you have higher than normal blood sugar. Because it is not yet high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes, it is called pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. Without lifestyle changes, adults and children with pre-diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes, the long-term damage of diabetes—especially to your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys—may have already started. However, there is good news. Pre-diabetes is reversible by making lifestyle changes such as getting enough exercise.
During a glucose measurement, you measure the amount of blood sugar that is in your blood at the exact time of measurement. An HbA1c test measures your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months and thus gives an indication of long-term glucose levels.
When you measure your blood sugar level over a longer period of time, you have a better idea of your average blood sugar level overall. That is why an HbA1c test is always recommended to detect diabetes. In most cases, HbA1c is elevated when diabetes or prediabetes is diagnosed.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction. This causes the body to not be able to produce enough insulin on its own. As a result, body cells hardly get any glucose from the blood and blood glucose levels rise. Treatment of type 1 diabetes consists of the administration of insulin. Despite the fact that a lot of research is being done into a cure for Type 1 diabetes, no solution has yet been found for this autoimmune disease.
Type 2 diabetes – the most common form of diabetes, also called adult-onset diabetes – occurs when the body has become less sensitive to insulin. This also causes the cells to obtain too little glucose from the blood and causes blood glucose levels to rise. This form of diabetes usually only develops after the age of 40 in people who are overweight, but heredity also plays a role.
In many cases, the effects of type 2 diabetes can be reversed by lifestyle changes such as following a healthy diet, losing weight and exercising more. Through these changes, people with type 2 diabetes may experience no symptoms or require the use of insulin. Recommendations to reverse type 2 diabetes are:
If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, checking your HbA1c level regularly can help you monitor the effectiveness of your current treatment plan. Regular HbA1c tests can also help you see how certain choices you’ve made (such as diet) affect your blood sugar levels. An HbA1c value is not the same as a glucose value you get from a blood glucose meter. With a blood glucose meter you determine the current glucose concentration in your blood, which often fluctuates during the day while you eat and drink or, for example, during exercise. This value is important for diagnosing diabetes and will therefore also be performed by your GP if there is a suspicion of diabetes.
People with diabetes or pre-diabetes should have their HbA1c levels measured every 3 to 12 months to make sure they have good control of their diabetes. In the case of poorly controlled diabetes, it is recommended to do this every 3 months. If you have no symptoms of diabetes and if you are feeling well, a diabetes test on a regular basis is not necessary. In addition, other cardiovascular diseases should also be screened regularly if diabetes mellitus is diagnosed.
This test is a simple and non-invasive way to check for (pre)diabetes in adults. If your GP suspects you have diabetes, they will also check your HbA1c levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the cells in your body do not respond well to the hormone insulin, also known as insulin resistance. Insulin regulates your blood sugar by making sure body cells get enough sugar from your blood. This is necessary when you eat or drink carbohydrates, such as bread, jam, or juice. If your body does not respond well to insulin, too much sugar remains in your blood. Your body
Type 1 diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a condition in which the pancreas does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow glucose (sugar) from your food to enter body cells. Without sufficient insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. This can cause life-threatening complications. To prevent this, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily. This can be done via injections or an insulin pump that must
