Easy fingerprick blood test could help discover hundreds of thousands of individuals with undiagnosed diabetes

In 2019, there have been almost 14 thousand diabetes-related deaths within the UK. That number looks set to rise. Britain currently has 4.3 million registered diabetics, but latest evaluation from London Medical Laboratory has revealed there are more likely to be over a million Brits affected by undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Untreated diabetes can result in blindness, amputations and death. The sooner individuals are diagnosed, the higher the final result.

London Medical Laboratory says that a visit to your GP surgery for an NHS test, or an easy fingerprick diagnostic test (which might be taken at home) will discover this invisible disease. With a million cases currently unidentified, testing could save Brits 10 million life-years; 5,000 lost toes, feet or legs; 300,000 cases of vision loss and 368,000 kidney failures.

London Medical Laboratory’s Clinical Lead, Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), says: ‘It’s astonishing to think that one easy, diagnostic blood test, either together with your GP or as a fingerprick blood test taken at home, will tell people in the event that they have the condition or not. Furthermore, a fingerprick blood test also can discover if individuals are pre-diabetic, which is a wholly reversable condition. Basic changes to lifestyle and eating regimen can ensure people return to full health and stop the development of type 2 diabetes. That’s why we’re saying that it’s time everyone joined us in giving diabetes the finger.

‘Many individuals don’t fully understand the risks this invisible killer presents. Diabetes can result in multiple, potentially fatal, complications if untreated and reduce life expectancy by as much as ten years, based on Diabetes UK. 1,000,000 undiagnosed cases here within the UK represent as much as 10 million years of life lost to this insidious disease, which is one in all the ten major killers worldwide, based on the WHO.

‘So, what’s diabetes and the way do people discover it? Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of all UK diabetes cases and is attributable to problems with the glucose-regulating hormone, insulin. Type 2 diabetes is commonly linked to being obese, inactive or having a family history of the disease. It causes the extent of glucose within the blood to rise beyond normal levels.

‘It will probably cause symptoms like tiredness, increased thirst and needing to pass urine more continuously, even in the course of the night. It will probably also increase people’s risk of developing serious problems with their eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves. The large problem is that it’s not easily spotted in its pre-diabetic stage and even when it has developed into the early stages of full type 2 diabetes. Which means patients may miss the window of opportunity to reverse the condition and stop complications.

‘It doesn’t just kill; it may possibly also result in many life-changing conditions. In line with the National Diabetes Statistics Report, recent research shows five out of each 1,000 individuals with diabetes will need a lower limb amputation. Which means, of Britain’s a million undiagnosed cases, as much as 5,000 may eventually present with more advanced conditions that require amputations. In line with the most recent figures from NHS Resolution, diabetes results in greater than 9,500 leg, toe or foot amputations yearly, or 185 cases every week.

‘Diabetes also affects eyesight. In line with the RNIB, the prevalence of “diabetic retinopathy” is around 54.6% in individuals with type 1 diabetes and 30% in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, attributable to high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the attention (retina). It will probably cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. Again, that implies that of those million undiagnosed Brits, there could possibly be as much as 300,000 cases of vision loss, starting from deteriorating eyesight to finish blindness.

‘One other major danger resulting from undiagnosed diabetes is a kidney disease called “diabetic nephropathy”. In line with the National Kidney Foundation, roughly 42.3% of individuals with type 1 diabetes and 36.8% of those with type 2 diabetes will develop diabetic nephropathy. This condition is a results of prolonged high blood sugar levels that damage the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste and excess fluids from the body. Left untreated and undiagnosed, diabetic nephropathy can progress to kidney failure, necessitating dialysis or transplantation. Among the many estimated a million undiagnosed individuals with diabetes within the UK, there could also be as much as 368,000 cases of diabetic nephropathy. Again, early detection and management are crucial to mitigate the impact of this condition.

‘So how are you going to discover if you have got pre-diabetes or diabetes? Diabetes UK acknowledges the signs or symptoms of the disease aren’t all the time easy to identify. Actually, type 2 diabetes is commonly diagnosed attributable to blood tests for other conditions or health issues. The one way yow will discover out if you happen to or a loved one has this condition is from a blood test that measures your “glycated haemoglobin” – commonly often known as HbA1c. Measuring blood glucose itself doesn’t provide an excellent estimate of diabetic risk as this level fluctuates rapidly. As an alternative, the HbA1c test estimates the impact of glucose in the long term, providing a clearer understanding of raised glucose levels.

‘You’ll be able to arrange to go to your local GP for a test. Or, if you happen to find it difficult to rearrange a convenient appointment or want more privacy, an easy fingerprick blood test, which might be taken in your individual home, will categorically confirm whether you have got type 2 diabetes – even in its earliest stages, long before any symptoms have developed. This home test, which at lower than £30 costs the identical as 3 bottles of wine, checks your levels of HbA1c. For anyone who already knows they’ve diabetes, regular HbA1c checks are also essential to watch progress. 

‘London Medical Laboratory’s “Diabetes – Diagnosis and Monitoring test” might be taken at home through the post, or at one in all the various drop-in clinics that supply these tests across London and nationwide in over 95 chosen pharmacies and health stores.