Diabetes could be predicted by regular blood tests

Washington: A recent study said blood tests can detect diabetes, highlighting the need for routine blood tests.

According to the study published in 'PLOS ONE', random blood glucose tests could be used to predict which patients will develop diabetes.

Researchers have shown that the glucose levels detected in traditional outpatient medical tests show the likelihood that patients will develop diabetes over the next five years, even when glucose levels have not reached the diagnostic level of diabetes. .

Research has shown that glucose levels that would normally not be considered indicative of a risk of diabetes can actually predict the development of the disease.
"Although screening for prediabetes and diabetes can lead to faster detection and treatment, many members of the population at risk do not receive the necessary screening," said Dr. Mary Rhee, the lead author of l & # 39; study.
The researchers examined data from these routine blood tests to determine whether random plasma glucose levels could actually predict which patients would develop diabetes in the future.

They studied data from more than 900,000 undiagnosed patients with diabetes.

All patients had at least three random blood glucose tests during a year. Most of these tests were probably "opportunistic", that is, regular visits to the doctor not specifically related to diabetes screening.

On a five-year follow-up, about 10% of the total study group developed diabetes. The high randomized plasma glucose levels, although they do not reach the diagnostic threshold of diabetes, accurately predict the course of diabetes over the next five years.

Patients with at least two random blood glucose readings of 115 mg / dL or more over a 12-month period were at high risk of being diagnosed with diabetes within a few years. Glucose levels of 130 mg / dL or higher were even more predictive of diabetes.

As might be expected, demographic factors and risk factors for diabetes also predicted the development of the disease.

The development of diabetes was uncommon in subjects with the highest random plasma glucose levels below 110 mg / dL.

In light of these findings, the researchers recommend that patients undergo a diagnostic test for diabetes, such as a fasting glucose test or an A1c test, if they have two random glucose tests showing levels of 115 mg / dL or more.

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