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There is a blood test, the Hemoglobin A1c test that is currently used to keep track of how well a diabetic’s blood sugar is staying under control.  Basically, in this test, a blood sample is taken to see how much glucose red blood cells have been exposed to in the past 120 days.  

This test is usually used measure long term glucose control but doctors don’t usually use it to see if a person has diabetes, they usually use it to see if the person who has diabetes has it under control.  This is important, but it could be just as important if the test were used to identify individuals who have diabetes but don’t know it.

It is estimated that over 6 million people have diabetes but are not aware of it.  Another 28 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and are being treated for it.  This is a large percentage of the population that has the disease and is doing what is necessary to stay as healthy as possible.

For those who are unaware that they have diabetes, there is an insidious peril.  One of the most urgent problems with this situation is that all too often, by the time that these individuals are actually diagnosed; their diabetes has already done internal damage, sometimes to their internal organs and blood vessels. 

All of this could be avoided if the A1c test was given as a regular part of annual or semi-annual check-ups.  It could save people a great deal of pain, as well as eliminating hospitalizations, amputations, strokes, kidney failure and other issues related to diabetes.

It is encouraging that researchers and physicians are beginning to take a second look at some of the existing tools that are being used in diabetes care and looking at ways to use these tools to diagnose and treat diabetes sooner, or perhaps prevent pre-diabetes from turning into full-blown diabetes.

There are now more ways to check more people for diabetes and if your doctor doesn’t bring it up, it could be a good thing if you do.  Maybe you will be someone whose pre-diabetes is prevented from becoming diabetes, allowing you to live a longer, healthier life.