Lancet Study Questions HbA1c Reliability for Diabetes Diagnosis in India

• A new Lancet study raises concerns about the accuracy of HbA1c, a common diabetes test, in India.
• HbA1c may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels due to high prevalence of anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, and G6PD deficiency in India.
• Misleading HbA1c results can lead to delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and compromised treatment for type-2 diabetes.
• The study proposes a comprehensive diagnostic framework, including OGTT, self-monitoring, and haematological assessments.
• In tertiary care, HbA1c should be combined with OGTT, CGM, or fructosamine for more accurate results.