Standard Diabetes Test May Mislead Diagnosis and Monitoring in South Asian Populations, New Analysis Warns
A new evidence-based Viewpoint published online in Lancet Regional Health: Southeast Asia highlights that the widely used glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test, as available in India, may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels for millions of Indians, particularly in regions with high prevalence of anemia, hemoglobinopathies, and red blood cell enzyme (G6PD) deficiency. Led by Professor Anoop Misra and collaborators, the review questions reliance on HbA1c as a sole diagnostic or monitoring tool for type 2 diabetes in South Asia. HbA1c measurements primarily reflect the glycation of hemoglobin. Any condition that affects the quantity, structure, or lifespan of hemoglobin—such as anemia, hemoglobinopathies, or other red blood cell disorders—can distort HbA1c values and lead to misleading estimates of average blood glucose.
