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 recent evaluation from London Medical Laboratory has revealed there are prone 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 end result.

A straightforward fingerprick blood test could help detect one in every of the UK’s suspected a million undiagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes. Image Credit: London Medical Laboratory

London Medical Laboratory says that a visit to your GP surgery for an NHS test, or an easy fingerprick diagnostic test (which will 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 along 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 may also discover if individuals are pre-diabetic, which is a wholly reversable condition. Basic changes to lifestyle and weight loss program can ensure people return to full health and stop the event 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, in response to 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 every of the ten major killers worldwide, in response to 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 chubby, inactive or having a family history of the disease. It causes the extent of glucose within the blood to rise beyond normal levels.

‘It might probably cause symptoms like tiredness, increased thirst and needing to pass urine more continuously, even through the night. It might probably also increase people’s risk of developing serious problems with their eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves. The massive 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 newest figures from NHS Resolution, diabetes results in greater than 9,500 leg, toe or foot amputations every yr, 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 might probably cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. Again, that signifies that of those million undiagnosed Brits, there may very well 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 will have pre-diabetes or diabetes? Diabetes UK acknowledges the signs or symptoms of the disease aren’t all the time easy to identify. In reality, type 2 diabetes is commonly diagnosed resulting from blood tests for other conditions or health issues. The one way you could find out in case you or a loved one has this condition is from a blood test that measures your “glycated haemoglobin” – commonly often called HbA1c. Measuring blood glucose itself doesn’t provide an excellent estimate of diabetic risk as this level fluctuates rapidly. As a substitute, the HbA1c test estimates the impact of glucose in the long term, providing a clearer understanding of raised glucose levels.

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

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

Source:

London Medical Laboratory