Advanced Diabetes Blood Test

£67.00

Measure your current glucose levels and check your blood sugar control over the last 10-12 weeks with our HbA1c test.

Results estimated in 3 working days

View 2 Biomarkers

How do you want to take your sample?

Please choose one option below
  • Book a venous draw at a clinic   +£35.00

    Visit one of our national clinic partners for a nurse to take your venous blood sample from a vein in your arm. We’ll email you instructions on how to book after we’ve processed your order.
  • Book a venous draw at home with a nurse +£59.00

  • Self-arrange a professional sample collection Free

Advanced Diabetes Blood Test

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Key: You are here Appointment required Walk-in service

Is it for you?

Are you experiencing symptoms that may be related to diabetes, or are you at risk of developing diabetes due to your diet or family history? If so, our most advanced diabetes test can help you to investigate and appropriately manage the cause.

If identified early, it is possible to reverse pre-diabetes through effective dietary and lifestyle changes.

Biomarker table

Diabetes

HbA1c

Learn more

Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), also known as glycated haemoglobin, is a longer-term measure of glucose levels in your blood than a simple blood glucose test. Glucose attaches itself to the haemoglobin in your red blood cells, and as your cells live for around 12-16 weeks, it gives us a good indication of the average level of sugar in your blood over a 3-month period.

A raised HbA1c result points to diabetes or an increased risk of developing diabetes, which can have a significant impact on your lifespan and quality of life. Complications of uncontrolled diabetes include heart disease, kidney disease, eye problems, and vascular conditions. It can also contribute to mental health problems. And men with diabetes are three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction. Keeping your HbA1c within a normal range can help you reduce the risk of these conditions.

Glucose - random

Learn more

Glucose is a sugar that acts as the body's main source of energy. Most of the body's cells require glucose for energy production. The brain and nervous system cells can only function when glucose levels in the blood remain within a certain range. The hormone insulin controls the transport of glucose into the body's cells to be used as energy. We cannot live without glucose or insulin and they must be in balance. It is important that blood glucose levels remains fairly stable as severe high or low levels can be life threatening.
Special instructions

How to prepare for your test

Prepare for your Advanced Diabetes Blood Test by following these instructions. Do not eat or drink anything other than water for 12 hours prior to your test. If you take medication then you are allowed to take it as you would normally.

Blood testing made easy

How it works

Your personalised, actionable health results are only a few clicks away. Order your test, take and post your sample, then view your results online with our doctors' comments.

Your results, simplified

Track, improve, and monitor your health over time

MyMedichecks is your personal online dashboard where you can view your results, access clear and simple explanations about individual health markers, monitor changes in your health, and securely store information about your medical history, lifestyle, and vital statistics.

FAQs

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

The symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, fatigue, unexpected weight loss, and extreme thirst. Some of these symptoms are caused by excess sugar that your body does not use for energy, which is left in your blood and attaches itself to haemoglobin - the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen.

The more glucose there is in your bloodstream, the more glucose builds up in your cells. This sugar binding to molecules is one-way diabetes causes physical damage and health problems. If you're concerned about developing type 2 diabetes, read our blog about how to reduce your risk.

What can I learn from this test?

Our most advanced diabetes test measures blood glucose and HbA1c (or glycosylated haemoglobin), a measure of the sugar in your bloodstream over the previous eight weeks.

Unlike a regular blood sugar test, HbA1c is not affected by short-term changes. So, even though you may have had high blood sugar on occasion, an HbA1c result within the normal range can show that your blood sugar levels are under control overall. An elevated result will signify pre-diabetes or even diabetes itself. Measuring blood sugar is part of diagnosing and managing diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder whereby the pancreas fails to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by over-consumption of sugar, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.

In the early stages, you may be able to reverse or manage type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes by cutting down on sugar and losing weight. In later stages, you may need to control it with medication and insulin. We explain more in our blog about how to reverse pre-diabetes.

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