- Researchers from India, London, and Africa in a paper published in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology propose replacing the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with an HbA1c test for detecting gestational diabetes in early pregnancy.
- The HbA1c test, which can be used at the point of care, offers a simpler screening method, allowing early intervention for those at the highest risk and reducing the need for OGTTs.
- The study used data from the STRiDE cohort study in south India and western Kenya, and the PRiDE cohort in the U.K.
- A health worker can use a point-of-care testing kit to test HbA1c levels with just a drop of blood at the patient’s home.
Dig Deeper: Read the basic concept of basic blood sugar, insulin and test of HbA1c.
