Why was this study done, and why is it important?
This study was performed to assess the efficacy and accuracy of HbA1c Screening using menstrual blood collected on the Q-Pad. Diabetes is one of the ten most common health conditions in the United States. About 10% of adult Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 5 people with diabetes don’t know they have it.
The initial diagnostic test for diabetes is the HbA1c test, which essentially measures average blood sugar levels over a period of months. Unlike blood sugar tests which detect glucose (sugar) in the blood, and can vary significantly based on immediate diet, the HbA1c test provides a more accurate picture of blood sugar patterns.
HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) is a protein that is created when sugars in the blood bind to red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen, but it becomes HbA1c when glucose (sugar) sticks to it.
For people with diabetes, HbA1c is used as a tool to monitor treatment. Many diabetics set HbA1c “goals” with their doctor as a way to measure disease management. People wihtout diabetes can also gain insight from their HbA1c levels. By checking average blood sugar, you can understand blood sugar baseline, and make lifestyle changes should you want to.
For those who are in pre-diabetic range, these lifestyle changes can be the difference between normal blood sugar and development of diabetes. But even for those within “normal” range, recognizing a pattern of average blood sugar and identifying factors that may cause slight changes can be useful.
Current HbA1c tests are performed using blood obtained via blood draw. For diabetics, physicians recommend monitoring every 3-6 months.