A recent study by the University of Exeter, in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London, has uncovered a significant genetic factor affecting the accuracy of diabetes diagnostics in Black and South Asian men. The research indicates that individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency may receive false negative results on the HbA1c test, leading to delayed diagnoses and increased risk of complications.
G6PD deficiency is a genetic condition that affects red blood cells, leading to their premature destruction under certain stressors. This condition is prevalent among individuals of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean descent, particularly in men. Despite its high prevalence, G6PD deficiency often goes undiagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms.
The HbA1c test, widely used to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes, measures the percentage of glycated hemoglobin in the blood. However, in individuals with G6PD deficiency, the accelerated turnover of red blood cells can result in falsely low HbA1c levels, masking elevated blood sugar levels and delaying the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The University of Exeter study found that men with G6PD deficiency are, on average, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four years later than those without the gene variant.
The University of Exeter team, whose findings appeared in Diabetes Care, analyzed health data from over half a million people. They reported that G6PD deficiency remains largely undiagnosed, with only one in fifty affected men identified.
This gap delays timely diabetes care and deepens health disparities in vulnerable populations.The study revealed that approximately one in seven Black men and one in 63 South Asian men in the UK carry the G6PD deficiency gene variant.
Despite this, fewer than one in 50 affected individuals have been diagnosed with the condition. This underdiagnosis contributes to health disparities and delays in diabetes management within these communities.
Failing to diagnose type 2 diabetes in individuals with G6PD deficiency can have serious health implications. The study found that these individuals are at a 37% higher risk of developing diabetes-related microvascular complications, such as eye, kidney, and nerve damage, compared to other men with diabetes. Undiagnosed diabetes increases the risk of developing complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage, and blindness.
The delayed diagnosis not only affects the individual's health but also places a strain on healthcare systems due to the increased need for treatment and management of advanced complications.
(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)