A common genetic condition called G6PD deficiency could be throwing off diabetes diagnoses for millions of men around the world, leading to bigger health risks down the line. New research shows this gene variant delays type 2 diabetes detection by about four years on average, and it ramps up the chances of serious complications like eye damage, kidney problems, and nerve issues.
G6PD deficiency strikes more than 400 million people globally, hitting hardest in folks with African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean roots. It shows up more often in men and usually flies under the radar since it doesn’t cause obvious symptoms. The World Health Organization pushes for routine screening in areas where it’s common, but many countries skip that step.
Scientists at the University of Exeter teamed up with Queen Mary University of London for this study, published in the journal Diabetes Care. They discovered that guys with G6PD deficiency get their type 2 diabetes diagnosis much later than others. Shockingly, fewer than one in 50 of them even know they have the condition. Even worse, once diagnosed with diabetes, these men face a 37% higher risk of those nasty microvascular complications compared to other diabetes patients.
Here’s the catch: G6PD deficiency doesn’t trigger type 2 diabetes itself. Instead, it messes with the popular HbA1c blood test, which doctors rely on to spot and track the disease. This test gives falsely low readings for people with the deficiency, fooling both patients and providers into thinking everything’s fine when it’s not. That delay in treatment can let complications build up fast.
The researchers call for better ways to diagnose type 2 diabetes in these cases, plus more widespread G6PD screening to catch it early. “Our findings highlight the urgent need for changes to testing practices to tackle health inequalities,” said Professor Inês Barroso from the University of Exeter. “Doctors and health policymakers need to know the HbA1c test might not be reliable for people with G6PD deficiency. Routine screening could spot those at risk and boost health equity for everyone.”
The HbA1c test serves as the go-to tool for managing type 2 diabetes in 136 countries. But for the millions living with undiagnosed G6PD deficiency, it can underestimate blood sugar levels and spark major medical mix-ups. Fixing this gap could save a lot of heartache and hospital visits.
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