Blood Sugar Test (HbA1c)

This test is suitable for anyone aged 18 or older with diabetic symptoms, as well as for people who have been previously diagnosed with diabetes or high blood sugar and want to know how well their blood sugar is controlled.

Yes, this self-sampling test is also suitable for pregnant women and can easily be taken from home.

All test samples are processed in the same laboratories used by hospitals, general practitioners and medical specialists. Homed-IQ’s partner labs are ISO 15189 certified and also analyse tests for clinics, hospitals, and governmental organisations. The sensitivity and specificity for this blood test is almost 100%. Sensitivity is the ability of a test to correctly identify test users with a disease. Specificity is the ability of a test to correctly identify people without the disease.

This test is a simple and non-invasive way to check for (pre)diabetes in adults via a blood test. If your GP suspects you have diabetes, he/she will perform exactly the same test as the test that you can order via Homed-IQ.

Homed-IQ’s HbA1c blood test can be used to detect type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If your HbA1c value deviates from the target values, it is wise to contact your doctor. If your general practitioner suspects type 1 diabetes, he will refer you to an internist, as mentioned. The internist can then make a diagnosis.

If you are experiencing symptoms that could indicate diabetes, it is important to check your blood sugar. As type 2 diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes, knowing your blood sugar levels allow you to make changes as needed.

If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, checking your HbA1c level regularly can help you monitor the effectiveness of your current treatment plan. Regular HbA1c tests can also help you see how certain choices you’ve made (such as diet) affect your blood sugar levels. An HbA1c value is not the same as a glucose value you get from a blood glucose meter. With a blood glucose meter you determine the current glucose concentration in your blood, which often fluctuates during the day while you eat and drink or, for example, during exercise. This value is important for diagnosing diabetes and will therefore also be performed by your GP if there is a suspicion of diabetes. People with diabetes or pre-diabetes should have their HbA1c levels measured every 3 to 12 months to make sure they have good control of their diabetes. In the case of poorly controlled diabetes, it is recommended to do this every 3 months. If you have no symptoms of diabetes and if you are feeling well, a diabetes test on a regular basis is not necessary. In addition, other cardiovascular diseases should also be screened regularly if diabetes mellitus is diagnosed.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction. This causes the body to not be able to produce enough insulin on its own. As a result, body cells hardly get any glucose from the blood and blood glucose levels rise. Treatment of type 1 diabetes consists of the administration of insulin. Despite the fact that a lot of research is being done into a cure for Type 1 diabetes, no solution has yet been found for this autoimmune disease. Type 2 diabetes – the most common form of diabetes, also called adult-onset diabetes – occurs when the body has become less sensitive to insulin. This also causes the cells to obtain too little glucose from the blood and causes blood glucose levels to rise. This form of diabetes usually only develops after the age of 40 in people who are overweight, but heredity also plays a role. In many cases, the effects of type 2 diabetes can be reversed by lifestyle changes such as following a healthy diet, losing weight and exercising more. Through these changes, people with type 2 diabetes may experience no symptoms or require the use of insulin. Recommendations to reverse type 2 diabetes are:

• Exercise regularly, for at least 30 minutes a day
• Follow a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables
• Do not drink sugary soft drinks or juices
• Drink enough water
• Avoid stress
• Get enough and regular sleep
• Limit alcohol consumption

During a glucose measurement, you measure the amount of blood sugar that is in your blood at the exact time of measurement. An HbA1c test measures your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months and thus gives an indication of long-term glucose levels. When you measure your blood sugar level over a longer period of time, you have a better idea of your average blood sugar level overall. That is why an HbA1c test is always recommended to detect diabetes. In most cases, HbA1c is elevated when diabetes or prediabetes is diagnosed.

We currently do not have any agreements with health insurers. Therefore, we aim to keep our tests as affordable as possible to give everyone the opportunity to get a better understanding of their health.

An HbA1c level of between 5.7% and 6.5% often means that you have pre-diabetes. This is also called the preliminary stage of type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes means you have higher than normal blood sugar. Because it is not yet high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes, it is called pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. Without lifestyle changes, adults and children with pre-diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes, the long-term damage of diabetes—especially to your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys—may have already started. However, there is good news. Pre-diabetes is reversible by making lifestyle changes such as getting enough exercise.  

In 2020, an estimated 1,145,500 people with diabetes were recorded in the Netherlands (annual prevalence). This was made up of 609,000 men and 536,500 women. Nine out of ten people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. In addition, an estimated 1.1 million Dutch people suffer from prediabetes (Diabetes Fonds, 2020). No fewer than 52,000 Dutch people hear that they have diabetes each year. That’s 1,000 people a week, 150 a day. Type 2 diabetes is also known as a disease of affluence. Of the current adult Dutch population aged 45 years and older, it is expected that 1 in 3 will develop type 2 diabetes in the future. By 2040, it is estimated that almost 1.5 million people in the Netherlands will have diabetes. Early diagnosis of diabetes is very important to prevent lasting damage to the body.