With recent estimates suggesting that around 1 in 5 UK adults are living with diabetes or prediabetes, early diabetes detection has become a clear priority. Many of us are familiar with type 2 diabetes, but did you know that it can take years of rising blood sugar levels before a diagnosis is made?

This is because the earlier stage of diabetes, known as prediabetes, often develops gradually and without obvious symptoms. With this in mind, prediabetes conditions can go undetected for years, taking precious time away from preventative treatments and essential lifestyle changes.

If you are overweight and have a family history of diabetes or a sedentary lifestyle, blood tests may help you identify the potential risk factors long before it progresses.

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition where a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal but are not yet high enough to be classed as type 2 diabetes. This condition clearly indicates that your body is beginning to struggle with processing and managing glucose (the body’s main source of energy).

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates glucose levels. When the body becomes less responsive to insulin, or when insulin production starts to decline, glucose can begin to accumulate within the bloodstream. 

When left unnoticed or untreated, this build-up can start to affect metabolic health, impacting how the body processes carbohydrates, fats, and energy. 

It’s quite common for those with prediabetes to feel completely normal, which is why routine health checks with your GP and blood sugar tests are important for identifying concerns earlier.

Why are cases of prediabetes on the rise in the UK?

A combination of lifestyle and environmental factors can cause prediabetes. Some of the most common include:

• Sedentary lifestyles: With an increase in hybrid working patterns, many people now spend their working days sitting with reduced physical activity. This can impact how efficiently the body regulates sugar.
  

• Ultra-processed foods: We live in an age of convenience, where processed foods contain high levels of carbohydrates, added sugars, and saturated fats. Diets that rely on these types of foods can influence how the body responds to glucose.
  

• Rising obesity rates: The relationship between weight, insulin function, and glucose metabolism is why getting a metabolic health test has become key in the preventative healthcare industry.
  

• Family history and genetics: Genetics can impact how the body produces and responds to insulin. A family history of diabetes may increase the likelihood of developing blood sugar regulation issues in certain people, making a blood test a useful screening method. 

Despite these factors being relatively well known, diabetes and prediabetes tests aren’t being utilised as much as they should. 

This is because routine NHS diabetes screening typically favours high-risk groups, so those who feel generally well may not be able to access a blood sugar test easily. This has led many to explore the options of private health screening and prediabetes blood tests to gain a clearer understanding of their metabolic health.

How can a blood test detect prediabetes?

Blood testing offers far more insight into health and wellness than people realise. They can be used to see how the body processes glucose and how well different metabolic systems function.

At Goodbody Clinic, our Diabetes (HbA1c) Blood Test analyses several key biomarkers to help users and healthcare professionals better understand blood sugar regulation and metabolic health patterns:

1. HbA1c

This HbA1c test measures the average level of glucose attached to haemoglobin in the blood by using an average over the last two to three months. 

Since the test reflects long-term glucose patterns rather than those displayed in a single moment, HbA1c can successfully indicate possible changes in blood sugar regulation. This is key to getting a prediabetes diagnosis from a GP or trusted healthcare professional.

2. Fasting glucose

Fasting glucose measures blood sugar levels after a period without eating. This marker can assess how the body regulates glucose when digestion can’t influence blood sugar levels.

3. Insulin resistance markers

Insulin resistance occurs when the cells within the body become less responsive to insulin. This is an essential marker to provide further context when assessing overall metabolic health.

4. Cholesterol and metabolic markers

Our prediabetes test also includes lipid profiles and cholesterol markers to offer additional insight into broader cardiovascular and metabolic health. Both of which can impact the other.

Why invest in a prediabetes blood sugar test?

Private blood tests are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their convenience, flexibility, and faster turnaround times when compared to NHS screening services. 

Our prediabetes blood tests can help users understand their health markers in more detail, while also acting as a guide in conversations with qualified healthcare professionals about treatment options and other preventative measures.

Order or book your prediabetes blood test today

If you’d like to monitor your prediabetes risk, learn more about our Diabetes (HbA1c) Blood Test and other general health blood tests for further insight.

We offer a variety of at-home blood test kits as well as private blood test services available at many of our Goodbody clinics across the UK, including Aberdeen, Leeds, and Truro.