Sickle Cell Gene Variant Lowers A1C Readings

An analysis of two major public health studies involving more than 4,600 people indicated that HbA1c readings were substantially lower in people with sickle cell trait (SCT) than in those without SCT.

Affecting 8 to 10 percent of African Americans, SCT is a genetic hemoglobin variant found in individuals who carry one copy of the variant. Carrying two copies leads to sickle cell disease.

The HbA1c analysis suggests physicians relying on this test may miss opportunities to diagnose and treat some people with pre, or type 2 diabetes. “We found the HbA1c was systematically lower in African-Americans with sickle cell trait than those without sickle cell trait despite similar blood sugar measurements using other tests,” said lead study author Mary Lacy, a doctoral candidate at Brown University School of Public Health.


Using standard HbA1c cutoffs, the study team discovered 40 percent fewer potential pre-diabetes cases, and 48 percent fewer potential diabetes cases were identified in people with SCT. However, using fasting and two-hour blood glucose tests, no appreciable difference in the detection of potential diabetes was found between SCT, and non-SCT individuals.

“For patients with diabetes, HbA1c is often used as a marker of how well they are managing their diabetes, so having an underestimation of their blood sugars is problematic because they might have a false sense of security, thinking they are doing okay when they are not,” said study author and cardiologist Wen-Chih Wu, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and associate professor at Brown University.

The strength of the HbA1c analysis is its large sample size that involved two studies with diverse populations. The investigation was also statistically controlled for demographic and medical factors such as age, gender, BMI, and diagnostic history.


Though the analysis does not explain why HbA1c readings are low with SCT, researchers suggest the hemoglobin variant might give some red blood cells decreased lifespans, so the hemoglobin would accumulate less blood glucose and give a low HbA1c reading.

“Irrespective of the reason...the underestimation is very real, and clinicians should consider screening for sickle cell trait and account for the difference in HbA1c,” said Wu.

Source: Futurity


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...