Ahidden genetic risk may delay diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in millions of men worldwide, increasing their likelihood of serious complications, according to a new study.
G6PD deficiency is a genetic condition that affects more than 400 million people globally and occurs especially among those with African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds.
It affects men more commonly and usually goes undetected because it rarely causes symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends routine screening for G6PD deficiency in populations where it is common, but many countries have not implemented it widely.
Researchers from the University of Exeter, in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), discovered that men with G6PD deficiency receive a type 2 diabetes diagnosis about four years later than men without the gene variant. Despite this, fewer than one in 50 men with the condition have been diagnosed.
The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that men with G6PD deficiency face a 37 per cent higher risk of developing diabetes-related microvascular complications, including eye, kidney, and nerve damage, compared to other men with diabetes.
G6PD deficiency does not cause diabetes, but it lowers the HbA1c blood test readings that doctors use to diagnose and monitor the condition.
Since this can mislead doctors and patients and delay diagnosis and treatment, the research team emphasized the need to develop new diagnostic methods before serious complications occur.
“Our findings highlight the urgent need to change testing practices to tackle health inequalities. Doctors and health policymakers must recognize that the HbA1c test may not accurately reflect blood sugar in people with G6PD deficiency, and routine screening could help identify those at risk. Addressing this issue is crucial not only for medicine but also for health equity,” said Professor Inês Barroso from the University of Exeter.
The HbA1c blood test serves as the international standard for managing type 2 diabetes and diagnoses the condition in 136 countries worldwide.
However, people with G6PD deficiency may get artificially low HbA1c readings, causing medical delays and raising their risk of serious complications.
–IANS
