Against the background of an increasing prevalence of diabetes and demand for glycated haemoglobin testing, workers in the north-east of England have reaped the benefit from the introduction of Beckman Coulter’s new HbA1c assay.
It is estimated that 8.6% of the adult population in England has diabetes, with this figure expected to rise to 9.7% by 2035.1 Uncontrolled diabetes is associated with serious health problems including cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy, and thus is a significant burden to the NHS.
Worldwide, the exposure to unhealthy diets and a general lack of exercise, particularly in the young, has given rise to an alarming increase in type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, it has been estimated that half of all people with diabetes are unaware of their disease. As 50% of the people with diabetes are undiagnosed, there is an urgent need to diagnose the condition and provide appropriate care for individuals with diabetes.1 Early diagnosis of diabetes increases an individual’s chances of preventing harmful and costly complications.
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.