What is the sugar check plus?

Sugary foods have become a staple in the diet of many people in the UK. The recommended daily intake of sugar is under 30g while the average individual in the UK consumes approximately 100g. Along with increasing the risk of tooth decay, excess dietary sugar can have serious effects on health, particularly your risk of heart disease, stroke and developing type-2 diabetes. This test measures type 2 diabetes markers insulin and HBA1c along with important sugar-related health factors such as a lipid profile and leptin test.

Diabetes is a condition characterised by high blood sugar. Sugar levels are regulated by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin production and your body’s ability to use it is reduced in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively.

Glucose is the main sugar circulating in the blood which is broken down from the foods you eat. When levels exceed energy requirements, glucose binds to haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is vital for red blood cells (RBCs), the cells responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. The complex of glucose and haemoglobin is called haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the formation is irreversible. The HbA1c level indicates the average blood glucose over the past 3 months as this is how long RBCs live for. Blood glucose levels are typically high in people with diabetes resulting in elevated HbA1c.

Type 2 diabetes is a result of the body becoming resistant to insulin, elevating blood sugar levels. If this resistance is not too severe, the pancreas can counteract it by producing more insulin. If this is the case then it is known as a ‘prediabetic’ state, where further development of insulin resistance could result in type 2 diabetes. Prediabetic individuals may be able to prevent the development of diabetes by changing their diet and lifestyle.

Leptin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue and the small intestine. Its primary function is to signal to the hypothalamus to remove the feeling of hunger when sufficient food has been consumed, though there are many other functions that have not yet been fully defined.

In healthy individuals, an increase in fat will result in increased leptin, as it is produced by fat tissues. This normally results in a lower appetite, leading to weight loss. In individuals with reduced fat, leptin decreases and leads to increased hunger and weight gain. Obesity changes this balance, as chronically high levels of leptin lead to reduced sensitivity and a higher leptin threshold to satiate hunger.

A lipid profile provides an overview of your levels of good and bad cholesterol. While a balance of good and bad cholesterol is important for maintaining a healthy metabolism, excess low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is associated with arterial plaque build-up and increased risk of coronary heart disease. it is generally considered beneficial to have a high high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to LDL ratio to reduce this risk.  

Why take the test?

This test measures the level of HbA1c and insulin in the blood to diagnose diabetes or a prediabetic state. It also provides a lipid profile and leptin test, providing information about your cholesterol and metabolic health. The test is for individuals wanting to know how their dietary sugar and lifestyle is affecting their health, helping guide lifestyle changes which could provide health benefits.