SRL Diagnostics prepared a Data Analytics Report on results of randomized samples received for Glycosylated/Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) from January 2017 till September 2021 in the city of Delhi. This report has been prepared on the basis of a retrospective data mining done on results of 2, 58, 021 tests done for HbA1c.

A report published in 2009 by an International Expert Committee on the role of HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes recommended that HbA1c can be used to diagnose diabetes and that the diagnosis can be made if the HbA1c level is ≥6.5 per cent. Levels of HbA1c just below 6.5 per cent may indicate the presence of intermediate hyperglycaemia. The precise lower cut-off point for this has yet to be defined, although the ADA (The American Diabetes Association) has suggested 5.7 – 6.4 per cent as the high-risk range. While recognizing the continuum of risk that may be captured by the HbA1c assay, the International Expert Committee recommended that persons with an HbA1c level between 6.0 and 6.5 per cent were at particularly high risk and might be considered for diabetes prevention interventions.

· For people without diabetes, the normal range for the HbA1c level is less than 5.7 per cent.

· HbA1c levels between 5.7 per cent and 6.4 per cent mean one has a higher chance of getting diabetes (pre-diabetes).

· Levels of 6.5 per cent or higher mean one has diabetes.

· Diabetics who keep their hemoglobin A1c levels close to 7 per cent have a much better chance of delaying or preventing diabetes complications than people with levels 8 per cent or higher.

Speaking on the data analytics report for Glycosylated/Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) conducted in Delhi, Dr. Anurag Bansal, Technical Director, SRL Diagnostics said, “One in six people with Diabetes in the world is from India. As of 2019, India had the second-highest number of diabetes patients aged between 20 and 79 years with close to 77 million living with diabetes. In our analysis for the city of Delhi, we have found that amongst the 31 and 45 age group a staggering 37 per cent samples were diagnosed with prediabetes and 39 per cent are diabetic. Early diagnosis, extensive awareness and lifestyle interventions are required to keep our future generations healthier.”

· 42 per cent of all samples tested reported positive for diabetes and 37 per cent tested positive for prediabetes

· In 2020, due to the COVID-induced lockdown, a 31 per cent drop was observed in samples tested for diabetes

· 46 per cent of samples from males and 36 per cent samples from females were found to be diabetic

· 36 per cent of samples from males and 39 per cent samples from females were diagnosed with prediabetes