OmegaQuant, a company specializing in personal nutrition status testing kits, recently launched an HbA1c test, with a sample collection kit that allows for testing at home.
 
The test measures glucose in the blood by tracking the protein HbA1c, which is a good indicator of the body’s ability to metabolize glucose, which can be impacted by dysregulation of diet, stress, and activity. While the body needs glucose to function, elevated glucose levels can result in negative health outcomes, even without the presence of diabetes, according to OmegaQuant.
 
As opposed to a fasting glucose test, the HbA1c test captures someone’s blood sugar status over a period of three months, offering a window into dietary intake versus a moment in time, which can help indicate if dietary or lifestyle adjustments are needed to bring blood sugar levels into a healthy range.
 
The widely-accepted optimal range of HbA1c is 4.5-5.7%, with a result between 5.7% and 6.2% indicating the development of ‘prediabetes’ and a result of over 6.2% indicating diabetes.
 
Although people may not have any physical symptoms, some signs of high blood sugar include frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, and unexplained weight loss.
 
The new test from OmegaQuant is intended for health-minded individuals who want to keep an eye on their blood sugar levels. In the long term, healthy blood sugar levels promote longevity and reduce risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment.
 
While typical HbA1c testing requires a blood draw, OmegaQuant’s test relies on a finger stick and a few drops of blood, allowing for at-home testing at one’s own convenience.
 
“The HbA1c test is similar to the Omega-3 Index test in that it captures someone’s status over a period of time, in this case three months or so. This offers a more accurate picture of one’s dietary intake and could indicate that dietary or lifestyle changes are needed if their blood sugar level is not in the optimal range,” said Kelly Patterson, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD, clinical nutrition educator at OmegaQuant. “This test will truly help people measure, modify, and monitor their blood sugar status.”