S4 E04 - The Limits of Blood Tests: A New Approach to Diabetes and Metabolic Health

In this episode, diabetes focused GP Dr Gary Deed discusses the limitations of blood tests when it comes to diabetes diagnosis. For example, haemoglobin A1C may be inaccurate in certain conditions such as iron deficiency or recent blood transfusions. He points out that testing insulin levels to assess insulin resistance is controversial since lab variability makes it unreliable for clinical practice. Instead, visceral obesity, waist circumference, and BMI are more practical markers for insulin resistance. He also discusses the utility of newer tests like C-peptide and fructosamine, along with continuous glucose monitoring. Blood test interpretation expert Dr Rhona Creegan joins the discussion with the best blood and other diagnostic methods to detect the presence of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. Dr Creegan underscores the importance of optimal ranges over standard lab reference ranges.

Are you a Healthcare Practitioner? Join us to continue the conversation at bioconceptsengage.com.au