Audio By Carbonatix
Experts believe a simple blood test could spot diabetes up to 10 years before the first symptoms of the disease occur.
By looking at levels of five amino acids in the blood US researchers were able to correctly identify people who went on to develop type 2 diabetes.
Ultimately the Harvard team hope a test like this could be used to screen for type 2 diabetes, Nature Medicine says.
Early detection can help prevent related complications like blindness.
Risk prediction
Dr Victoria King, head of research at Diabetes UK, said: "Early diagnosis and effective management of type 2 diabetes are crucial in reducing the risk of developing diabetes complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation.
"Therefore finding ways to identify those who are at risk of developing the condition are important.
"This research, in future, could lead to ways to help us identify those at risk as well as giving us new insights into how and why type 2 diabetes develops."
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle and eating an unhealthy diet.
In many cases the condition can be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle, Dr King said.
Aside from keeping an eye on a person's weight and blood sugar, doctors have had little else they can use to identify at risk individuals.
The test used in the study looks for levels of small molecules in the blood. Among the 2,422 health volunteers tested, 201 later went on to develop diabetes.
And the researchers found that the early blood tests readily identified these patients years before they developed any symptoms.
Those with the highest levels of amino acids in their blood were five times as likely to develop diabetes within the following 12 years of the study.
Dr Robert Gerszten and colleagues who carried out the work say more studies are needed before the test could be recommended for general use.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Fuel tanker, kia frontier collide head-on at Fianko
18 minutes -
NSMQ 2026: 98 schools in Ashanti region battle for national qualification spots
24 minutes -
Archbishop of Canterbury embarks on weeklong tour to GhanaÂ
3 hours -
Teshie launches Homowo 2026 with renewed commitment to peace, security and cultural heritage
4 hours -
Maritimo target Ghanaian winger Nana Kofi Donkor after impressive season in Georgia
7 hours -
Ghanaian youngster Isaac Assibu signs new Malmo deal, earns first-team promotion
8 hours -
Prince Owusu completes four-year move to DAC 1904
8 hours -
Etihad Airways and Africa World Airlines sign strategic partnership agreement
9 hours -
When Politics Meets Perception: Will Ken Ofori-Atta return to Ghana?
11 hours -
Peace must be the hallmark of Homowo 2026 – DCOP Asiedu
11 hours -
‘Ghana lost a president, but I lost a mentor and a friend’ – Mahama pays tribute to Atta Mills
12 hours -
Ghana’s High Commissioner to UK commits to support Team Ghana at Commonwealth Games
12 hours -
Photos: Flood Mitigation Task Force begins phased dredging, demolition exercise in Accra
13 hours -
ICC top prosecutor removed over sexual misconduct allegations
13 hours -
Glasgow 2026: Ghanaian boxer Abdul Wahid Omar eliminated after unanimous points defeat to Patris Mughalzai
13 hours