Diabetes & Metabolic Panel

A diabetes and metabolic assessment panel at AXIS-CZ's NASKL-accredited biochemistry laboratory in Hradec Králové, anchored by HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin), fasting glucose, homocysteine, and C-peptide measurements. HbA1c provides a three-month average of blood glucose levels — making it the standard tool for both diabetes diagnosis and ongoing management. Fasting glucose captures the immediate metabolic state. Homocysteine is an independent cardiovascular and metabolic risk marker elevated in B-vitamin deficiency, renal impairment, and insulin resistance. C-peptide distinguishes between insulin deficiency (low C-peptide) and insulin resistance (high C-peptide), informing the classification of diabetes type. The OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) is also available at 392 Kč all-inclusive — the primary test for gestational diabetes (weeks 24–28 of pregnancy) and pre-diabetes confirmation.

The diabetes and metabolic panel at Laboratoř AXIS-CZ covers the key biochemical markers for diagnosing, classifying, and monitoring diabetes mellitus and metabolic risk, using a transparent individual-test pricing model that allows clinicians and self-pay patients to order exactly the markers needed. HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) at 256 Kč is the most clinically important marker in this panel. It reflects the average blood glucose level over the preceding 2–3 months by measuring the percentage of haemoglobin molecules that have been irreversibly glycated — a process that is proportional to ambient glucose concentration and independent of short-term fluctuations. The current WHO diagnostic threshold for diabetes is HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol (≥6.5%); the pre-diabetes (impaired glucose regulation) range is 39–47 mmol/mol. For patients already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, HbA1c targets (typically 48–58 mmol/mol) guide treatment intensification. Because HbA1c is an average measure, it does not require fasting and can be collected at any time of day — though for completeness with other metabolic markers, collection at the same fasting visit is common. Fasting glucose (21 Kč) provides the acute measurement alongside HbA1c. A fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L on two separate occasions meets diagnostic criteria for diabetes; 6.1–6.9 mmol/L is impaired fasting glucose. Combined with HbA1c, fasting glucose provides both the acute and average view of glycaemic control. Homocysteine (638 Kč) is an amino acid whose elevation in the blood is associated with B-vitamin deficiency (B6, B12, folate), renal impairment, hypothyroidism, and insulin resistance. As an independent risk marker for cardiovascular events and as a sensitive indicator of B12 and folate status, homocysteine measurement is valuable in patients with metabolic risk factors, those monitoring cardiovascular risk, and anyone with suspected nutritional deficiency alongside the standard metabolic workup. C-peptide (251 Kč) is a byproduct of endogenous insulin secretion, released from the pancreatic beta cells in equal molar amounts to insulin but with a longer half-life. Measuring C-peptide helps distinguish insulin deficiency (type 1 diabetes, late-stage type 2) from insulin resistance with preserved secretion (early type 2 diabetes), informing treatment selection and the appropriateness of insulin therapy. The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) at AXIS-CZ is priced at 392 Kč all-inclusive — this includes the blood draw fee and glucose solution, making it the most cost-transparent OGTT available in Hradec Králové on a self-pay basis. The test requires arrival at 07:00 Monday to Friday (fasted), with a two-hour stay during which the patient drinks 75g of glucose solution and undergoes blood draws at baseline and at two hours (one-hour draw additionally for pregnant women). The OGTT is the gold-standard test for gestational diabetes screening (recommended at 24–28 weeks of pregnancy) and for confirming pre-diabetes or diabetes in patients with borderline fasting glucose or HbA1c.