Diabetes Screening (Glucose + HbA1c)

IFCOR's Diabetes Screening panel pairs fasting glucose with HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) — the two-marker combination recommended by international diabetes guidelines for both screening and monitoring. Fasting glucose captures the immediate blood sugar level at the moment of collection; HbA1c reflects average blood glucose over the preceding 8–12 weeks by measuring the percentage of haemoglobin molecules that have been irreversibly glycated. Together they detect pre-diabetes and diabetes more reliably than either marker alone. The panel costs 300 Kč and is suitable for anyone with diabetes risk factors — obesity, family history, gestational diabetes history, hypertension, or fatigue — who wants to check before requesting a full GP work-up.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects approximately 1 million Czechs, with a similar number estimated to have undiagnosed pre-diabetes. Because early-stage insulin resistance and pre-diabetes cause no symptoms, opportunistic blood screening is the primary detection mechanism. IFCOR's Diabetes Screening panel uses the two-marker combination endorsed by the Czech Diabetology Society and the International Diabetes Federation as the most complete non-invasive screening approach. Fasting glucose is the traditional first-line test: after an 8–12-hour fast, blood glucose above 7.0 mmol/L on two separate occasions meets the diagnostic threshold for diabetes mellitus. Glucose between 5.6–6.9 mmol/L indicates impaired fasting glucose (pre-diabetes). However, fasting glucose is sensitive to transient conditions — a stressful event, recent illness, or unusual meal the day before can shift the result. HbA1c addresses this limitation by providing a window into average glycaemic control that is immune to day-to-day fluctuation. Haemoglobin A1c is formed when glucose molecules attach irreversibly to the beta-chain of haemoglobin A; the percentage reflects the average blood glucose concentration over the 8–12-week lifespan of red blood cells. HbA1c above 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) is diagnostic of diabetes; 5.7–6.4% (39–47 mmol/mol) identifies pre-diabetes. The combination of fasting glucose and HbA1c provides complementary information: fasting glucose captures recent dysregulation while HbA1c confirms the trend. Both markers also serve as monitoring tools — for people already diagnosed with diabetes who are adjusting medication or diet, quarterly HbA1c testing tracks response to intervention. The panel requires strict fasting for accurate glucose measurement. Results are processed in IFCOR's accredited Jihlava laboratory and delivered by secure email the next business day.