Toronto, Ontario – November 06, 2024: LifeLabs, a leading provider of laboratory diagnostic services, is pleased to introduce the Diabetes Health (HbA1c) Kit as part of our At Home Kit Program to offer Ontarians a flexible and convenient option for monitoring their long-term blood sugar, help optimize their diabetes management, and improve their overall health outcomes.
The Diabetes Health (Hb1Ac) Kit supports adults in Ontario who are over the age of 18 that may be pre-diabetic, have type 2 diabetes and/or at-risk of developing diabetes in assessing and monitoring their HbA1c status. An A1C test result reflects your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Specifically, the HbA1c test measures what percentage of hemoglobin proteins in your blood are coated with sugar (glycated). Although this test is non-diagnostic, it may be used to assess an individual’s risk for type 2 diabetes and identify the most appropriate options for next steps and possible treatment to optimize their overall health.
“It’s important to us to be able to support Canadians who are looking for convenient and flexible at-home solutions to help them be proactive about their health and work with their healthcare provider with as much information as possible as their overall health profile,” said Charles Brown, President and CEO of LifeLabs. “We’re excited to introduce the Diabetes Health (Hb1Ac) Kit to help empower our customers to live their best health with the support of essential medical testing that’s delivered through personalized methods.”
“We’re excited to expand our At Home Kit Program with the addition of the Diabetes Health (Hb1Ac) Kit,” said Lawrence Mahan, SVP Commercial, Business and Consumer Markets. “This addition builds upon an existing suite of LifeLabs offerings that already serves patients with diabetes, and it helps provides Canadians and their healthcare providers with actionable insights for managing their health in a more personalized manner.”
Getting your blood sugar levels checked with the Diabetes Health (HbA1c) Kit can help you understand your risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. When you have prediabetes or diabetes, your blood sugar levels are higher than normal and your body’s ability to use insulin to process that sugar (glucose) is greatly impacted. In addition, these conditions can lead to complications that can reduce life expectancy by 5-15 years. But with early detection, monitoring and treatment, you can reverse the progression of the disease, prevent permanent damage to vital organs, and improve your overall health.
This test is only for screening and monitoring long term glucose levels. The information provided by this test should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment unless advised by your healthcare provider. This test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare provider. This test should also not be used to check an individual’s short term (daily) glucose levels or be used for the daily management of an individual’s diabetes.
This program is currently only available in Ontario and is not available in B.C. or Saskatchewan.
The kit can be ordered online through the LifeLabs store, www.lifelabs.com/a1c-testing and once the collection process is complete, the kit can be either returned via Canada Post (with prepaid postage) or dropped off at the nearest LifeLabs patient service centre.
LifeLabs’ At Home Kit Program provides a diverse range of self-collection kits for various health tests, including cervical to colorectal health, and hormonal health, catering to many different individuals with from those facing accessibility challenges, to those with busy schedules, or anyone just looking to be proactive about their wellness journey.
Visit lifelabs.com to learn more.