Index

What are AGEs (Advanced Glycatyion Endproducts)?

More and more people have diabetes, a disease with increased sugar levels in the blood but also in the rest of the body. Over time sugar (glucose) also sticks permanently to many proteins in the body. This permanent sticking of glucose (=glycation) results in Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs). AGEs impair the normal function of these proteins. This happens also in the wall of small and large blood vessels, and results in impaired function and damage of these blood vessels.

AGEs and diabetes

The gradual increase or accumulation of AGEs in diabetes is an important cause of complications of the blood vessels in this disease. In persons with diabetes, there is a higher risk of heart attack and stroke due to damaged large blood vessels, but also of blindness and kidney failure, due to damage of small blood vessels.

Many diabetes patients will know that so-called glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is used to see if their blood sugar levels are well controlled. AGEs are not the same as HbA1c, because the changes in AGEs are much slower. Important is that AGEs are a better predictor of the risk of diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Not only the high blood sugar levels and accumulation of AGEs, but also high blood pressure, cholesterol/lipid levels and smoking increase this risk. Information on all these so-called risk factors is very important for your doctor to make the right decisions on starting or changing treatment.

AGEs are also externally formed by the heating of food and are taken up by the body. Examples of food with very high level of AGEs are cola and creme brulee. Another source of AGEs intake is due to smoking.

Measurement of AGEs

The AGE measurement on your arm assesses how many AGEs are present just below the surface of your skin. If the level of AGEs in the skin is high, this is also the case in the blood vessel wall, and thus the risk of blood vessel problems is higher. A number of types of AGEs react on UV light (fluorescence). The AGE Reader is able to measure the fluorescence in your skin and calculate the quantity of AGEs. The measurement takes less than a minute and is completely non-invasive and without any risk.

How does the AGE Reader work?

You will be asked to place the inner side of your bare forearm below the elbow on top of the AGE Reader. The skin of your arm must fully cover the small window on the upper side of the AGE Reader. The device or the operator may ask you to change the placement of your arm on top of the small window a few times. The whole measurement takes less than a minute. If your skin is dark, the measurement may take somewhat longer (because much light is then absorbed in the skin).

The measurement is completely safe and you will not feel anything of this measurement. A report of the measurement result is immediately available, but your doctor or nurse may need some more time to discuss the result and implications with you.

Diab-spot

Traditional diabetes screening requires a blood draw and biochemical/laboratory tests. Diab-spot now offers a non-invasive and easy to perform diabetes screening. Diab-spot features the AGE measurement described above and combines this with a small number of questions to calculate the risk that you have diabetes. The questions can easily be answered on the touch screen.

Diab-spot yields an immediate screening result that can be printed. The measurement report gives a summary of the measurement and the risk factors and contains a clear diabetes screening result.

Downloads

• AGE Reader brochure
• Diab-spot brochure