Undiagnosed G6PD Deficiency in Black and Asian Individuals Is Prevalent and Contributes to Health Inequalities in Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis and Complications
Authors' conclusion
Undiagnosed G6PD deficiency has significant impact on T2D diagnosis with HbA1c and associates with increased risk of diabetes complications. This has major implications for global populations using HbA1c for diagnosis and monitoring, and could contribute significantly to inequalities in diabetes outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank and Genes & Health cohorts, U.K.2 cohorts · UK Biobank 467,368 · Genes & Health 43,011
- Exposure
- Male G6PD deficiency carriers vs noncarriers
- Outcome
- G6PD deficiency allele carriage and impact on HbA1c, T2D diagnosis and complications
Methodological detailswhole-exome sequencing, electronic health record data
- Whole-exome sequencing
- Electronic health record data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
G6PD carriers vs NoncarriersDifference in age at T2D diagnosis, years (95% CI)
Older with G6PD carriers; males diagnosed since 2011
4.1(0.6–7.7)
- Lower with G6PD carriers; males
- difference in average HbA1c 0.9 % (10.0 mmol/mol)
- G6PD-deficient men
- odds of diabetes-related microvascular complications 1.37 (95% CI 1.01–1.86)
- Black males carrying G6PD deficiency alleles
- ∼1 in 7
- Asian males carrying G6PD deficiency alleles
- 1 in 63
- White males carrying G6PD deficiency alleles
- fewer than 1 in 10,000
- G6PD-deficient men clinically recognized
- less than 1 in 50
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Undiagnosed G6PD Deficiency in Black and Asian Individuals Is Prevalent and Contributes to Health Inequalities in Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis and Complications. Diabetes Care. Published 30 September 2025. doi:10.
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