Nigeria has one of Africa's highest rates of undiagnosed diabetes. A simple fasting glucose and HbA1c test identifies diabetes and pre-diabetes years before complications develop — available across Lagos from our Akoka laboratory.
Each glucose test captures a different time window. Together they give a complete picture of current blood sugar and 3-month control — making misdiagnosis far less likely.
The gold-standard initial diabetes test. Blood is drawn after an 8-hour overnight fast. Normal FPG is <5.6 mmol/L; 5.6–6.9 mmol/L indicates pre-diabetes (impaired fasting glucose); ≥7.0 mmol/L on two occasions confirms diabetes.
HbA1c measures the percentage of haemoglobin with attached glucose — reflecting average blood sugar over 2–3 months. It requires no fasting and is the preferred test for monitoring known diabetics. HbA1c ≥6.5% confirms diabetes; 5.7–6.4% indicates pre-diabetes.
A blood glucose taken at any time, regardless of meals. A random glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L with classic diabetes symptoms (thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, weight loss) confirms diabetes without further testing. Useful for urgent screening.
For fasting plasma glucose: eat a normal dinner, then consume nothing except water for 8 hours before your test. Lagos patients from and often find early morning appointments before rush-hour traffic most convenient — book via WhatsApp to secure your slot.
Continue taking your usual medications unless your doctor has said otherwise. Inform us of any glucose-lowering drugs (metformin, glibenclamide, insulin) or steroids. For HbA1c only, no fasting is needed and medications need not be withheld.
If you are a known diabetic managing your condition, HbA1c monitoring every 3 months is recommended. Bring your previous HbA1c results so we can track your trend. Random glucose is also available for between-appointment spot checks without fasting.
We use enzymatic colorimetric methods for glucose and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for HbA1c — the standard methods recommended by the WHO and IDF.
Your result comes with a clear interpretation — not just a number. We flag pre-diabetic ranges and explain what your HbA1c trend means for your medication and lifestyle adjustments.
We maintain longitudinal records for Lagos patients, enabling meaningful trend analysis across quarterly HbA1c measurements — essential for effective diabetes management.
52 Sholanke Street, Akoka — central to Yaba, Shomolu, and major routes. Open Monday – Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM. Walk-in, no appointment needed — WhatsApp booking recommended for fasted morning slots.
"My HbA1c has gone from 9.4% to 6.8% over 18 months of quarterly monitoring at Mascot. Having the trend graph from their records actually helped motivate me to stick to my diet."
Book your appointment ahead. Located at 52 Sholanke Street, Off Chemist Junction, Akoka, Lagos.
Monday – Saturday · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Closed Sundays & Public Holidays