Scientists at the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune suggested that albumin can be a better indicator of diabetes
i. This can be achieved based on measurements of levels of free albumin and albumin attached to glucose molecules in the blood.
ii. Glycation is binding of glucose to protein or lipid molecules and glycated hemoglobin is the percentage of glucose bound to hemoglobin.
iii. These albumin levels in blood influence glycation of hemoglobin which further helps in the diagnosis of diabetes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using levels of glycated (or glucose-bound) hemoglobin in blood for the diagnosis of diabetes. The routinely prescribed tests for fasting blood sugar levels vary due to various factors like stress levels, time of collection, diet and medications taken previous day etc.

Glycation is binding of glucose to protein or lipid molecules and glycated hemoglobin is the percentage of glucose bound to hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells whose average lifespan is four months in blood. The level of glucose bound hemoglobin, therefore, tells the diabetic condition of an individual from the previous four months.