Blood tests are useful to tell what is going on in your body. Some blood tests can look back and tell your doctor how your have been doing in your past. For example, a hemoglobin A1-C test can tell your doctor what your average blood sugar has been over the past four months.

According to a 12-year study of 2000 people just published in Nature Health, one new blood test can accurately predict whether or not you will develop diabetes up to 10 years from now.

The test specifically measures amino acids in the blood stream (isoleucine, leucine, valine, tyrosine and phenylalanine). When all five amino acids were elevated above normal, people were five times as likely to develop diabetes in the future compared with a control group that was matched for weight, age, sex and fasting blood sugar levels but who had normal levels of these amino acids.

It will be a several years before this blood test will be widely available, but when it is, it will be a welcome diagnostic tool.

Early identification of at-risk individuals is critical to providing more effective preventive measures, including weight management, healthier food choices and regular exercise.