At the age of 45 I had never had an HbA1c test. I found out I had T2 diabetes from getting a CGM as part of a health study I applied for, and seeing my blood glucose was at 22mmol (it should be under 10). I ordered a finger prick test kit from Amazon assuming the GCM was faulty but it wasn’t. After this I went to the doctors who confirmed with an HbA1c and put me on Metformin.
It certainly should be part of routine checkups in my opinion, but I had never had more than blood pressure check and a weigh in from my doctor.
Where are you based? I have it tested annually, but only after moving to USA (from Poland). I don't remember if I had such a test done earlier - I think I might have had it done as a part of screening for whether I'd be allowed to go scuba-diving or something else sports-related.
I've had it checked as part of a yearly blood test in the past, but at my last doctor visit a week ago, they did an instant A1c test. Came back in just a couple minutes. Love to see these type of advances in care rolling out.
It certainly should be part of routine checkups in my opinion, but I had never had more than blood pressure check and a weigh in from my doctor.