HbA1c
Alternate Names : A1C, Diabetic Control Index, GHb, Glycohemoglobin, Glycosylated Hemoglobin, Hemoglobin - Glycosylated
DefinitionHbA1c is a test that measures the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin in your blood. The test gives a good estimate of how well diabetes is being managed over time.
Why is the Test Performed?
This test measures blood sugar control over an extended period in people with diabetes. In general, the higher your HbA1c value, the higher the risk that you will develop complications from diabetes (eye disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, heart disease, and stroke). This is especially true if your HbA1c remains elevated on more than one occasion.
The closer your HbA1c value is to normal, the less risk you have for these complications.
Normally, only a small percentage of the hemoglobin (Hb) molecules in red blood cells become glycosylated (that is, chemically linked to glucose). The percent of glycosylation increases over time, and is higher if there is more glucose in your blood. Therefore, older red blood cells will have a greater percent of glycosylated hemoglobin, and diabetics whose blood glucose has been too high will have a greater percent of glycosylated hemoglobin.
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