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Living with Diabetes
Diabetes test - HbA1c
What is HbA1c ?
In the blood, some of the glucose sticks (binds irreversibly) to hemoglobin within red blood cells. The amount of glucose that is bound to hemoglobin is directly linked to the amount of glucose in the blood. Since red blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 90 days, measuring the amount of glucose bound to hemoglobin can provide a longer term measure of average blood sugar control during the 60 to 90 days prior to the test. This is the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement. Since the test results give feedback on the previous two to three months, getting an HbA1c test done every three months will give you and your doctor good information on your average blood sugars. The blood glucose numbers described in the blood sugar section measure a single point in time. An HbA1c provides a better measure of glucose control over the last 2 – 3 months.
In people without diabetes, a normal HbA1c value is somewhere between 3.5% and 5.5%. People with diabetes have higher HbA1c values because their bodies have consistently higher levels of blood glucose. A goal level for HbA1c for most people with diabetes is under 7% (or the goal set for you by your doctor).
