![]() The HbA1c test is designed for long-term control to help your doctor monitor your progress and, if need be, adjust your management plans. However, this test is no substitute for standard blood glucose tests, which you can do as often as possible using a glucometer. A higher percentage connotes the blood sugar level is higher than usual, while a lower rate is vice versa. In other words, it states the ratio of glycated hemoglobin in the blood to the total amount of hemoglobin present, which is then expressed as a percentage. The HbA1c percentage is the glucose that has been bound to the blood. Understanding HbA1c Test ResultĪs explained earlier, the normal level HbA1c percentage is 5.7%. Although, it is recommended that people with diabetes keep this level between 6.5 and 7 %, as anything higher could be dangerous. For diabetes, the HbA1c level is always higher than 6.5%. If the glucose levels are higher than normal, as in prediabetes, it ranges between 5.7 to 6.4%. Normal HbA1c LevelsĪ healthy individual's average blood glucose level is usually below 5.7%, which signifies a normal blood sugar level. Hence, you cannot use these two interchangeably. ![]() The HbA1c test is also used to monitor blood glucose levels in people with diabetes since it serves as a measure, whereas the HbA1 does not serve this purpose. Simply put, HbA1c is a normal component of hemoglobin, while HbA1c is an abnormal type of hemoglobin. It is the level of the HbA1c that forms the basis of the HbA1c test. Hemoglobin A1c, on the other hand, is a subtype of the HbA1 formed when glucose molecules in the blood attach to hemoglobin itself. It is a combination of a protein component called globin and a sugar molecule called glucose. Hemoglobin A1 is a normal hemoglobin component present in most healthy individuals. After this, a machine measures the hemoglobin molecules bound to glucose to report the A1c levels as a percentage. A reagent is added to the sample to separate the glycated molecules from the normal ones. This means that if more glucose is in the blood, glycation increases, increasing the number of glycated hemoglobin molecules.įor the HbA1c test, analysis is done in the laboratory after a blood sample has been taken. Now the rate of glycation is directly proportional to the glucose concentration in the blood. When glucose from the food you take gets absorbed into the bloodstream and combines with hemoglobin, the process is called glycation. The entire test’s duration is usually less than five minutes and does not require fasting or prior preparation. ![]() The HbA1c test is carried out by a health professional who takes a blood sample from a vein in the arm using a small needle and then collects it in a test tube taken to the laboratory. This helps diagnose diabetes and monitor it long-term. Hence the test is performed at these intervals. Before being replaced, red blood cells have an average lifespan of four months. It is a laboratory blood test that measures the average blood sugar level in the body over 2 to 3 months. Glycated hemoglobin test, glycohemoglobin test, and glycosylated hemoglobin test are all other names for the HbA1C test. ![]() This is when it becomes HbA1c which serves as a measure to measure A1c levels. However, while transporting oxygen, hemoglobin could bind to excess glucose or sugar in the blood. HbA1 is the common variant of this protein present in healthy individuals. “Hb” is an acronym for hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells whose primary function is to carry oxygen inhaled around the body. But how important is it in monitoring one’s health status, and what can affect its results? We will discuss these and many more as you read further. The HbA1c test is one such medical test to monitor a condition.Īs with most medical tests, it begins and ends with taking a blood sample which is then analyzed in a laboratory. Other times, they are carried out as part of routine medical check-ups. Usually, these tests are done to diagnose certain diseases.
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