HbA1c Test:
A new study has found that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a laboratory test commonly used in India for detecting type-2 diabetes, may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels.
- A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test is a blood test that shows average level of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, over the past two to three months.
- An A1C test measures the percentage of RBCs that have glucose-coated hemoglobin.
- An A1C test can show average glucose level for the past three months because:
- Glucose sticks to hemoglobin for as long as the RBCs are alive.
- RBCs live about three months.
- High A1C levels are a sign of high blood glucose from diabetes.
- Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
- With treatment and lifestyle changes, blood glucose levels can be controlled.
