The HbA1c test is a simple, inexpensive blood test for diagnosing diabetes and monitoring blood glucose levels.
The term HbA1c refers to glycosylated haemoglobin. A HbA1c blood test measures how much sugar (glucose) is bound in red blood cells to determine if blood glucose levels have been elevated for months.
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What is Glycated Haemoglobin?
Red blood cells transport oxygen via haemoglobin (Hb). Glycated haemoglobin is formed when blood glucose attaches to red blood cell haemoglobin. Normal blood glucose levels contain some glycated haemoglobin, but high blood glucose levels cause more red blood cells to be glycated—the HbA1c test measures glucose-bound haemoglobin.
The HbA1c value is a three-month blood glucose average. Since red blood cells live for three months, glucose remains linked to haemoglobin.
Is there a Purpose to this Examination?
Doctors prescribe an HbA1c test every 3 months to a year for people with diabetes to assess glucose levels during the past 8-12 weeks. The risk of diabetes complications, including diabetic retinopathy, increases with HbA1c.
Home blood glucose monitoring and HbA1c testing at diagnostic centre give a more complete picture of how well your diabetes treatment is functioning.
HbA1c tests have just recently been authorised for use in diagnosing diabetes.
What kind of Procedure is use to Conduct the Test?
The HbA1c test is a quick and easy blood analysis. Your doctor or a pathology lab will draw the blood. You can consume your usual diet and fluids up until the time of the test. Within a day, we should have the results.
How often one should be Tested
HbA1c testing at diagnostic centre is recommend at least once every three months for persons with diabetes and pre-diabetes. You should have an HbA1c test every 6 months if you are otherwise healthy but have a history of diabetes in your family or believe your lifestyle puts you at risk for developing diabetes. How often you should take a test for your health condition is something you and your doctor can discuss.
What Exactly does HbA1c Test for?
The percentage of haemoglobin that is glucose-bound can be use as a proxy for the average glucose concentration in the blood over the previous few weeks or months.
Newer methods of testing and reporting HbA1c findings express the concentration of glycosylated haemoglobin in units of mmol/mol rather than the traditional percentage. But before doing the HbA1c test you should know about the HbA1c test cost from a diagnostic center you can trust.
The Normal Range for HbA1c
Non-diabetics often have a HbA1c level below 36 mmol/mol (5.5%). A target HbA1c level for people with diabetes is less than or equal to 48 mmol/mol (6.5%). Pre-diabetes is an HbA1c reading between 36 and 48 mmol/mol, indicating a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Remember that everyone is different and that you and your healthcare providers will work together to establish a personal goal range. This specific goal will consider the patient’s current HbA1c level as well as the timing of their next scheduled blood draw.
The Value of Reducing HbA1c
High blood glucose levels, if they persist, can be extremely harmful to health. This is why monitoring HbA1c levels and bringing them down if necessary is crucial.
The risk of neuropathy (nerve-ending damage), retinopathy (eye disease), diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), heart failure, vascular disease can all be greatly reduced, as shown by multiple large-scale trials.
Preventing health problems associated with high HbA1c levels can be accomplish by measures such as:
- You can try a larger dose or a different medicine by reviewing your current treatment plan with your healthcare team.
- Increasing one’s level of exercise and other forms of physical activity;
- Consuming less foods high in sugar and carbs;
- Giving up smoking.
When Compared to Blood Glucose, How Does HbA1c Differ?
HbA1c is a useful indicator of blood glucose levels. However, it differs significantly from more widespread finger-prick test (used by people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels).
First, a finger prick test can determine your blood glucose level, which is the glucose concentration in your blood at a specific time and is express in millimoles per litre. This test is simple to perform at home and does not require the expertise of a medical professional, but it only provides a snapshot indicative of blood glucose; it must be performe several times a day.
The HbA1c test at the diagnostic centre, on the other hand, gives an average blood glucose reading over the previous three months expressed as a percentage in mmol/mol. This gives clinicians a clearer picture of how well diabetes is being treat and whether or not the patient’s diet, exercise routine, or medication effectively lowers blood sugar levels.
However, it is crucial to know that several medical disorders, such as anaemia, can alter findings of HbA1c test because the reliability of the test depends on red blood cells.
Conclusion
The current pandemic situation has highlighted the importance of good diabetes management. The level of HbA1c in your blood reveals your average blood glucose control over the preceding few months. When you need an HbA1c test, choose only reputable labs and secure services.
