Glycosylated hemoglobin, also known as glycosylhemoglobin or Hb1Ac, is a blood test that aims to evaluate glucose levels in the last three months before the test. Glucose can be linked to one of the components of red blood cells, hemoglobin, throughout the red blood cell cycle, which lasts approximately 120 days.
For example, your doctor requests a blood hemoglobin test to identify diabetes, track its progression, or check whether treatment for the disease is effective by testing a small sample of blood drawn in the lab.
- The glycosylated hemoglobin test is performed in order to evaluate glucose levels in recent months.
- Being useful in diagnosing diabetes.
- In addition.
- For people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes.
- This test is useful for checking whether the treatment is effective or if it is performed correctly.
- Because if not.
- The result can be verified.
In addition, when the glichemoglobin value is much higher than the normal value considered by the laboratory, the person is more likely to develop diabetes-related complications, such as heart, kidney or neural changes, for example. See the main complications of diabetes.
This test is more appropriate than fasting blood glucose for the initial diagnosis of diabetes, as the glucose test may be influenced by changes in recent eating habits, which do not represent the levels of sugar circulating in recent months. Thus, it is possible that before performing the glucose test, the person has a healthier diet and lower in sugar, so fasting blood sugar may be at normal values, which may not represent the person’s reality.
For example, to diagnose diabetes, a fasting blood glucose test, glycosylated hemoglobin and/or glucose tolerance test, TOTG, is usually requested. Learn more about tests to diagnose diabetes.
The reference values for glichemoglobin may vary by laboratory, but in general the values considered are:
In addition, among people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes, Hb1Ac values between 6.5% and 7.0% indicate that there is good disease control. On the other hand, values above Hb1Ac above 8% indicate that diabetes is not adequately controlled, with an increased risk of complications and a change in treatment is necessary.
The glycosylated hemoglobin test does not require preparation, however, as is usually required with the fasting blood glucose test, fasting may be necessary for at least 8 hours.